The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has updated its biosafety guidance for work with SARS-CoV-2. The CDC now recommends that work with SARS-CoV-2 be conducted at a minimum of biosafety level 2 (BSL-2). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is aligning by rescinding the interim risk group classification of Risk Group 3 for SARS-CoV-2. The NIH Guidelines now classify SARS-CoV-2 and most other human coronaviruses as Risk Group 2. (SARS-CoV and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) remain classified as RG3 agents and require a minimum of BSL-3 for work.)
At the University of Washington, changes to research involving SARS-CoV-2 still require Biological Use Authorization (BUA) including review and approval by EH&S and the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). EH&S and the IBC are assessing the changes from the CDC and NIH and will make determinations for UW research at the January 2025 IBC meeting. These changes will be communicated to the UW biological research community and will be reflected on the EH&S website.
Contact EH&S Biological Safety for any questions at ehsbio@uw.edu or 206-221-7770.