Biosafety level (BSL)

Biosafety
Level

Risk Group

Examples of
Microorganisms

BSL-1

Minimal risk

Non-pathogenic strains of

- E. coli

- Bacillus subtilis

BSL-2

Moderate risk

Virus:

- HIV

- Influenza

Bacteria:

-Bacillus (except Anthrax)

- Staphylococcus aureus

BSL-3

High risk

Bacteria:

- Mycobacterium tuberculosis

- Coxiella burnetti

- Anthrax

- Yersinia pestis

Virus:

- SARS CoV 1

- Chickungunya

- Yellow fever virus

BSL-4

Extreme risk
(dangerous & exotic)

- Ebola virus

- Marburg virus

- Nipah virus

- Lassa fever virus

- Crimean congo hemorrhagic
fever (CCHF)