High-Containment Laboratory Practices and Techniques Seminar

The High Containment Laboratory Practices and Techniques seminar at Kansas State University will equip participants from multiple countries with the fundamental background to safely participate in high containment laboratory activities and develop practices and techniques promoting biosafety, biosecurity, and biocontainment in a research laboratory or academic setting.

It aims to develop hands-on techniques as well as foster participant analytical skills using problem based learning, reviewing agents and toxins, research, guidelines, and rationales that dictate high containment laboratory practices.

Participants will develop an understanding of standard microbiological practices and will be introduced to principles and techniques required to work safely and securely with biohazards materials in BSL-3 laboratories. They will explore biological risk groups and agent characteristics to conduct initial and ongoing risk assessments.

Based on the risk assessment they will determine which biological safety level, practice, and technique is best suited for the planned laboratory and research activities.

Participants will practice hands-on skills and techniques in a training laboratory to acquire and reinforce their own positive work practices while learning to identify and encourage safe and secure practices in others.

Activities will consist of lecture, classroom discussion, individual and group activities, and hands-on skills development.