BIOSAFETY CABINETS (Microbiological Safety Cabinets)
A biosafety cabinet or biological safety cabinet (BSC) is a containment device equipped with High-Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) filters, designed to provide worker or both worker and product protection from biohazardous materials. It is mainly used for working safely with infectious microorganisms or materials contaminated with pathogens. For this reason, BSCs are also known as microbiological safety cabinets. All exhaust air is HEPA-filtered as it exits the biosafety cabinet, removing harmful bacteria and viruses. This is in contrast to a laminar flow clean bench, which blows unfiltered exhaust air towards the worker and is not safe for work with pathogenic agents. Likewise, a fume hood fails to provide the environmental protection that HEPA filtration in a biosafety cabinet would provide.
Three kinds of biosafety cabinets, designated as Class I, II and III have been developed to meet varying research and clinical needs. These classes and the types of BSCs within them are distinguished in two ways: the level of worker and environmental protection provided and the level of product protection provided.
Class I Biosafety Cabinets provide worker and environmental protection but no product protection. For this reason, RotaLab does not provide and recommend the use of Class I cabinets.
The Class II, Type A biosafety cabinet provides protection to the worker, the experimental material and the environment. The Class II biological safety cabinet is the type most commonly used in biomedical and microbiological laboratories. Air flow is drawn from the room around the operator into the front grille of the cabinet, which provides worker protection. In addition, the downward laminar flow of HEPA-filtered air provides protection for experimental material inside the cabinet. Because cabinet air has passed through the exhaust HEPA filter, it is contaminant-free, providing environmental protection. The cabinet air is generally recirculated back into the laboratory in Type A. Consequently, Type A is not safe for work with hazardous chemicals except when ducted, usually with a thimble or canopy hood to avoid disturbing internal air flow. Type A BSCs provide Biosafety Level (BSL) 2 & 3.
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BHC-IIA2
Biosafety Cabinet
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BSC-IIA2
Biosafety Cabinet
The Class II, Type B biosafety cabinet also provides protection to the worker, the experimental material and the environment. Type B biosafety cabinets works in exactly the same way as Type A biosafety cabinets. The main difference is that Type B biosafety cabinets are hard-ducted to an exhaust system. Hence, the cabinet air is released out of the building instead of being recirculated back into the room like in most Type A biosafety cabinets. Type B BSCs provide Biosafety Level (BSL) 2 & 3.
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BHC-IIB2
Biosafety Cabinet
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BSC-IIB2
Biosafety Cabinet
The Class III biosafety cabinet protects the worker, the experimental material and the environment like all Class II cabinets. The Class III cabinet is completely enclosed and gas-tight with a non-opening view window. It has rubber gloves attached to ports in the cabinet that allow for manipulation of materials in the cabinet. Class III biosafety cabinets are typically used for the most hazardous biological work, because they offer the highest degree of protection to the personnel and environment from infectious aerosols. Class III BSCs provide Biosafety Level (BSL) 3 & 4.
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BSC-III
Biosafety Cabinet