stringent containment levels is one in which a laboratory 
has previously been the site of an accident or violation 
of the guidelines or a laboratory whose members are 
consistently unable to implement safe microbiological 
practices . 
IX. LABORATORY SAFETY AND PROCEDURES; SANCTIONS 
We are distressed that NIH has not established a uniform 
and mandatory training course for laboratory workers and 
support personnel. We draw your attention to the recommendation 
of the US-EMBO Ascot workshop for viral DNA work with P2/EK 1 
levels of containment: "It was emphasized that containment 
practices must include adequate training and the use of high 
quality microbiological technique." (42 F.R. at 33163). 
The present guidelines do not translate this recommendation 
into specific requirements, preferring instead to leave the 
matter unnecessarily vague. (§ II-A, p. 33071) . Legislation 
regulating recombinant DNA activities which was recently 
passed in New York contains provisions for training workers 
involved in experiments at the P2, P3, and P4 levels of 
•containment. Such a program should be established on the 
national level. 
None of the physical containment levels prohibit people 
on antibiotic ac immuno-suppressive drugs or people with open 
lacerations or chronic digestive abnormalities from entering 
the laboratories. The new guidelines appear to have deleted 
a provision of the September 27, 1977 proposed revised guidelines 
[A-204] 
