November 14, 2024
Biological Safety Cabinets

Biological Safety Cabinets: Ensuring Safety When Working With Biohazards An Overview of Microbiological safety cabinet

What are Biological Safety Cabinets?

Microbiological safety cabinet (BSCs), also known as biosafety cabinets, are enclosed, ventilated laboratory workstations used for safely working with materials contaminated or potentially contaminated with pathogens requiring a defined biosafety level (BSL). There are three main classes of BSCs designed to maximize protection of the laboratory worker, the environment and product.

Class I Biological Safety Cabinets

Class I BSCs provide adequate protection for low risk procedures involving non-volatile, non-radioactive materials. They are vented to the outside but rely on airflow to protect the user. These cabinets are designed to draw room air across the work surface and discharge filtered air away from both the product and the laboratory worker. Class I BSCs are most often used for low-risk procedures like gross examination, necropsy, weighing, and preparing reagents and media.

Class II Microbiological safety cabinet

Class II cabinets are divided into Type A and Type B depending on their exhaust system. Both provide protection to the product and the laboratory worker but differ in the level of protection they offer the environment. Class II Type A cabinets circulate 70% of the air back into the laboratory after HEPA filtration while Type B cabinets exhausted the entire volume of air from the cabinet to the outside through a double-HEPA filter system. This provides superior product and environmental protection. Most tissue culture, Biological Safety Cabinets microbiological work, and manipulation of infectious materials are conducted in Class II BSCs.

Class III Microbiological safety cabinet

Class III BSCs provide the highest level of protection for personnel, products, and the environment. These totally enclosed cabinets are gas tight and maintain negative pressure inside the cabinet to ensure inward airflow at all times. All air is exhausted through two sets of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters before being discharged safely. Gloves or attached gloves allow manipulation inside the cabinet through attached gloves or gauntlets. Class III cabinets are often used for work with Risk Group 3 and 4 pathogens.

How do Microbiological safety cabinet Work?

All classes of BSCs function on the principle of positive pressure and inward airflow. These cabinets are designed to provide an inward laminar flow of HEPA-filtered air across the work surface to isolate the user from any contaminants. The front opening of the cabinet provides access for materials and specimens while the inward-directed HEPA-filtered air sweeps and washes contaminants away from the user. Depending on the class, filtered air may either be recirculated into the laboratory or fully exhausted outside via double HEPA filtration. High-volume blowers ensure adequate air changes and prevention of cross-contamination.

Selecting the Appropriate Biological Safety Cabinet

Proper cabinet selection depends on multiple factors including the risk group of organisms handled, type of procedures conducted, space/cost constraints and regulatory requirements. Class I cabinets provide adequate protection for low-risk procedures while Class II and III provide enhanced protection as risk levels increase. Factors like access points, pressure differential and filtered exhaust systems also change according to cabinet class. Biocontainment needs, facility design and ventilation capabilities must be considered to select a BSC suited for its intended purpose. Proper certification and maintenance also help guarantee safe operations at all times.

Operating and Maintaining Microbiological safety cabinet

Correct work practices and proper maintenance help optimize cabinet performance and safety. Cabinets must be certified and tested at least annually by qualified professionals to ensure filter integrity and pressure parameters are within acceptable limits. Users must be properly trained in procedures like decontamination, cleaning and disinfection. Protocols for loading materials, equipment placement, documentation of experiments and removal of biohazardous waste must also be followed rigorously. Record-keeping helps track service activities and certification/test dates. Regular HEPA filter replacements ensure optimal protection levels are maintained at all times. Proper operation, maintenance and training are essential to ensure safe functioning of BSCs.

Microbiological safety cabinet provide a critical barrier that protects laboratory personnel and the environment from exposure to biohazardous aerosols and droplets during microbiological, biomedical and pharmaceutical procedures. The various classes of BSCs offer differing levels of protection based on the risk group of organisms handled. Careful cabinet selection, certification, flawless work practices and diligent maintenance are vital to guarantee the safety standards these crucial scientific tools promise. Adhering to institutional biosafety guidelines optimizes human and environmental safety when working with biological hazards inside microbiological safety cabinet.

*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it

About Author - Vaagisha Singh
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Vaagisha brings over three years of expertise as a content editor in the market research domain. Originally a creative writer, she discovered her passion for editing, combining her flair for writing with a meticulous eye for detail. Her ability to craft and refine compelling content makes her an invaluable asset in delivering polished and engaging write-ups. LinkedIn

 

About Author - Vaagisha Singh

Vaagisha brings over three years of expertise as a content editor in the market research domain. Originally a creative writer, she discovered her passion for editing, combining her flair for writing with a meticulous eye for detail. Her ability to craft and refine compelling content makes her an invaluable asset in delivering polished and engaging write-ups. LinkedIn  

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