Biological Safety Training

Information on this web page applies to VUMC researchers. VU researchers should refer to VU Biosafety.

Training needs will vary based upon what a person works with in the lab.

Training Title Frequency Lab workers who
Biosafety 101 Once* perform research with biological materials
Biosafety Cabinet (BSC) Once* work with a BSC
Biosafety 201 Once* work in a BSL2 lab
Bloodborne Pathogens Safety for Research Labs Annually
(per OSHA)		 work in a lab where bloodborne pathogens
or human-derived materials are present
ABSL-2 Training Once* work at ABSL-2 in ACUP facilities
Clinical Research Human Patient
Samples Shipping Training - USDOT and IATA		 every 2 years ship human patient samples
Dry Ice Shipping - USDOT and IATA Training every 2 years  ship with dry ice
Regulated Medical Waste Shipping Training
for VUMC Lab Researchers - USDOT Training		 every 3 years  ship regulated medical waste

*Note: For training that is only required once, Biosafety OCRS recommends that you review the training once every 5 years to stay up-to-date regarding any new information.

Lab-specific biosafety training is needed for all lab members. A spreadsheet can be used to document all lab training completed for each lab member. This New Lab Member and Temporary Lab Member checklist can be used to document some of the lab-specific training.

Questions about biosafety training?

If you have specific questions regarding biosafety training needs, please send an email to biosafety@vumc.org. An OCRS Biosafety Team member will respond within 3 business days.

Biosafety 101: Standard Microbiological Practices (latest version, revised 3-2023)

Target Audience:   All research personnel, including Principal Investigators (PIs), are required to complete this course if the research involves biological materials. This applies to all Principal Investigators, even if they are not personally working at the bench.

Class Description:  Basic description of biological hazards and regulated biological materials; overview of biosafety levels, and standard microbiological practices including:

  • biohazardous waste segregation, handling and disposal,
  • hygiene practices to enhance lab safety and minimize potential cross-contamination,
  • spill and exposure prevention practices.

Class Schedule/Location:  Available online. To enroll, log into the Learning Exchange and search for the course title. When you have completed the lesson, keep a copy of your training certificate or confirmation email for your own records. Then, forward a copy to your PI or supervisor for their records.

Biosafety Cabinet (BSC) Research Lab Safety Training

NOTE: Biosafety 101: Standard Microbiological Practices is recommended prior to signing up for this course.

Target Audience: All research personnel who will be working with a biosafety cabinet.  

Class Description: Introduces the different types of BSC with a focus on class II cabinets. Describes how to use a BSC for containment of hazardous biological materials, including how to maintain good air flow, and how to decontaminate before and after use. This is a prerequisite for the Biosafety 201 training course.

Location: Online. To enroll, log in to the Learning Exchange and search for the course title. When you have completed the lesson, keep a copy of your training certificate or confirmation email for your own records.  

Bloodborne Pathogens Safety for Research Labs
(formerly Working Safely with Human-Derived Materials in the Lab)

Required by:  Bloodborne Pathogen Standard, OSHA 1910.1030

Frequency:  Initial with annual retraining

Target Audience:  Any staff/faculty exposed to human blood, body fluids, tissues or cells, or exposure to one of these viruses: HIV, HBV or HCV in a laboratory setting.

Class Schedule/Location: Available online in the Learning Exchange. This is a prerequisite for the Biosafety 201 training course.

  • VUMC staff receive this training online in the Learning Exchange. It is available as a self-assigned course.  It is also assigned by administrators to certain groups, such as those working in medical research laboratories. 
  • VUMC School of Medicine faculty receive this training based on responses to the VUMC SOM Faculty Compliance Training Profile.

Biosafety 201: Biosafety Principles & Bloodborne Pathogens Control Topics (formerly Principles & Practices of Biosafety)
course schedule

NOTE: VUMC personnel must complete prerequisites Biosafety 101: Standard Microbiological Practices, Bloodborne Pathogens Safety for Research Labs, and Biosafety Cabinet (BSC) Research Lab Safety Training. Individuals who completed Biosafety 201 prior to 2016 are required to complete it again.

This course is an instructor-led virtual training course offered via Microsoft Teams. In addition, there is a required reading assignment which registrants must review in advance and have on hand during the presentation. Pre-registration is required and will be closed three business days before the scheduled course date.

Pre-register for this course:

Target Audience:  Investigators and research staff members who handle biological materials that require BSL-2 containment. Such materials include:

  • Agents infectious to humans, animals or plants
  • Toxins of a biological origin
  • Human or non-human primate derived materials including blood, body fluids, unfixed tissues and cells (including immortalized cell lines)

Class Description:  This course builds on the information covered in the Biosafety 101: Standard Microbiological Practices course. This course includes and emphasizes the following topics:

  • routes of exposure and lab-acquired infections
  • personal protective equipment selection and use
  • sharps selection, handling and disposal considerations
  • special equipment hazards
  • exposure and spill response actions

Class Length:  2 hours (including bloodborne pathogens exposure control review)

Class Schedule/Location:  See Course Schedule.

Target Audience:  Investigators and research staff members who have previously completed either Biosafety 101: Standard Microbiological Practices or Principles & Practices of Biosafety. Refresher training is offered by OCRS Biosafety in the Fall only. All biomaterials researchers are encouraged to complete refresher training in the Fall regardless of their last training completion in order to stay “on cycle” with meeting annual training requirements.

Class Description:  This session will provide a review of biocontainment and infectious agent exposure control principles, using findings from recent lab visits to demonstrate concepts. Topics will change from year to year.

Class Schedule/Location:  You must log in to either the VUMC Learning Exchange or VU Oracle Learn to sign up for this training. The OCRS Biosafety team cannot assign this course to you.
 

ACUP Facility Orientation Biosafety ABSL-2 Rooms (ABSL-2 Training Curriculum)

Target Audience: 

Investigators and research staff members who will be carrying out animal studies that require animal biosafety level 2 (ABSL-2) containment. (These studies typically involve the administration of an agent infectious to humans in an animal model.)

Class Description:  This training course provides an overview of animal biosafety levels and general containment practices applicable to the lab animal research setting. The training focus is adhering to ABSL-2 principles while conducting common procedures including challenge, sample collection, cage change and terminal procedures. This class is only open to personnel who have been added to an ABSL-2 IACUC protocol and completed the pre-requisite Biosafety 201 training.

Class Length:  1.5 hours

Class Schedule/Location: Online course followed by a separate facility tour. (Note: Facility tours are scheduled by Division of Animal Care personnel, after the online course has been completed.)

To request this training, your PI or Designated Oversight Person (DOP) must complete this REDCap form.  The form asks for the following:

  • applicable IACUC animal protocol number,
  • the trainee's name,
  • date the trainee was added to the IACUC protocol (provide a screenshot of the personnel amendment), and
  • proof that Biosafety 201 has been completed.

Basic Researchers Shipping Biological Substances

Basic researchers who need to ship biological materials but are not currently certified to ship these in accordance with hazardous materials/dangerous goods regulations should contact biosafety@vumc.org for assistance.

Clinical Research Human Patient Samples (with Dry Ice) Shipping Training - USDOT and IATA

Clinical researchers who need to ship human patient samples and Dry Ice as part of clinical research activities can access an online training course in the VUMC Learning Exchange. This course will only provide training for individuals who need to ship samples as UN3373 Biological Substance, Category B.

Target Audience: This training is for VUMC employees whose job requires them to ship human clinical specimens for IRB research protocols.

Required by: U.S. Department of Transportation 49 CFR 172.700 - 172.704, and International Air Transport Association Dangerous Goods Regulations

Frequency: Initial with refresher at least every two years; Refresher training is required more frequently when there are significant regulatory changes.

Class Schedule/Location: Online. To enroll, log in the VUMC Learning Exchange, and search for "Clinical Research Human Patient Samples Shipping Training".

Regulated Medical Waste Shipping Training for VUMC Researchers in VU Buildings - USDOT Training

Required for: VUMC employees working in VU research buildings.

Required by: U.S. Department of Transportation 49 CFR 172.700 - 172.704

Frequency: Initial with refresher at least every three years; Refresher training is required more frequently when there are significant regulatory changes.