Biological Safety Cabinet Use
Biological Safety Cabinets (BSC) are the primary means of containment for working safely with infectious or potentially infectious materials. Biological Safety Cabinets operate by controlling and capturing particulate airborne contaminants during work through the use of laminar airflow and high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration.
BSC Location in the Laboratory
The air curtain created at the front of the cabinet is fragile maintaining a downward and inward air velocity of a minimum 100 fpm. Since the air curtain created at the front of the cabinet can be easily disrupted, a BSC should be located away from air supply registers, door entrances/exits, and other high traffic areas.
Safe and effective BSC Use
Before beginning work
Turn the cabinet on and let it run for 5 minutes. (BSL3 and BSL4 laboratories always leave the BSC on at all times)
- Ensure that the UV light is off.
Wipe work surface with an appropriate disinfectant such as 70% ethanol.
Plan your work and place everything needed for the procedure inside the BSC.
Wipe items with disinfectant before placing in BSC.
During Work
Avoid airflow disruption that could affect the level of protection provided by the BSC.
Keep the BSC free of clutter
Don’t place objects over the front air intake grille.
Don’t place objects over the rear intake grille.
Limit traffic in the area when the BSC is in use
Make sure laboratory doors are closed and avoid opening/closing doors if located near the BSC.
Move arms slowly when removing or introducing items. Avoid sweeping arm motions.
When working with infectious materials, change gloves when moving in and out of the cabinet.
Keep all materials at least 4 inches inside the front sash.
Keep clean materials at least one foot away from any aerosol generating activities to minimize the potential for cross contamination.
Place any equipment that creates air turbulence in the back 1/3 of the cabinet and stop other work while the equipment is running.
Don’t operate an open flame such as a Bunsen burner in the cabinet as this can disrupt air flows within the cabinet and is a fire hazard.
- Alternative technology such as electric incinerators, glass bead sterilizers or touch-plate microburners can be used if absolutely necessary.
Segregate contaminated and clean items. Work from “clean to dirty.”
Stop work when there is a spill. Clean up all spills in the cabinet immediately. Allow the cabinet to run for 5 minutes before resuming work.
After completion of work
Don a new pair of gloves, and wipe down all items with an appropriate disinfectant before removing.
Remove all materials and wipe all interior surfaces of the BSC with an appropriate disinfectant.
Wash hands after completion of work.
Periodically decontaminate and clean under work grilles.
Certification
The National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) International Standard no. 49 for Class II biohazard cabinetry establishes performance criteria as well as minimum requirements for design, manufacture, and testing.
- A BSC in a BL1 and BL2 laboratory must be professionally certified after installation annually recertified, and recertified after being moved or service repair.
- A BSC in a BL3 laboratory must be certified after installation, annually recertified, and recertified after being moved or a serviced repair.
- A BSC in a BL4 laboratory must be certified after installation, annually recertified, and recertified after being moved or a serviced repair.
- A BSC must be professionally decontaminated before disposal or removal/relocation from a lab space.