1 Laboratory Biosafety in Containment Laboratories

Microbiological research on and diagnostics of highly pathogenic microorganisms, namely bacteria and viruses, have to be conducted in containment laboratories in order to contain the infectious material. We are therefore referring to the ‘‘Concept of Biocontainment’’ – a concept, which dates back to the 1940s, when the first biosafety cabinet (BSC) class III was developed at the US Army Biological Warfare Laboratories in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Biocontainment is required to prevent accidental infection of researchers or diagnostic staff and to avoid release of the infectious agents into the surrounding environment.