PPE commonly worn in a typical BSL-2 clinical lab setting following standard precautions and lab safety practices include:
- Lab coat
- Gloves (nitrile)
- Safety glasses and/or face shields (at times)
- Respiratory protection (at times)
Based on a risk assessment, when additional or special circumstance hazards may be present in the lab, enhanced precautions, otherwise commonly known as “BSL-3 practices,” may be necessary to implement in a BSL-2 setting.
Additional PPE that may be commonly worn in a “BSL-2 enhanced” setting following enhanced precautions and lab safety practices can include the use of:
- Solid front gown
- Double gloves (nitrile)
- Disposable shoe covers
- Respiratory protection (e.g., N95, PAPR)
