ABSA CBSP key terms

A structured process of identifying hazardous agents and activities, then estimating the likelihood and consequences of exposure so that controls can be chosen and justified.

A classification category that groups biological agents by the severity of disease they cause and the availability of effective treatment or prophylaxis, independent of the laboratory controls used.

A defined set of facility design features, equipment, and work practices assigned to laboratory work according to the assessed risk of the agents handled, commonly numbered one through four.

Any action, device, or administrative measure taken to reduce the probability or severity of a biological exposure or release after a risk has been identified and evaluated.

A ranked framework that prefers eliminating or engineering out a hazard before relying on administrative rules or personal protective equipment, because higher-ranked controls protect more people more reliably.

The first barrier that keeps infectious material away from people and the room, typically provided by a biological safety cabinet, sealed centrifuge cup, or other equipment enclosing the hazard.

The room, suite, or building-level barriers and ventilation features that protect people outside the immediate work area and the surrounding environment if primary containment fails.

A ventilated enclosed work station that uses inward airflow and high-efficiency filtration to protect the operator, the work surface, or both from aerosols generated during handling of biological material.

A high-efficiency particulate air filter that removes at least 99.97 percent of particles of 0.3 micrometer diameter, used to clean exhaust or supply air in containment systems.

Deliberate movement of air from cleaner corridors into dirtier work areas and out through filtered exhaust, so that airborne contamination travels away from people and clean spaces.

A pressure vessel that sterilizes equipment and waste using saturated steam under pressure at defined temperature and time, with air removal and load monitoring required for effectiveness.

A process that reduces or removes biological agents from surfaces, equipment, or people so that items become safe to handle, transport, or dispose of.

A process that destroys or inactivates most recognized pathogenic microorganisms on inanimate objects, but does not necessarily destroy bacterial spores or all viruses.

A validated process that destroys or eliminates all forms of microbial life, including bacterial spores, and is verified by physical, chemical, and biological indicators.

Describes a chemical or physical process able to kill bacterial endospores, the most resistant form of microbial life, under the labeled conditions of use.

A prepared population of resistant microorganisms, usually bacterial spores, used to demonstrate that a sterilization process achieved the required lethality.

A rigid, leak-resistant, closable container used to collect needles, scalpels, and other sharp items so that handlers are protected from puncture injuries and contamination.

Material of biological origin or contaminated with biological agents that requires specific handling, treatment, and disposal to protect workers, the public, and the environment.

A legal category of waste, defined by jurisdiction, that includes items such as blood-soaked materials, cultures, and sharps and must be segregated, treated, and tracked before disposal.

Clothing and devices worn by a worker, such as gloves, gowns, respirators, and eye protection, that form a barrier between the person and infectious or hazardous material.

The ordered procedures for putting on and removing protective equipment so that contamination is not transferred to the wearer's skin, clothing, or clean areas during removal.

Equipment and programs, including fit testing, medical evaluation, and training, used to protect the wearer from inhaling airborne infectious agents or other hazardous particles.

A routine set of infection-control practices, including hand hygiene and barrier protection, applied to all patients and specimens regardless of known or suspected infection status.

Cleaning of hands by washing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based rub at defined moments, performed to break the chain of contact transmission.

A suspension of fine solid or liquid particles in air, often generated by pipetting, centrifuging, or vortexing, that can carry infectious agents and be inhaled at a distance.

Basic safe handling habits, such as minimizing splashes and aerosols, keeping work areas clean, and washing hands, that reduce exposure during routine manipulation of cultures.

A planned sequence of steps for containing, disinfecting, cleaning, and reporting a release of biological material, with actions scaled to the volume and hazard of the spill.

A written program that identifies tasks with occupational exposure risk and specifies the engineering controls, work practices, protective equipment, and follow-up actions required to protect workers.

Medical treatment, such as vaccination or antimicrobial therapy, given after a documented exposure to reduce the chance of developing infection.

A percutaneous injury caused by a contaminated sharp, which requires immediate care, source evaluation, and reporting so that appropriate follow-up can be started.

Measures that prevent unauthorized access to, loss of, theft of, or misuse of biological agents and related information, complementing biosafety rather than replacing it.

A designated person responsible for advising on risk assessments, inspecting containment practices, investigating incidents, and maintaining the institution's biosafety program and records.

The organized policies, committees, training, inspections, and recordkeeping an institution uses to manage biological risks consistently across all laboratories and personnel.

Instruction that pairs knowledge with observed, documented performance of a task, confirming that a person can safely carry out the procedure rather than only recall the rules.

Formal verification, often by an outside tester, that a containment device or facility meets defined performance criteria and remains fit for use until the next scheduled test.

A contract governing the shipment and use of biological materials between parties, specifying permitted use, handling requirements, and restrictions on further distribution.