This working paper explores some of the complexities involved in understanding and governing high-containment (BSL-3) laboratories in Italy, where the availability of information can make it challenging to develop a fully integrated, system-level perspective. It introduces an Infrastructure Visibility Framework that brings together infrastructure characterisation, operational assessment, and network development, with particular attention to the distinction between declared and operational containment. The approach is intended to support and further strengthen national biocontainment capacity, while fully respecting existing regulatory systems and without requiring the disclosure of sensitive information. KEYWORDS: Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3); high-containment laboratories; biocontainment; operational containment; BSL-3 infrastructure; laboratory mapping; biological risk management; Italy
Luca Nelli (Wed,) studied this question.