Biosafety 101: Getting Started (Click for Biosafety Flyer)
Before jumping into your research at UH Mānoa, there are a few things you should know about required trainings and procedures. The following sections will guide you through what you need to do to get started.
If you have any questions, please feel free to Contact Us.
Trainings
The following online trainings are required and include a quiz which you must pass in order to conduct research at UH.
- General Biosafety Training
UH policies regarding biological safety, principals of safe lab practices, appropriate storage, transport and disposal, and decontamination of biological substances. UH researchers and laboratory staff working with biological commodities are required to complete an initial training, as well as a refresher every two years. - Transportation of Biological Commodities
Classification, Packaging, Marking, Labeling and Documentation requirements for proper shipping of biological commodities. Training is required for anyone who transports, ships, or receives infectious and biological substances. Recertification is required every two years. - Bloodborne Pathogen Standards and Sharps Hazard Prevention
Bloodborne pathogens training is required when there is an occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials.
Importing Biological Materials
- Most biological commodities imported require at minimum a permit or a letter of authorization (List of Biological Commodities Requiring a Permit or Letter of Authorization). Vertebrate animals will require authorization from Laboratory Animal Services.
- Once you have a permit (Instructions for Obtaining an HDOA Permit), you must receive authorization from the university for the materials you want imported. How to Submit a Request for Authorization
- Some biological materials are not regulated by state and federal agencies, or require additional approval. Please read through these exceptions here.
Committees to Register With
You may be required to register with one or more of the following committees, depending on the type of research you conduct.
- Institutional Biosafety Committee
The IBC is responsible for reviewing all research and activities involving recombinant DNA activity, infectious agents, and toxins. - Institutional Animal Care & Use Committee
The IACUC is responsible for the oversight and evaluation of all animal care and use. - Human Studies Program
The CHS is responsible for reviewing all research involving human subjects by those affiliated with the University of Hawaiʻi.
Biosafety inspections are typically conducted once a year, along with occasional unscheduled inspections from State and Federal agencies. Click here for information on what these inspections involve and how to keep your lab prepared for when the inspections occur.