A newly published global analysis has identified 3,625 ‘high-containment’ biological laboratories operating worldwide, raising fresh questions about transparency, safety oversight, and biosecurity preparedness.
The research, published in the Journal of Public Health, mapped Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) and Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) facilities — laboratories designed to handle some of the world’s most dangerous pathogens — and found that the majority operate with limited publicly available information about their locations or the pathogens they study.
According to the study, 3,515 facilities are classified as BSL-3 and 110 as the highest-security BSL-4 labs. Researchers found that 149 countries operate at least one BSL-3 laboratory, while 34 countries have at least one BSL-4 site. The analysis suggests the global number of high-containment labs is higher than previous estimates by international health bodies, highlighting rapid expansion alongside incomplete global tracking systems.
The United States accounts for roughly 47% of global BSL-3 facilities, with the United Kingdom hosting about 17%. Combined, the two countries represent nearly two-thirds of known BSL-3 labs worldwide. However, detailed public information — including precise location data and pathogen research details — was available for only about 27% of BSL-3 facilities, leaving hundreds with limited transparency in public databases.
At the highest containment level, the study identified 17 BSL-4 laboratories in the United States and 13 in the United Kingdom. Many other nations operate a single BSL-4 facility, increasing the strategic and safety importance of those sites.
Researchers also highlighted oversight concerns surrounding dual-use research of concern (DURC), referring to legitimate scientific work that could potentially be repurposed to increase pathogen lethality or transmissibility. The study found that among countries operating BSL-3 laboratories, more than 90% lack formal guidelines or training frameworks governing dual-use research oversight, with only a small minority reporting structured regulatory controls.
The paper also referenced historical data documenting 309 laboratory-acquired infections involving 51 pathogens between 2000 and 2021, including cases resulting in fatalities. Despite these incidents, researchers noted there is currently no unified global registry of high-containment laboratories, no standardised international oversight body, and no mandatory global reporting framework for dual-use biological research.
The findings come amid heightened public attention on biological research safety following recent law enforcement action against an alleged illicit laboratory operation in the United States.
The National Biocontainment Laboratory in Wallaceville, Upper Hutt is classified as a Physical Containment Level 3+ (PC3+) facility, which aligns with international BSL-3+ standards. As of the latest available information, New Zealand does not have any Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) labs.
Image credit: Artem Podrez
