What is the primary focus of a BSL-2 laboratory?

The primary focus of a BSL-2 laboratory is to handle moderate-risk agents that can cause illness in humans. This level of biosafety is designed to accommodate work with organisms that have the potential to pose a hazard to laboratory personnel and the surrounding community, but which can be managed with standard biosafety practices. In a BSL-2 environment, practices like restricted access, safety equipment such as gloves and lab coats, and proper waste disposal are standard.

While BSL-2 laboratories may contain agents that could cause disease, they are not defined by a lack of risk, nor are they limited to low-risk agents as found in lower biosafety levels. Non-biological experiments and research that carries no risk are outside the scope of what would typically be conducted in a BSL-2 setting, as these labs are specifically designed with biological hazards in mind.