[Histonet] Plants in Histology Lab

[Owen, Michael P]

Dear Dr. Mrosla,

According to the references below, decorative plants are restricted from use
at BSL-3 and higher. Plants (and animals not involved in experiments) harbor
their own microbial flora, which could contaminate the work or even infect
the worker; thus it is prudent to prohibit their use in all microbiological
laboratories.


Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories Fourth Edition
(BMBL)
http://www.cdc.gov/od/ohs/biosfty/bmbl4/bmbl4toc.htm
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Institutes of Health
May 1999

NIH Guidelines for Recombinant DNA and Gene Transfer
http://www4.od.nih.gov/oba/rac/guidelines/guidelines.html
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
April 2002

WHO Biological Safety Manual Third Edition
http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/biosafety/WHO_CDS_CSR_LYO_2004
_11/en
World Health Organization
December 2004

Biological Safety Principles and Practices Third Edition
Edited by Diane O. Fleming and Debra L. Hunt
American Society of Microbiology
December 2000


I hope this information is helpful (or makes you laugh if it is not useful
:o) ).

Sincerely,

The FDA Lab Rat


Michael P. Owen, Regulatory Microbiologist
U.S. FDA Pacific Regional Lab Northwest
22201 23rd Drive SE Bothell, WA 98021-4421
Phone: 425-483-4865 E-Mail: michael.owen <@t> fda.gov