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What is biological safety cabinet?
The term biological safety cabinet is used to describe a variety of containment devices equipped with HEPA filters, which are designed to provide personnel protection or both personnel and product protection from the hazards of handling infectious materials. The terms “Biological Safety Cabinet” should not be applied to those devices that meet the requirement of Class I, II and III specifications. The cabinets are defined by class and again by type based on their construction, airflow velocities and patterns, and their exhaust system. Questions are commonly asked about the differences between a Class II biological safety cabinet and a laboratory enclosure, ducked to the outside that captures and contains contaminants preventing their escape into the laboratory, whereas the function of the fume hood is to protect only the operator and laboratory personnel, providing protection.
Cabinet Classification and unit type selection:
Biological Safety Cabinets, sometimes referred to as “Biohazard Cabinets”, are divided into three categories according to method of operation and level of personnel and environmental protection. These are Class I, II and III.
The National sanitation Foundation Standard 49 lists all products which meet the reference standard. Recently, it restructured its Class II Cabinet classification to reflect modifications in cabinet designs. This revision differs from the “Classic” Class II type system (see Table 1). Utilization of this standard should be the first important step in selection and procurement of a Biological Safety Cabinet.
Class I and Class II cabinets are used for work involving low and moderate risk biological agents. Class III cabinets are used for work with high risk agents. Having assessed the risk inherent on the proposed work program and having made a decision on protection objectives achievable through the use of the cabinet, the specifier and/or the potential buyer should be ready to make the unit type selection. There are several selections available from which to choose, in order to safety the identified objectives.
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