The containment classification system developed has four containment levels: Basic Plant Pest Containment Level 1 (PPC-1) Plant Pest Containment Level 2 (PPC-2) Plant Pest containment level 3 (PPC-3) The matrix below represents a conceptual risk model for determining containment level by assessing the likelihood of the pathogen to escape and establish vs. the consequences that it may have. Figure 1- Biosecurity risk assessment matrix Containment Level Requirements for Work with Plant Pests Basic Basic containment is the lowest containment level for plant pests and it provides simple, but adequate, barriers to pest escape. Facilities may consist of field plots, basic laboratories or simple glass, plastic or screen houses which may have dirt or gravel floors and unscreened vents. Containment of plant pests is achieved through sanitation, spatial isolation from susceptible hosts, physical security, and signage, destruction of waste and destruction of all viable pests at the end of the experiment or the testing period. Basic containment is applicable for work with low to very low risk plant pests for scientific, research, educational, processing, and industrial or exhibition purposes. The following are examples of the types of work that could be appropriately conducted (with or without supplemental conditions) in Basic containment: Establishing a field plot using plants infected with a virus that can only be transmitted by grafting; Using lyophilized virus-infected plant tissue as a control in an Elisa test; or Using plant tissue infected with a common strain of tobacco mosaic virus to inoculate tobacco plants for a high school biology project. Pest Containment Level 1 (PPC-1) PPC-1 containment is the next higher containment level for plant pests. Facilities include permanent structures such as laboratories, greenhouses and screenhouses. Windows that can be opened must be fitted with appropriate screens, and greenhouses must be fully screened and caulked to both contain and exclude arthropods. An autoclave must be available to treat waste and waste water must be treated to kill pests where appropriate.
The containment classification system developed has four containment levels: Basic Plant Pest Containment Level 1 (PPC-1) Plant Pest Containment Level 2 (PPC-2) Plant Pest containment level 3 (PPC-3) The matrix below represents a conceptual risk model for determining containment level by assessing the likelihood of the pathogen to escape and establish vs. the consequences that it may have. Figure 1- Biosecurity risk assessment matrix Containment Level Requirements for Work with Plant Pests Basic Basic containment is the lowest containment level for plant pests and it provides simple, but adequate, barriers to pest escape. Facilities may consist of field plots, basic laboratories or simple glass, plastic or screen houses which may have dirt or gravel floors and unscreened vents. Containment of plant pests is achieved through sanitation, spatial isolation from susceptible hosts, physical security, and signage, destruction of waste and destruction of all viable pests at the end of the experiment or the testing period. Basic containment is applicable for work with low to very low risk plant pests for scientific, research, educational, processing, and industrial or exhibition purposes. The following are examples of the types of work that could be appropriately conducted (with or without supplemental conditions) in Basic containment: Establishing a field plot using plants infected with a virus that can only be transmitted by grafting; Using lyophilized virus-infected plant tissue as a control in an Elisa test; or Using plant tissue infected with a common strain of tobacco mosaic virus to inoculate tobacco plants for a high school biology project. Pest Containment Level 1 (PPC-1) PPC-1 containment is the next higher containment level for plant pests. Facilities include permanent structures such as laboratories, greenhouses and screenhouses. Windows that can be opened must be fitted with appropriate screens, and greenhouses must be fully screened and caulked to both contain and exclude arthropods. An autoclave must be available to treat waste and waste water must be treated to kill pests where appropriate.