Biological Hazard

Biological hazards, also known as biohazards, refer to biological substances that pose a threat to the health of living organisms, primarily that of humans. This can include medical waste or samples of a microorganism, virus or toxin (from a biological source) that can impact human health. It can also include substances harmful to animals. The term and its associated symbol is generally used as a warning, so that those potentially exposed to the substances will know to take precautions.

In Unicode, the biohazard sign is U+2623 (☣).

Biohazardous agents are classified for transportation by UN number:

(Based on earlier edits)

• UN 2814 (Infectious substance to Humans)
• UN 2900 (Infectious substance to Animals)
• UN 3291 (Medical Waste)

(From http://www.ocio.usda.gov/directives/doc/DR9630-001.htm)

• Category A, UN 2814- Infectious substances affecting humans and animals: An infectious substance in a form capable of causing permanent disability or life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans or animals when exposure to it occurs.
• Category B, UN 2900- Infectious substances affecting animals only: An infectious substance that is not in a form generally capable of causing permanent disability of life-threatening or fatal disease in otherwise healthy humans and animals when exposure to themselves occurs.
• Category B, UN 3373- Biological substance transported for diagnostic or investigative purposes.
• Regulated Medical Waste, UN 3291- Waste or reusable material derived from medical treatment of an animal or human, or from biomedical research, which includes the production and testing of biological products.