National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guidance
The NIH Office of Science Policy has issued Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding interim biosafety guidance for research with SARS-CoV-2 and relevant Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC) requirements under the NIH Guidelines.
Appendix B of the NIH Guidelines provides the basis for the classification of biohazardous agents by Risk Group (RG). At the present time, SARS-CoV-2 best meets the definition of a RG3 agent and IBCs should consider the agent to be RG3 as a starting point in their risk assessments when reviewing research subject to the NIH Guidelines.
The RG classification may change over time as additional information about the virus, such as potential treatments or the development of an effective vaccine, becomes available.
For additional interim biosafety guidance for research with SARS-CoV-2 and IBC requirements under the NIH Guidelines please visit: https://osp.od.nih.gov/biotechnology/interim-lab-biosafety-guidance-for-research-with-sars-cov-2/
Additional Resources
- Centers for Disease Control (CDC): Laboratory Biosafety and COVID-19: Questions and Answers (3/19/20)
- World Health Organization (WHO): Laboratory biosafety guidance related to the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) (2/12/20)