Using the App

ACDP Biosafety Simulator

Premium tool. Open directly at /acdp-biosafety-simulator. The simulator has its own page; it is not currently listed on the /training-dashboard hub.

The Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) classification determines how every clinical microbiology, virology, and reference specimen is handled. This simulator drills the rules.

What it does

• Presents a clinical specimen scenario (sample type, suspected organism, patient context)
• Asks you to assign the Hazard Group (HG1, HG2, HG3, HG4)
• Asks you to select the matching Containment Level (CL1, CL2, CL3, CL4)
• Asks you to specify required PPE and engineering controls (cabinet type, room pressure, etc.)
• Walks you through what happens if classification is upgraded after initial receipt

Hazard Groups (UK ACDP)

• HG1 — unlikely to cause human disease (e.g. most environmental bacteria)
• HG2 — can cause disease, unlikely to spread, treatment usually exists (e.g. Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, HBV, HCV, most respiratory viruses)
• HG3 — serious disease, may spread, treatment may exist (e.g. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, HIV, SARS-CoV-2 historically, Brucella)
• HG4 — serious disease, high spread risk, no treatment usually (e.g. Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, Crimean-Congo)

Containment Levels

Each Containment Level has specific engineering and procedural requirements. The simulator tests your knowledge of:

• Cabinet selection — open bench / Class I / Class II / Class III microbiological safety cabinet
• Room pressure — neutral / negative for CL3+
• PPE — gloves, gown, FFP3, eye protection, full positive-pressure suit (CL4)
• Waste handling — autoclave on site for CL3+
• Spill response — graded by HG
• Notification — RIDDOR-reportable for some exposures

Common scenarios

• A pulmonary TB sample arrives in a Cat 2 (HG2) microbiology lab
• A returning traveller specimen flagged as possible viral haemorrhagic fever
• A blood culture growing what the Gram suggests is Brucella
• An unexpected histology specimen with high mycobacterial burden
• A staff member exposed to a HG3 specimen
• Bench centrifuging without the right rotor

Standards alignment

• ACDP — Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens, Approved List of biological agents (current edition)
• HSE COSHH regulations (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health)
• HSE Biological Agents Directive application
• WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual — current edition
• UKHSA specific organism guidance
• ISO 15189:2022 with safety as a cross-cutting requirement

Bands and competency mapping

• Band 2-4 — work within CL2 routinely; recognise CL3 triggers
• Band 5 — assign HG; select CL; handle a containment upgrade; manage a spill
• Band 6 / 7 — biosafety officer role in larger labs; chair safety committee; lead RIDDOR reporting

The simulator is accepted as IBMS Specialist Portfolio evidence for Medical Microbiology, Virology, and Quality Management.

Common interview question themes

• "Walk me through how you would respond to an unexpected suspected TB sample"
• "How do you escalate when a specimen is reclassified upward mid-processing?"
• "What's the difference between a Class II and a Class III cabinet?"
• "How do you handle a HG3 spill?"