Plan, classify and assess
Identify the material, source, quantity, intended activity, hazards, risk group, regulatory status and genetic-modification status. Select every applicable work type and document the activity-based risk assessment.
Biological work lifecycle
Manage biological work from planning to close-out
Apply this lifecycle to every project. Requirements depend on the material, activity, scale, people and facility.
Approve and procure
Secure the applicable institutional and regulatory approvals before purchase or receipt. Submit purchases through LMPRS and confirm any import, transfer or possession requirements.
Receive, register and prepare
Verify incoming materials and records, then record and manage biological materials in LMMS. Confirm facility readiness, required training, competency, occupational-health measures and emergency arrangements.
Conduct, contain and monitor
Follow approved procedures, maintain the required containment and access controls, keep inventories current, and monitor the effectiveness of controls. Reassess before changing the material, activity, scale, personnel or facility.
Respond, report and review
Follow emergency procedures for spills, exposures, containment failures and other incidents. Obtain medical attention where required, report through AIMS, and review the risk assessment and controls. Complete the applicable emergency-response training.
Decontaminate, dispose and close out
Decontaminate materials, equipment and work areas. Manage biological and mixed-hazard waste through approved routes, reconcile inventories and approvals, and complete transfer, project or facility close-out requirements. Refer to the NUS manuals and supporting guidance.
Programme scope
Find the requirements for your work
Use the lifecycle above for every project, then select all work types below that apply to the material and activity. One activity may require several approvals, training courses and controls.
Biological agents and toxins
Applies to: regulated or potentially infectious agents, toxins, viral vectors and poliovirus materials.
Check or obtain: applicable BATA classification, possession, import, transfer, transport and facility requirements.
MOH · where applicableGenetic modification
Applies to: genetic manipulation work and genetically modified organisms.
Check or obtain: institutional review, proposal classification and the required GMAC endorsement or declaration.
NUS IBC · GMACAnimals and veterinary biologics
Applies to: animal work, veterinary biologics and regulated animal pathogens.
Check or obtain: AVS requirements, NUS LPVB registration through Institutional Approval and IACUC approval where applicable.
AVS · IACUC · EHS360Human and non-human-primate materials
Applies to: human and NHP tissues, body fluids, cell lines and blood collection.
Check or obtain: ethics review, exposure controls, task-specific training and occupational-health measures where required.
IRB · Occupational healthPlants, arthropods and agricultural microorganisms
Applies to: regulated plants, arthropods, plant pathogens and agricultural microorganisms.
Check or obtain: NParks import, risk-assessment and biosecurity requirements and applicable GMAC review.
NParks · GMACHigh-containment facilities
Applies to: work requiring BSL-3 or ABSL-3 facilities.
Check or obtain: institutional and regulatory facility requirements, certification, access, training, security and emergency arrangements.
NUS · MOHAfter identifying all applicable work types, complete the required training and open the corresponding resource group. Contact the relevant programme owner if the classification or approval route is unclear.
SSTS Stage B
Biological safety training
Start with the course matching the laboratory containment level, then add task- and material-specific training identified through the risk assessment.
Core containment training
Biosafety for BSL-1 Laboratories
OSHBIO07For individuals conducting BSL-1 work. This course replaces OSHBIO01.
Effective from 11 September 2017Biosafety for BSL-2 Laboratories
OSHBIO08For individuals conducting BSL-2 work. This course replaces OSHBIO01. Personnel from approved member organisations are exempt under the recognised framework.
Effective from 18 September 2017Material- and activity-specific training
For individuals working with material of human origin, including tissue, all cell lines and body fluids.
Effective from 1 June 2016For Principal Investigators conducting life-science research whose laboratories handle biological materials, people appointed to monitor legislation, and people involved in importing, acquiring, transferring or handling biological materials.
Effective from 14 August 2026For individuals using needles in life-science research. Those who completed SingHealth Needle Safety in Research Laboratories are exempt.
Effective from 31 December 2016For individuals handling macaque-derived materials.
Effective from 1 March 2017For individuals working with viral vectors.
Effective from 1 June 2021Emergency-response training
For individuals appointed to contain biological spills.
Effective from 1 June 2016Biological Spills and Emergency Response (Hands-on)
Train-the-trainer course for Safety and Health Coordinators in departments using biological material. Complete OSHBIO05 first.
Authoritative documents
Biological safety resources
Use the group matching your material or activity. Some NUS documents require sign-in.
NUS institutional requirements
Core NUS manuals and institution-specific requirements.
Core manualNUS Laboratory Biorisk Management ManualNUS sign-inPDFAnimal usersNUS Safety and Health Manual for Animal UsersNUS sign-inPDFSafety directiveInstitutional requirements for NUS BSL-3 facilitiesNUS sign-inPDFRegulatory flowchartImport or export of genetically modified fish and laboratory animalsNUS sign-inPDF
Veterinary biologics and animal work
AVS requirementsVeterinary biologics licensing and Select ListExternal websiteNUS institutional licencePossession of Risk Group 2 veterinary biologicsNUSInstitutional ApprovalRegister under the NUS LPVBSystemNUS sign-inAVS import requirementsImporting pathogens and submitting a risk assessmentExternal websiteNParks arrangementBiosecurity Assurance Arrangement (BSAA)External websiteIACUCInstitutional Animal Care and Use CommitteeNUS
Biological agents and poliovirus
MOH regulatorMOH Biosafety portalExternal websiteBATA schedulesList of Biological Agents and ToxinsExternal websitePDFNUS FAQWorking with lentiviral vector systemsNUSPDFNUS guidancePoliovirus infectious and potentially infectious materialsNUS sign-inPDFNUS control planPoliovirus PIM risk-mitigation requirementsNUS sign-inPDF
Genetic modification
Approvals, reporting and supporting guidance
IRBInstitutional Review BoardNUSIncident reportingAccident and Incident Management System (AIMS)NUSInternational guidanceCDC/NIH BMBL, sixth editionExternal websiteInternational guidance · 2020WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual, fourth editionExternal websiteInternational guidance · 2004WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual, third editionExternal websitePathogen informationPublic Health Agency of Canada infectious-disease resourcesExternal websiteNUS guidanceRespiratory Protection ProgrammeNUS sign-inPDFNUS guidanceChoosing a disinfectant for hard surfacesNUS sign-inPDFMixed-hazard wasteNUS Laboratory Chemical Safety ManualNUS sign-inPDF
Common questions
Biological safety FAQs
How do I know whether my biological material is regulated?
Use Chapter 2 of the NUS Laboratory Biorisk Management Manual and check the relevant MOH, AVS or GMAC requirements before acquisition or work begins.
Do I need approval to work with lentiviral vectors?
Yes. Requirements depend on the vector classification. Consult the NUS lentiviral-vector FAQ and obtain the applicable approval before work begins.
Where can I find hazard information for a particular infectious agent?
Use authoritative pathogen information, including the Public Health Agency of Canada resources, together with the current safety data and an activity-based risk assessment.
How should biological samples be transported?
Refer to Chapter 8 of the NUS Laboratory Biorisk Management Manual for packaging and transport requirements within a building, across campus, within Singapore and overseas.
When is N95 respiratory protection required?
Determine this through the activity-based risk assessment. Where an inhalation risk requires respiratory protection, follow the NUS Respiratory Protection Programme, including medical clearance, training and fit testing.
Does a surgical mask provide respiratory protection?
No. A surgical mask provides a splash barrier but does not replace a properly selected and fit-tested respirator when inhalation protection is required.
How should biological waste contaminated with a cytotoxic drug be managed?
Do not discharge it to the sink. Manage both hazards and arrange disposal through a licensed toxic industrial waste collector in accordance with the NUS Laboratory Chemical Safety Manual.
How do I identify poliovirus potentially infectious material?
Review the sample type, country and collection period using the NUS poliovirus IM/PIM guidance. NUS facilities retaining applicable materials must follow the relevant institutional risk-mitigation requirements.
Get the right advice
Biological safety contacts
Choose the contact responsible for your enquiry.
Programme and animal biosafety
Dr Lim Cheh Peng
6516 7088
MOH, GMAC and material transfer
Dr Suzette De Leon
6601 1703
Veterinary biologics and NHP materials
Dr Lawrence Sie Eng Kean
6516 1051
Occupational Health Clinic
For assessments, examinations, vaccination, mask fit testing and follow-up of work-related injuries or diseases.
6601 1781