Stringent protocols taken to avoid virus leaks

Science and Technology Daily: What preventive and protective measures do personnel take when both entering and exiting the BSL-4 Laboratory, where biological safety controls are among the strictest?

Yuan Zhiming: All those working in the BSL-4 Laboratory must undergo theoretical and practical training and pass evaluations for physical and psychological competences. Even if they pass those accreditation tests, they are not allowed access until they receive permission from their directors.

Upon arrival at the entrance to the lab, researchers' basic physical conditions, such as blood pressure and body temperature, are checked to ensure they are within the appropriate ranges for working inside the lab. Throughout the entire process, only researchers endorsed with the requisite qualifications and accreditations can unlock the door leading to the lab's ring corridors. It is there that they will examine the operations of the lab, complete the entrance and exit form, and inform the monitoring center.

Following the first access, researchers will enter the first fitting room after unlatching a second door. Here, they change into disposable protective suits and check and put on the positive-pressure protective suit, before connecting it to a breathing supply hose. After these procedures are complete, they will pass through a decontamination shower room before arriving at the main laboratory room. In order to guarantee biosafety, there must be no fewer than two testing personnel working at the same time in the lab. Access is denied to anyone who wishes to enter the lab alone.

Researchers generally exit the laboratory via the same route they enter. Before exiting, chemical disinfection and water rinsing must be performed in the decontamination shower room, and the positive pressure protective suits must be thoroughly disinfected. After removing the inner protective suit, all personnel must shower and then put on their own clothes, exit the laboratory, and fill out the Laboratory Personnel Entry and Exit Registration Form. At this point, a lab shift is complete.

Inside the laboratory, all contact between researchers and the outside world is made through the monitoring center. In the case of any abnormal situation, the researchers will first contact the center as soon as possible. When experiments are underway, the monitoring center will also be staffed with biological safety, biological security and equipment support personnel throughout to ensure their ability to handle any potential emergency.

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