[DIYbio.org ABE] How can I make a stage performance that includes a biosafety level 2 experiment?

[Jason Bobe]

Reposted from: http://ask.diybio.org/questions/how-can-i-make-a-stage-performance-that-includes-a-biosafety-level-2-experiment/

How can I make a stage performance that includes a biosafety level 2 experiment?

Answer from a Biosafety Expert:

August 8, 2013

We do not recommend including a biosafety level 2 experiment in a live stage performance.  Biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) is appropriate for work with infectious agents that can cause disease in humans (1: Principles of Biosafety).  In other words, these infectious agents are human pathogens and are not appropriate for use in a public arena such as a stage performance.

 

It is important to remember that work with any microorganism is associated with risk.  Even infectious agents that are appropriate for use at BSL-1, while they are not normally associated with disease in healthy adults, can cause disease in infants, children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems (1:  Principles of Biosafety).

 

1.     Wilson, D., and L. Chosewood, editors.  Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), 5th edition.  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health.  2009.  http://www.cdc.gov/biosafety/publications/bmbl5/.  Accessed 07/27/2013.

[Bryan Bishop]

On Thu, Aug 8, 2013 at 7:38 AM, Jason Bobe <jaso...@gmail.com> wrote:

We do not recommend including a biosafety level 2 experiment in a live stage performance.  Biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) is appropriate for work with infectious agents that can cause disease in humans (1: Principles of Biosafety).  In other words, these infectious agents are human pathogens and are not appropriate for use in a public arena such as a stage performance.

But I don't think anyone was asking about recommending to go forward or not, that didn't seem to be the question..

- Bryan
http://heybryan.org/
1 512 203 0507

[Nathan McCorkle]

On Thu, Aug 8, 2013 at 9:26 AM, Bryan Bishop <kan...@gmail.com> wrote:
> But I don't think anyone was asking about recommending to go forward or not,
> that didn't seem to be the question..

But is there really any answer that isn't NO?

Isn't there some Broadway play that features HIV? I guess it's not an
HIV experiment... but... what else could you really do? Watch infected
people having sex?

[Bryan Bishop]

On Thu, Aug 8, 2013 at 11:46 AM, Nathan McCorkle <nmz...@gmail.com> wrote:

But is there really any answer that isn't NO?

Well, you could have a biosafety-level-2 facility on your stage, but that doesn't mean you're using infectious agents...it means you have done the legwork to safely work with them if you would need to. Right?

--

[Nathan McCorkle]

On Thu, Aug 8, 2013 at 9:52 AM, Bryan Bishop <kan...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On Thu, Aug 8, 2013 at 11:46 AM, Nathan McCorkle <nmz...@gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> But is there really any answer that isn't NO?
>
>
> Well, you could have a biosafety-level-2 facility on your stage, but that
> doesn't mean you're using infectious agents...it means you have done the
> legwork to safely work with them if you would need to. Right?

The Original Poster sounds like they have a stage idea that includes
some BSL-2 stuff and want to know how to safely implement it.

It seems the answer to this would be something like: implemented a
BSL-2 lab, place audience seated next to a bullet/shatter-proof
safety-glass wall looking into said lab (safety glass is covered in
plastic so it doesn't fall apart upon breaking).