Laboratory Biorisk Management Training

This course can be provided at request to groups of 8 to 20 participants and can be organized onsite anywhere in the world. This course can also be provided online.


Laboratory biorisk management is an integral part of laboratory strengthening. Laboratory biorisk management combines the principles of laboratory biosafety and biosecurity. Laboratory biosafety consists of containment principles, technologies, and practices implemented to prevent unintentional exposure to pathogens and toxins, or their unintentional release. Laboratory biosecurity is the protection, control and accountability for valuable biological materials within laboratories, in order to prevent their unauthorized access, loss, theft, misuse, diversion, or intentional release.



This training is an advanced course in laboratory biorisk management based on the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Laboratory Biosafety Manual 4th edition (2020). The course introduces the new concept of biorisk management, which combines the principles of risk assessment and evaluation, risk control and review and improvement of risk control measures. At the same time participants are familiarized with the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual 4th ed. (2020). It targets laboratory professionals and provides them with the proper knowledge and skills to adequately implement a biorisk management system in their laboratory, including the skills and software to perform a thorough biosafety and biosecurity assessment, formulate mitigation measures and ensure their effectiveness.


Programme

This course consists of four parts. In the first part the concept of laboratory biorisk management will be introduced along with the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual 4th ed. (2020). In the subsequent parts we will focus on the specific elements of laboratory biorisk management, starting with performing a laboratory biosafety and biosecurity assessment. Next, the focus will shift to eliminating risks or formulating risk control measures to mitigate risks identified in the biorisk assessment. The fourth part will focus on evaluating the effectiveness of the risk control measures and implementing the biosafety programme. 


Learning objectives

This course will provide the necessary knowledge, attitude and skills needed to efficiently implement and maintain a laboratory biorisk management system in line with the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual 4th Ed. (2020), the requirements of ISO 35001 (Biorisk Management for Laboratories and other related organizations) and ISO 15190 (Medical Laboratories - Requirements for Safety), the internationally accepted standards for laboratory biorisk management.


After this course you will be able to:

  • Understand the purpose, structure and contents of the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual 4th Ed. (2020);
  • Explain the key principles of biorisk management;
  • Understand that biorisk management includes risk assessment, risk control, and biosafety program management;
  • Conduct a risk assessment and, based on the outcome, select, implement and verify effectiveness of risk control measures;
  • Embed the risk control strategy in a biosafety program and understand how to manage this program to control and assure continued performance and improvement of the risk control strategy.


At the end of the course participants will receive a certificate of completion based on the completion of a final test.


Who should participate?

Quality officers, biosafety officers, laboratory managers and laboratory technologists who are eager to learn more about laboratory biosafety and laboratory biosecurity management, and the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual 4th Ed. (2020).


Prequalification

  • This is an introductory course on laboratory biorisk management: basic knowledge of working safely in a health laboratory is required.
  • This is a laboratory-oriented course: a laboratory background/knowledge of laboratory practice is required.
  • The course language is English. English speaking and writing ability is required. The course can be provided with simultaneaous or consecutive interpretation.


Length of the course

The course has a duration of  4 days and a workload of 32 hours and can also be provides online.


Course fee

Request an offer.


The course fee includes:

  • Course participation
  • Binder/flash drive with handouts


The course will be facilitated by a trainer with extensive experience in biorisk management in health laboratories worldwide.


Read about a previous edition of this training.