Both Class I and II BSC have inward face velocities (75-100 linear feet per minute) that provide comparable levels of containment to protect laboratory workers and the immediate environment from infectious aerosols generated within the cabinet..
What is the flow of air in the biosafety cabinet?
Airflow in the BSC In the cabinet, the air is circulated through a fan (purple arrow) and sent to the filters (yellow arrow). Air is then filtered through high efficiency filters (blue arrows) and is either exhausted or circulated to the work zone. Slow, steady operator movements ensure containment within the BSC..
What type of flow is used for the biosafety cabinet?
A Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC) is a ventilated cabinet that uses a combination of High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filtration, laminar airflow, and containment to provide personnel, product, and environmental protection from biohazardous agents..
Type A1 cabinets have an inward airflow of 75 feet per minute (fpm), and recirculate approximately 70% of discharge air through the supply HEPA filter back to the work zone.
Air flows from the room into the front grill of the BSC but does not flow across the work zone (red arrow). In the cabinet, the air is circulated through a
For proper containment, air is drawn into the cabinet at the opening and then down into the front grille. Together, the sash and inward flowing air provide an air “curtain” or barrier that is intended to keep cabinet air and room air separate from one another.
How does a biosafety cabinet work?
A Class II, Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet (BSC) provides personnel, product, and environmental protection through filtered air, laminar or unidirectional air, and a motor blower. Room air is drawn in through the front grill of the cabinet. The air is pulled under the work surface and through a back wall plenum through a motor blower.
Biosafety cabinet air flow
Electrical device which uses dry heat to sterilize substances
Hot air ovens are electrical devices which use dry heat to sterilize. They were originally developed by Louis Pasteur. Generally, they use a thermostat to control the temperature. Their double walled insulation keeps the heat in and conserves energy, the inner layer being a poor conductor and outer layer being metallic. There is also an air filled space in between to aid insulation. An air circulating fan helps in uniform distribution of the heat. These are fitted with the adjustable wire mesh plated trays or aluminium trays and may have an on/off rocker switch, as well as indicators and controls for temperature and holding time. The capacities of these ovens vary. Power supply needs vary from country to country, depending on the voltage and frequency (hertz) used. Temperature sensitive tapes or biological indicators using bacterial spores can be used as controls, to test for the efficacy of the device during use.
A powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) is a type of respirator used
A powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) is a type of respirator used to safeguard workers against contaminated air. PAPRs consist of a headgear-and-fan assembly that takes ambient air contaminated with one or more type of pollutant or pathogen, actively removes (filters) a sufficient proportion of these hazards, and then delivers the clean air to the user's face or mouth and nose. They have a higher assigned protection factor than filtering facepiece respirators such as N95 masks. PAPRs are sometimes called positive-pressure masks, blower units, or just blowers.
