14. Toxin Science and Safety

A distance learning opportunity
September 23, 2026
11:00 AM – 1:30 PM (CDT)

Registration for the live webinar must be completed 1 business day prior to the start of the training.
Registrations received after will receive access to the recording only.

Instructor:

David Harbourt, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA), ASP, SM(NRCM), World BioHazTec, Pasadena, MD

Overview

Toxin Science and Safety will provide a basis for the biosafety professional who does not conduct research with these agents but requires a basic understanding of biological toxins and venoms. Since these agents can have such drastic pharmacological effects, they are of great interest to the biomedical research community. An increasing number of research and industrial laboratories are using some of these agents as laboratory reagents. In addition, there are a number of venomous vertebrate and invertebrate species that may be studied in a research environment and can present unique safety considerations. This introductory course will also provide laboratorians working with or contemplating work with these agents with additional foundational knowledge and recommended best practices. The webinar will include interactive case history and risk assessment exercises to apply some of information described in this course.

Objectives

• Briefly discuss the history of Toxinology – the science of toxins
• Discuss why we study toxins
• Identify the basic characteristics of toxins (e.g., Origin, Stability and Mode of Action)
• Explain facility requirements for working with toxins
• Describe laboratory operations with toxins
• Describe decontamination methods and rationale
• Describe the recommended medical management of toxin exposure

Audience Level:

All levels

Suggested Background:

None

Who Should Attend:

All Biosafety Professionals, Laboratory Workers and Laboratory Management, Occupational Health Personnel, Infection Control Practitioners, Biosecurity Professionals, Facility Personnel, and Animal Facility Personnel and Managers

This course has been approved for 0.25 CM points toward RBP/CBSP recertification. *ABSA International is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.^® Program. This course is approved for 3.0 P.A.C.E.^® contact hours. Course access links are unique and for individual use only. Sharing is prohibited. Duplicate logins or unregistered attendees will be removed from the webinar without a refund.