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Select Agent Toxins

A biological toxin is a toxic material or product of plants, animals, microorganisms (including, but not limited to, bacteria, viruses, fungi, or protozoa). Select Agent Toxins (SAT) or Select Toxins (ST) are biological toxins or infectious substances, or a recombinant or synthesized molecule, whatever their origin and method of production. SATs can be used to endanger human and/or agricultural animal or plant health. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are charged with regulating these toxins.

The Biosafety Program helps MIT PIs and other personnel to avoid obtaining quantities of select agent toxins (SAT) that will cause them to inadvertently exceed the per PI exclusion limit and become subject to and violate the federal regulations. The purchase of any SAT quantity must be done through the Biosafety Program.

For more information about Select Agent Toxins and associated regulation please visit CDC Federal Select Agent Program

List of regulated Select Toxins

Toxin Name Permissible Amount
Botulinum neurotoxins 1mg
Staphylococcal Enterotoxins A,B,C,D, & E subtypes 100mg
Tetrodotoxin (TTX) 500mg
Conotoxins (Short, paralytic alpha containing this amino acid sequence
X1CCX2PACGX3X4X5X6X7)
100mg
Saxitoxin 500mg
Ricin 1000mg
Abrin 1000mg
Diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) 10,000mg
T-2 toxin 10,000mg

A biological toxin is a toxic material or product of plants, animals, microorganisms (including, but not limited to, bacteria, viruses, fungi, or protozoa). Select Agent Toxins (SAT) or Select Toxins (ST) are biological toxins or infectious substances, or a recombinant or synthesized molecule, whatever their origin and method of production. SATs can be used to endanger human and/or agricultural animal or plant health. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are charged with regulating these toxins.

The Biosafety Program helps MIT PIs and other personnel to avoid obtaining quantities of select agent toxins (SAT) that will cause them to inadvertently exceed the per PI exclusion limit and become subject to and violate the federal regulations. The purchase of any SAT quantity must be done through the Biosafety Program.

For more information about Select Agent Toxins and associated regulation please visit CDC Federal Select Agent Program

List of regulated Select Toxins

Toxin Name Permissible Amount
Botulinum neurotoxins 1mg
Staphylococcal Enterotoxins A,B,C,D, & E subtypes 100mg
Tetrodotoxin (TTX) 500mg
Conotoxins (Short, paralytic alpha containing this amino acid sequence
X1CCX2PACGX3X4X5X6X7)
100mg
Saxitoxin 500mg
Ricin 1000mg
Abrin 1000mg
Diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) 10,000mg
T-2 toxin 10,000mg