• Question: have you ever been in a max security lab where they keep diseases like the plague e.g ?

    Asked by to Naomi on 17 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Naomi Osborne

      Naomi Osborne answered on 17 Jun 2014:


      Hi, orritt17!

      I haven’t – I work in a biosafety level 1 and 2 lab most of the time, but we also have a biosafety level 3. With level 1 we handle bacteria like E. coli that pose a small threat (you’d have to put your fingers in your mouth to become ill!). With level 3, you work with more precaution in a safety hood, so you can’t breathe in certain bacteria that can cause disease (plague, or Yesinia Pestis, is worked with in these labs) and only certain staff have access (you need various vaccinations).

      The max security labs are biosafety level 4 laboratories where they work with microorganisms that are very dangerous such as the Ebola virus or Anthrax. In these labs, scientists wear a full body suit with a separate air supply – scary stuff!

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