How Biosafety Cabinet Classification Works?

by Kevin Smith Author

A biosafety cabinet is a ventilated work area designed so that personnel can work with material that contains or could possibly be contaminated with pathogens. The purpose of the biosafety cabinet is to promote safety for these personnel and reduce the risk of contamination or disease from different types of pathogens. These cabinets differ from fume hoods because the exhaust air in biosafety cabinets is High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtered as it leaves the work area. This type of filtration prevents microscopic organisms like bacteria or viruses from harming workers or being dumped into the environment. The United States Center for Disease Control uses three different classification systems to describe biosafety cabinets. The biosafety cabinet classification is used to ensure that the proper equipment is used to keep personnel and the environment safe and prevent outbreaks of disease.

Biosafety Cabinet Uses

Biosafety cabinets are essential when working with infectious agents. They are used in medicine, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and related fields as part of clean room management. These workstations allow scientists and other personnel to safely handle and work with dangerous materials. This is essential for improving treatment and containment of diseases or studying new pathogens.

Classifications

Biosafety cabinets are divided into three classifications to describe the type of protection they provide against pathogens. Class I cabinets protect personnel and the environment but no the product that is being worked on. These cabinets use an inward airflow that can blow air-born pathogens back towards the product being studied. They are usually used to house equipment such as centrifuges that can produce aerosols. Class II cabinets protect personnel, the environment, and the sample being studied. They work by filtering the air that is blown back through the cabinet itself. This is done using a series of vents and fans that circulates air through a HEPA filter before blowing it back into the cabinet. These cabinets are most frequently used in clinical and research laboratories. Class III biosafety cabinets are used only for the most hazardous material. They are custom made and are gas-tight. Before entering or leaving a class III biosafety cabinet all material must pass through either a dunk tank or double-door enclave. In order to work with the samples within these cabinets, personnel must use gloves that have been previously attached to the outside of the work space to make sure that they never come in contact with the pathogen.

Biosafety cabinets are essential pieces of equipment when it comes to doing medical or biotechnological research. They allow researchers to study dangerous pathogens without danger of contracting an illness or contaminating the outside environment. The type of cabinet that a laboratory will need will be dependent on the type of work they are doing and the hazard level of their sample. Biosafety cabinet classification systems make it easier for laboratories to select the best equipment for their needs and make sure they maintain a safe environment when working with dangerous materials.