Biosafety

Biosafety and related training is required for anyone associated with work in biological laboratories, for both research and teaching purposes. The training ensures that you are trained in basic biological safety principles and that you are aware of the federal guidelines and institutional policies before beginning work in labs at Indiana University.

Your protocol submission to the Institutional Biosafety Committee will not be considered complete or ready for approval until all training requirements have been satisfied. Requirements vary by the types of biohazardous materials involved in a protocol. All required courses are offered online, and some are offered in a classroom setting.

1. Biological Safety Training:
   • Biosafety Training is required for all personnel listed on an IBC protocol and is required only once, pending any significant changes to the biological safety program or institutional policies.
   • This training is available through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).
2. NIH Recombinant DNA Guidelines ("NIH Guidelines Training"):
   • NIH Guidelines training is required for all personnel listed on an IBC protocol that falls under the any section of NIH Guidelines and is required every 5 years.
   • Any institution that receives any funding from the NIH must adhere to the NIH Guidelines.
   • This training is available through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).
3. Bloodborne Pathogens Training:
   • If an IBC protocol involves work with any human or non-human primate blood, fluids, cells, or tissues, Bloodborne Pathogens training is required by all personnel on that protocol. Bloodborne Pathogens training is required annually.
   • This training is available through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).
4. N95 Respiratory Protection Training and In-Person Fitting:
   • N95 training and fit testing is required when the IBC risk assessment determines an N95 is necessary for personnel working with infectious agents outside of a biosafety cabinet. Both the online training and in-person fitting are required annually.
   • This training is available through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI).
     
     • Log in to CITI, Add course "IUEHS Filtering Facepiece Respirator (N95/P100) Training" under Question 8 - IBC/Biosafety.
   • All personnel required to use respiratory protection must have an in-person respirator fitting.
     • After completing the online training and quiz, please contact either IUPUI or IUB EHS (depending on your campus) to schedule the N95 respirator fitting.
       • IUPUI EHS: ehs@iupui.edu
       • IUB EHS: iuehs@indiana.edu
   • Prior to the fit testing appointment, personnel must complete a respirator medical questionnaire form. This questionnaire should be brought to the fitting:
     • IUPUI Respirator Medical Questionnaire Form
     • IUB Respirator Medical Questionnaire Form
   • If you have any questions about accessing the training, please contact EHS at either ehs@iupui.edu (IUPUI) or iuehs@indiana.edu (IUB).
5. Dual Use Research of Concern (DURC):
   • DURC training is required for all personnel listed on an IBC protocol that involves work with any of the Dual Use agents listed in the United States Government Policy for Oversight of Life Sciences Dual Use Research of Concern or any other non-attenuated agent or toxin. This list is also found in Section VI, Question 1 of the IBC Protocol Form. DURC training is required annually.
   • This training is available through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI). Additional training may be required depending on the nature of the work being conducted in your lab.

For assistance accessing any of the courses listed above, please contact ibc@iu.edu.