A Little Information On Biosafety Cabinet A Laboratory Equipment

A Biosafety Cabinet is not chemical fume hood. Fume hoods are planned to remove chemical fumes and sprays outside the work area. BSCs are planned to give both a clean work surroundings and security for employees who work with organic hazards. BSCs exercise vertical laminar airflow to produce a hurdle to airborne particles, such as bacteria’s. They use High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters to dirt free air going into the work area and not in the environment. The air in Biosafety Cabinets is re-circulated above the work area during the HEPA filter. The HEPA filter eliminates airborne particles from the air, but does not eradicate chemical fumes

When Should we use a Biosafety Cabinet

Use a Biosafety Cabinet for handling of human pathogens or antineoplastic that are likely to create sprays (such as overtaxing open tubes, pipetting, opening caps after centrifuging, sonicating, aspirating with a syringe, etc.). Use for all manipulation of airborne passing on pathogens (such as Brucella abortus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, etc.).

Open Flames in a Biosafety Cabinet

Using open flames, such as Bunsen burners, in a Biosafety Cabinet disturbs the air flow, cooperating safety of both the worker and the work. As well, if the flame of the burner is too big, or ignites a wash bottle of ethanol (often found in a Biosafety Cabinet), the too much heat may liquefy the adhesive holding the HEPA filter mutually or burn holes in the filter media. Other techniques such as electric incinerators or throwaway vaccinating loops are advised.

Ultraviolet Lights in a Biosafety Cabinet

The ultraviolet (UV) light in Biosafety Cabinet is simply helpful as an additional safety measure in keeping the work area disinfected between uses, because UV light has very little power to enter even through a dust particle. Constantly clean and decontaminate the work area systematically using a chemical antiseptic, such as an iodophor, after every use.

Today Biosafety cabinet available in different classes such as Class 1 Biosafety Cabinet, Class 2 and Class 3 Cabinet. These Classes of such Biological Cabinets are distinguished in two different ways:

1. The level of personnel and environmental protection provided
2. The level of product protection provided.

Class 1: Class 1 Biosafety Cabinets are used to provide personnel and environmental protection but no product protection. This class 1 BSC is usually used to enclose specific equipment or procedures that potentially generate aerosols. These BSCs are designed with duct or without duct.

Class 2: Class 2 Biosafety Cabinet provides both kinds of protection i.e. personnel and product protection.

Class 3: This class 3 BSC is generally installed in maximum containment laboratories and designed for work with BSL-4 pathogenic agents, providing optimum protection.

Other products that fall to this biosafety cabinet category are Laminar Air Flow Cabinet, Air Shower and Modular Clean Rooms.

By: Maria Jo

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Maria John is currently researching laboratory equipment with Bionics Scientific Technologies in India. She further recommends Laminar Airflow Cabinets, Modular Clean Rooms and www.bionicsscientific.com/laboratory-equipment/biosafety-cabinets.html">Biosafety Cabinets by Bionics Scientific.