WHO recently issued updated guidance for national authorities and biomedical laboratories to manage biological risks.

Laboratories are essential components of health systems, critical for patient diagnosis and rapid clinical care, disease surveillance, pathogen characterization, and research and development for treatments and vaccines. Appropriately designed and equipped facilities, trained staff, evidence-based risk mitigating measures, transparent reporting and layered oversight mechanisms will safeguard the workforce and the community from pathogenic microorganisms and toxins.