I was growing fecal samples on trypticase soy agar plates and I wonder whether these could be potentially toxic to me if I’m keeping them in my room?
Question:
I was growing fecal samples on trypticase soy agar plates, which went well until a species of what I believe to be zygospore fungi took over the plates I had been using (I checked them out under the microscope and referenced online sources). Could these be potentially toxic to me if I’m keeping them in my room?
Answer from a Biosafety Officer:
June 10, 2013
Both the organisms that you are growing from the fecal samples and the fungi that took over the plates you are using could be infectious and/or toxic to you. Biosafety guidelines recommend that human samples, including blood, urine, feces, and other body fluids and/or tissues should be handled using Biosafety Level 2 practices (1-4).
References:
1. Wilson, D., and L. Chosewood, editors. Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), 5th edition. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health. 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/biosafety/publications/bmbl5/. Accessed 03/03/2013.
2. OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard. 29 CFR 1910.1030. http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=standards&p_id=10051. Accessed 03/03/2013.
3. OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard Interpretation Letter to ABSA. http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=INTERPRETATIONS&p_id=21519. Accessed 03/03/2013.
4. American Society for Microbiology. Draft Guidelines for Biosafety in Teaching Laboratories. 2012. http://www.asmcue.org/documents/ASMBiosafetyGuidelines-v2.pdf. Accessed 03/03/2013.
