O&M personnel and other non-research staff may need to enter BSL-3 facilities to perform maintenance or make repairs. The introductory course is a four-day training designed to certify personnel for safe entry into an operational BSL-3 laboratory. This course consists of a mixture of classroom and practical training that includes an introduction to microbiology, biosafety, risk assessment concept, BSL-3 lab characteristics, emergency management and personal protective equipment (PPE) use including procedures for donning and doffing PPE with N95 or various PAPR breathing devices. 

The second half of the course focuses on the ANSI/ASSE Z9.14 Standard. ANSI Z9.14 Standard is the only document available that provides a prescriptive approach to conducting BSL-3 facility verification. The course includes both didactic and practical training. This course prepares individuals to be able to understand and apply the ANSI Z9.14 BSL-3 testing and verification standard for new and existing BSL-3 facilities after completing a set of document reviews, visual inspections, and failure test on our BSL-3 Laboratory Training Center.  Practical components of the course include demonstrating and diagnosing common ventilation issues of a BSL-3 laboratory. Teams will incorporate practical findings using a risk assessment strategy to determine facility compliance with RG3 work. 

This 4-day course is offered only at UCI.  A modified version of the course may be offered on-site. Please contact us to discuss this further.  

BSL-3 Training Program Information Request Form

Continuing education units are provided through The American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science (ASCLS) Professional Acknowledgement for Continuing Education (P.A.C.E) and ABSA International Credential Maintenance Program.