ABSA INTERNATIONAL
Principles & Practices of Biosafety®
March 10-15, 2024
Embassy Suites San Diego Bay Downtown
San Diego, CA
Registration for this offering is currently closed. If you would like to add your name to the waitlist for early notification for the next session, please contact the ABSA Office at info@absa.org. Having your name on the waitlist does NOT guarantee you a seat in the next offering.
A COMPREHENSIVE, INTERACTIVE 5-DAY COURSE
Principles & Practices of Biosafety® will introduce the essential elements of biosafety and provide extensive resource lists for use after the course. Interactive exercises will be used throughout to provide hands-on experience and to encourage networking and problem-solving among participants and instructors. Sessions begin at 8:00 am each day and end with a roundtable discussion between 5:15 and 5:30 pm with two coffee breaks and lunch provided. The Friday session will end at approximately 4:00 pm.
OBJECTIVES
At the end of the course each participant will be able to:
- Describe potentially hazardous biological materials, the risks associated with their use, and the means to minimize risk and to protect against or prevent release or exposure
- Discuss ways to provide effective technical expertise in situations involving potentially hazardous biological materials
- Identify, locate, and efficiently use key biosafety resources
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This course is designed for persons who are entering the profession and those with up to three year’s experience in biosafety. It is also suitable for persons who supervise biosafety professionals and for those who will benefit from additional knowledge of biosafety as a complement to their primary responsibilities.
COURSE FACULTY (not all listed faculty may serve as instructors at this offering)
Patrick Condreay, PhD, RBP(ABSA)
Drew Fayram, MS, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA)
Natasha Griffith, MS, RBP(ABSA)
Brandon Hatcher, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA)
Sunny Hoffman, RBP(ABSA)
Paul Jennette, MS, PE, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA)
Paul Meechan, PhD, MPH, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA)
Jeffrey Owens, MS, MPH, CBSP(ABSA)
Carrie Smith, PhD, RBP(ABSA), CBSP(ABSA)
Dee Zimmerman
AGENDA (subject to change)
Monday, March 11
- Molecular Biology
- Introduction to Pathogenic Microbiology
- Risk Assessment
Tuesday, March 12
- Human Source Materials & Mammalian Cell Lines
- Research Animals & Allergens
- Biocontainment Equipment
- Course Dinner (6:30 to 9:00 pm)
Wednesday, March 13
- Biocontainment Facilities
- Biocontainment Practices
- Biocontainment Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Thursday, March 14
- Decontamination
- Disposal
- Emergency Response
- Biosecurity
Friday, March 15
- Shipment and Transfer of Biological Materials
- Strategies for Effective Biosafety Management & Communication
COURSE FEES
ABSA Members: $2,550
Nonmembers: $2,760
Participation is limited to 48 students.
Course fees include:
- Five full days of interactive instruction from a diversity of well-respected biological safety professionals.
- Instructor’s handouts, key resource lists, and a variety of critical biosafety information and resources.
- Lunch, beverages, and snacks for all course days.
- Welcome Reception on Sunday evening and Class Dinner on Tuesday evening (subject to change).
Confirmed, paid participants will be sent detailed information about the course, location, and other items of interest. Substitutions allowed with notice by June 2, 2023. There is a 15% processing fee for cancellations received before June 2, 2023. Cancellations between June 2 2023 and June 9, 2023 will be refunded at 50% of the course fee. No refunds will be given after June 9, 2023. Cancelation fees may be waived if there is a waiting list and a replacement can be made – 15% processing fee will apply.
ACCOMMODATIONS
A block of rooms has been reserved for ABSA International at the
Embassy Suites San Diego Bay Downtown
601 Pacific Hwy
San Diego, CA 92101
(619) 239-2400
$219/night plus tax
Booking early allows us to make sure that all participants receive the same discounted rates.
The block of rooms will be available until February 2, 2024.
CONTACT HOURS
This course is approved for 36.50 P.A.C.E.® contact hours. ABSA International is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.® Program. In order to receive P.A.C.E. ® credit, attendees must stay until the Friday session ends.





