In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive (DoDD) 5134.01 (Reference (a)) and the guidance in DoDD 4715.1E (Reference (b)) and DoD Instruction (DoDI) 6055.1 (Reference (c)), this Manual, "Safety Standards for Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories," prescribes the technical safety requirements for the Department of Defense to use, handle, transport, transfer, store, or dispose of infectious agents and toxins (IAT): rated at biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) and above; used in microbiological activities in biomedical and biological research settings, microbiology teaching laboratories, and veterinary reference laboratories. This manual applies to OSD, the Military Departments, the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Staff, the Combatant Commands, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Defense, the Defense Agencies, the DoD Field Activities, and all other organizational entities within the Department of Defense; all DoD biomedical and biological research settings, microbiology teaching laboratories, veterinary reference laboratories, and nonclinical facilities that use, handle, transport, transfer, store or dispose of IAT; deployable, semi-permanent, or permanent laboratories deployed in support of a geographic Combatant Command for the analysis and surveillance of IAT that use, handle, transport, transfer, store or dispose of IAT.