Educational Information
What is a Biosafety Cabinet?
A biosafety cabinet (BSC) is a ventilated laboratory workspace designed to provide a safe environment for handling biological materials. It protects the user, the laboratory environment, and the samples being handled from contamination and exposure to potentially harmful microorganisms or hazardous materials.
Biosafety cabinets are classified into different classes based on their design and the level of protection they provide:
1. Class I: Provides personnel and environmental protection but does not protect the samples. Airflow is drawn into the cabinet and filtered through a HEPA filter before being exhausted.
2. Class II: Offers both personnel and environmental protection, as well as protection for the samples. It has a front sash that provides a barrier, and the air is recirculated within the cabinet after being filtered through HEPA filters.
3. Class III: Provides the highest level of protection for the user, environment, and samples. It is a fully enclosed cabinet with a gas-tight design and is typically used for handling highly infectious agents.
Biosafety cabinets are essential in microbiological and biomedical research, clinical labs, and settings where there’s a risk of exposure to pathogens, ensuring safe handling and containment of biological materials.