I'm working with retro and lentivirus infected cells in BSL-2 (Biosafety level-2 lab) which is recommended by our legislation. However, the cells are not infectious anymore (I have performed the infectivity tests). I'm aware that the OGM level of this cells are class-2 but I was wondering if the international (American) legislation allow me to work with them in a BSL-1 lab.
Thanks,
Débora
I expect that as long as your institutional policies require you to use BSL2, you will have to comply.
There can be some differences in institutional policies so you ought to have a discussion with your biosafety officer (or whatever their designation may be). For example, in US some institutions allow one to work with animals treated with non-integrating vectors such as AAV at BSL1 after a few days of treatment whereas our university insists ion BSL2.
I do see your point from the perspective of use of lentivirus in clinical studies - clearly, these individuals are not going to be expected to live in a BSL2 facility for the rest of their lives.
Best,
With viruses, especially human pathogens, always err on the side of caution. I advise that you can go form BSL-2 to BSL-3, but not backwards, as transduced vectors can acquire higher pathogenic properties than either parent strain.
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