Biological safety laboratory

Or BSL, a facility within which microorganisms, their components or their derivatives are collected handled and/or stored. Biological laboratories include clinical laboratories, diagnostic facilities, regional and/national reference centres, public health laboratories, research centres (academic, pharmaceutical, environmental, etc.) and production facilities (manufacturers of vaccines, pharmaceuticals, large scale GMOs, etc.) for human, veterinary and agricultural purposes. There are 4 levels of containment range from the lowest biosafety level 1 to the highest at level 4 defined by Council Directive 90/679/EEC.