Biological Hazards
Select Agents and Toxins
Many laboratory workers encounter daily exposure to biological hazards.
What are Select Agents
These hazards are present in various sources throughout the laboratory such as blood and body fluids, culture specimens, body tissue and cadavers, and laboratory animals, as well as other workers.
Certain biological agents (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungi, and prions) and toxins have the potential to pose a severe threat to public, animal or plant health, or to animal or plant products. These biological agents and toxins are referred to by the CDC as "select agents and toxins." Common examples of select agents and toxins include the following.
Select Agents:
- Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax)
- Ebola virus (Ebola)
- Avian influenza Type A virus (Avian Flu)
- Variola virus (Smallpox)
Toxins:
More information about select agents and toxins can be found at the CDC Federal Select Agent Program Page and OSHA's Biological Agents Topics Page.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
5-1. Which of the following is considered a toxin?
You forgot to answer the question!