Biological Safety Cabinets and Their Classifications
A vital piece of safety equipment is definitely the Biological Safety Cabinet (BSCs) in which manipulations of infectious microorganisms are performed. Biological safety cabinets will be the primary signifies of containment created for working safely with infectious microorganisms. Horizontal clean benches that direct towards the operator are not biological safety cabinets and need to not be used for handling infectious, toxic or sensitizing supplies. BSCs are created to supply both a clean work environment and protection for employees who work with biological hazards thus biosafety cabinet’s uses vertical laminar airflow to create a barrier to airborne particles, such as microorganisms as vertical laminar air flow offers protection for each the personnel along with the product. Get additional information regarding learn more, see more
Biosafety cabinets use the HEPA filtered air for the recirculation over the work location. The HEPA filter removes airborne particles in the air, but will not take away chemical fumes; therefore Biosafety cabinets need to not be confused with the fume hood. Biosafety cabinets will not be the Fume Hood. Biosafety cabinets are equipped with Ultraviolet lamp that delivers protection against contamination, but as the UV light cannot penetrate the dust particles, hence an additional chemical disinfectant, iodophor needs to be use for the cleaning and decontaminating the work area.
Use of biosafety cabinets is advised for the manipulations of pathogens or antineoplastics which will produce aerosols and for each of the airborne transmitted pathogens (for example Brucella abortus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, etc).
There are three classes of biological safety cabinets;
BSCs Class I: an open-front damaging pressure cabinet. The exhaust air in the cabinet is filtered by a HEPA filter. This class offers personnel and environmental protection, but not product protection.
BSCs Class II: is an open-front, ventilated cabinet. This cabinet gives a HEPA-filtered, recirculated mass airflow within the work space. The exhaust air from the cabinet can also be filtered by HEPA filters. This class supplies personnel, environment and product protection.
BSCs Class III: is often a entirely enclosed ventilated cabinet of gas-tight building. Operations inside the Class III cabinet are conducted through attached rubber gloves. When in use, the Class III cabinet is maintained by way of unfavorable air pressure of at least 0.5 inches water gauge. Supply air is drawn into the cabinet by way of HEPA filters. The cabinet exhaust air is filtered by two HEPA filters, installed in series, before discharge outdoors of your facility. The exhaust fan for the Class III cabinet is frequently separate in the exhaust fans of your facility’s ventilation system.
