**7.4 Laboratory biosafety**

One of the most common and simple laboratory illnesses is brucellosis. *Brucellae* are classified as a high-risk pathogen by the World Health Organization (WHO), placing them in risk group 3. Actually, one of the most common and simple laboratory illnesses is brucellosis.

Although *Brucellae* are rarely present in sufficient numbers to provide a substantial risk to people handling blood samples and biopsy material for either serological or bacteriological diagnosis, these specimens should nonetheless be treated with caution at biosafety level 2. When *Brucellae* have been cultured, however, they multiply to serious levels, necessitating special safety measures. It is also necessary to use biosafety level 3 equipment, methods, and practices [56].
