biohazard
Infectious material warning
A biohazard is a biological substance that poses a threat to human health—infectious agents, toxins, or contaminated materials.
The term appears on warning labels for medical waste, laboratory specimens, and areas where dangerous pathogens are handled: The samples were marked with the biohazard symbol.
Biohazardous materials require special disposal protocols.
Disease-causing microorganism
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- contagionDisease spread by contact
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
pandemic · outbreak · transmission · infection · microbe · parasite · fungus · prion
Symbols raising pitch
- medical wasteContaminated healthcare refuse
- incinerationBurning waste to ash
- autoclavePressurized steam sterilization chamber
- pathologicalRelating to disease processes
cytotoxic · chemotherapy · radioactive · pharmaceutical · contaminated · disposal · biomedical · clinical
Indicator of potential danger
- cautionCareful attention to risk
- trefoilThree-lobed decorative motif
- orangeCitrus with segments
- labelIdentifying attachment or marker
signage · BSL · containment · hazmat · PPE · laboratory · placards · marking
Preventing hostile expansion
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- disinfectionEliminating pathogens from surfaces
- glovesHand coverings with fingers
goggles · respirator · gown · protocol · specimen · culture · petri dish · centrifuge
Acute viral respiratory infection
- coronavirusSpike-ringed viral family
- HIVAIDS-causing retrovirus
- EbolaFatal hemorrhagic fever virus
- ZikaMosquito-spread viral infection
hepatitis · dengue · SARS · MERS · smallpox · rabies · measles · norovirus
Capable of causing death
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- noxiousHarmful, especially when inhaled
neurotoxin · cytotoxin · dioxins · teratogenic · pathogenic · deadly · harmful · dangerous
pathogen
Disease-causing microorganism
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
- bacteriaNucleus-free single-celled organisms
- contagionDisease spread by contact
epidemic · pandemic · outbreak · transmission · infection · microbe · parasite · fungus · prion · spore
sharps
Symbols raising pitch
- medical wasteContaminated healthcare refuse
- incinerationBurning waste to ash
- autoclavePressurized steam sterilization chamber
pathological · cytotoxic · chemotherapy · radioactive · pharmaceutical · contaminated · disposal · biomedical · clinical · anatomical
warning sign
Indicator of potential danger
label · signage · BSL · containment · hazmat · PPE · laboratory · placards · marking · restricted area
containment
Preventing hostile expansion
- decontaminationRemoving dangerous substances
- sterilizationComplete elimination of microbes
- disinfectionEliminating pathogens from surfaces
gloves · goggles · respirator · gown · protocol · specimen · culture · petri dish · centrifuge · hood
influenza
Acute viral respiratory infection
- coronavirusSpike-ringed viral family
- HIVAIDS-causing retrovirus
- EbolaFatal hemorrhagic fever virus
Zika · hepatitis · dengue · SARS · MERS · smallpox · rabies · measles · norovirus · hantavirus
poisonous
Capable of causing death
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
- mutagenicCausing permanent DNA changes
- lethalCausing or capable of death
noxious · neurotoxin · cytotoxin · dioxins · teratogenic · pathogenic · deadly · harmful · dangerous · venomous
- hazmat responsehazmat suit, hazmat team, hazmat training, decontamination, chemical leak
- Laboratoriesflasks, lab notebook, beakers, science lab, lab technician
- laboratorybeaker, test tube, flask, microscope, pipette
- safetysafety helmet, airbag, alert, occupational safety, danger
- bio-biodegradable, biofuel, biochemistry, biotech, biotechnology
- filthdirt, grime, dirty, filthy, muck
biohazardchemical hazard
Danger from harmful substances
chemical spill · toxic waste · industrial hazard · fire hazard
- biohazard symbolIcon denoting infectious materials
- biohazard zoneArea with dangerous organisms
- biohazard signWarning for biological dangers
- biohazard bagContainer for infectious waste
- biohazard cleanupRemoving dangerous biological material
- biohazardous wasteContaminated biological material requiring special disposal