Service Update: SARS-CoV-2 Studies Allowed Under BSL-2

Per New Guidance – COVID-19 Research Now Under BSL-2, Offering Cost-Effective Solutions at IITRI

We are pleased to announce that recent updates from the CDC and NIH now permit handling SARS-CoV-2 under Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) conditions for specific research activities. This change from BSL-3 containment is based on the latest understanding of the virus and its transmission, allowing for more flexible and accessible laboratory settings.

According to the updated CDC guidance, at a minimum BSL-2 facilities, practices, and procedures are now recommended for diagnostic research, anatomic pathology, environmental testing, and virus propagation involving SARS-CoV-2. At a minimum, ABSL-2 is recommended for work with these viruses in animal models. As always, based on the specifics of the program, IITRI will perform a site-specific and activity-specific comprehensive risk assessment to identify and mitigate risks. This adjustment not only accelerates research efforts but also enables us to offer these studies at a reduced cost, making it more affordable for our research partners.

The NIH guidance has also outlined comprehensive biosafety considerations for SARS-CoV-2 research, emphasizing the importance of conducting site-specific and activity-specific risk assessments. These guidelines ensure that laboratories like IITRI can continue safely and effectively conducting research while mitigating potential risks. Based on the risk assessment of a specific research protocol, it may still require enhancements or a higher level of containment, such as types of genetic modifications (e.g., changes to virulence, transmission, immune responses, susceptibility to medical countermeasures, etc.) and manipulations that may affect the risk (e.g., aerosolization, animal work, large volumes, etc.).

This development is a significant step forward in our collective efforts to understand and combat COVID-19 by providing our contract services for in vitro and infectious disease animal models. We are excited about the new opportunities it presents and the potential for more cost-effective research solutions for start-ups, university partners, and biopharma. 

At IITRI, we continue to offer a range of COVID-19 studies, including:

• Hamster, K18-hACE2 transgenic mouse, and ferret studies
• Vaccine testing and toxicology
• Transmission studies
• In vitro studies
• Clinical trial support