Infectious substances are classified into how many risk groups?

Infectious substances are classified into four risk groups based on their ability to cause disease in healthy adults and their potential public health risk. This classification system is used to determine the handling, transport, and disposal guidelines for these substances to ensure safety in laboratory settings and healthcare.

The groups are defined as follows:

• Risk Group 1: These agents are not associated with disease in healthy adults.

• Risk Group 2: These agents are associated with human disease that is rarely serious, and preventive or therapeutic interventions are often available.

• Risk Group 3: These infectious agents are associated with serious or lethal human disease, and there is usually a preventive or therapeutic intervention available.

• Risk Group 4: These agents are likely to cause serious or lethal disease in humans for which there is no preventive or therapeutic intervention available.

This four-tiered system helps in managing the risks associated with handling infectious substances in laboratories and medical facilities. Understanding these classifications is essential for laboratory professionals to ensure safety and compliance with regulations.