Biosafety level (BSL) ___ practices are followed when working with blood and OPIM.

Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) practices are designed for work involving moderate hazards to personnel and the environment, particularly when dealing with human blood and Other Potentially Infectious Materials (OPIM). This level addresses the need for practices and safeguards that reduce the risk of exposure to infectious agents that are transmitted via blood and bodily fluids.

BSL-2 labs implement specific protocols to ensure safety, which include restricted access to laboratories, personnel training in handling biohazardous materials, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, lab coats, and face protection. Additionally, practices such as using biological safety cabinets when handling potentially hazardous materials help to contain and manage risks effectively.

By contrast, BSL-1 is appropriate for work with well-characterized agents not known to cause disease in healthy humans, while BSL-3 and BSL-4 are applied to work with pathogens that pose a high risk of aerosol transmission and high mortality rates, respectively. Therefore, for activities specifically related to handling blood and OPIM, BSL-2 represents the correct level of precaution and containment.