New Delhi, Aug 12 - While the rash of swine flu cases is making many argue that private laboratories should be allowed to conduct tests for the presence of the H1N1 virus, the government says only laboratories that conform to Bio Safety Laboratories Level 2 (BSL-2) specifications are equipped to carry out tests for such infectious viruses. Here are the details of what a BSL-2 lab must have:

The facility, the containment devices, the administrative controls, and the practices and procedures that constitute BSL-2 are designed to maximize safe working conditions for laboratory staff, because agents tested in these labs are generally transmissible following exposure, the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) of the US has said.

The US started working on bio-safety labs during World War II. CDC has placed these labs at four levels.

Eating, drinking and smoking are complete no no in BSL-2 laboratories, and extreme precautions are taken while handling needles and other sharp instruments. Access to the laboratory is restricted. There is need for specified personal protective equipment, the need for appropriate training of lab technicians.

The supervisor of a BSL-2 lab should be a competent scientist with full knowledge of the risks associated with the microbiological agents in use. Laboratory personnel should be aware of the potential hazards associated with the work and be proficient in the specified practices and procedures.

Any work in the labs that may produce splatters or aerosols of infectious materials should be done inside a biological safety cabinet (BSC) or other containment device, such as aerosol-containing centrifuge cups, CDC added.