HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system, which, if left untreated, can cause AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome). HIV infection in humans originated from a type of chimpanzee in central Africa in the late 1800s, and it is assumed that the virus was passed to humans by hunting these animals with infected blood.
HIV is transmitted from person to person through direct exposure to infected biological fluids such as blood or semen, sexual contact, sharing contaminated needles, etc. Occupational risks of infection arise from the possibility of accidental inoculation or skin and mucous membrane contact with blood or other body fluids from any type of laboratory specimen containing the virus. Currently, there is no vaccine or effective treatment for AIDS.
Risk of exposure of laboratory personnel
HIV is a biological agent that is not transmitted by air and most reported accidents have been caused by skin contact. The risk of transmission will depend on whether the accident occurred with a large amount of blood or not, and will influence the object of the cut, the depth of the wound, the type of strain and the state of evolution. The risk in the laboratory is increased because the viral load of the specimen increases during culture or isolation of HIV in vitro. Exposed personnel would include workers whose jobs involve contact with patients, blood or other biological fluids from individuals undergoing treatment or laboratory control.
In terms of recommended precautions, HIV cell cultures and concentrated or purified virus preparations should be performed at containment level 3. A group 3 biological agent has a high individual risk and a low population. This allowance is given to a pathogen that has the potential to cause serious illness in humans and presents a serious hazard to workers, with the potential for spread in the community.
Biosafety Laboratory. Level 3 (BL3)
The BSL-3 containment laboratory is designed to work with Risk Group 3 microorganisms as well as high concentrations of Risk Group 2 microorganisms, as it will contain any risk of aerosol diffusion or splashing of body fluids or liquids. Specific practices include the following recommendations:
- Personnel must be trained to work in the BSL-3 environment
- Availability, access and use of recommended personal protective equipment for handling samples.
- Disposable laboratory clothing should not be used outside the laboratory and waste should be decontaminated before
- incineration (double door autoclave).
- At least two people should work at the same time.
- All open handling of potentially infectious materials must be done in a Class II or III biosafety room.
Class II or III biological safety cabinet
- Class II biological safety cabinet: characterized by the protection of the personnel, the environment and the product. These booths have two grilles, one front and one back, through which the air circulating on the work surface is sucked. A HEPA filter provides a vertical laminar flow that protects the product and avoids the possibility of cross contamination along the work surface of the booth. It is rated Type A, if the air is recirculated within the laboratory, or Type B if the air is exhausted to the outside through a duct. These booths are used to work with low or moderate biological risk agents, and cannot be used with toxic or volatile materials.
- Class III Biological Safety Cabin: it is designed to work with microbiological agents classified in biosafety levels 3 and 4. It is characterized by a complete closure, because its construction is gas sealed and to handle the samples, a kind of gloves inserted in the cabin is used. The materials are placed inside the cabin through a passage box (double sealed door). The injection and extraction of air in the booth is done through HEPA filters and an air incinerator, before being discharged outside.
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