Classification of Biological Agents
last modified
13-09-2006 10:11
According to the European Directive 2000/54/CE, Biological Agents shall be classified into four risk classes, according to their level of risk of infection:
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Class 1 biological agent means one that is unlikely to cause human disease:
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Class 2 biological agent means one that can cause human disease and might be a hazard to workers; it is unlikely to spread to the community; there is usually effective prophylaxis or treatment available;
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Class 3 biological agent means one that can cause severe human disease and present a serious hazard to workers; it may present a risk of spreading to the community, but there is usually effective prophylaxis or treatment available;
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Class 4 biological agent means one that causes severe human disease and is a serious hazard to workers; it may present a high risk of spreading to the community; there is usually no effective prophylaxis or treatment available.
The French decree of 18 July 1994 classifies biological agents (bacteria, virus, parsites, fungi) into the different classes of risk.