Microbiological Safety Cabinet

Microbiological Safety Cabinet- A Complete Buying Guide by Sunnyda.

When working in a laboratory, you must take special care of the hygiene standards of the work zone to prevent process contamination due to the release of harmful particulate in the work area.

To help you with this contamination control a Microbiological Safety Cabinet is used for carrying out activities that might produce biohazardous substances risky for living organisms.

These activities must be carried out with exclusive care minimizing the chances of spills and generation of aerosols.

Other sensitive activities that must be performed within this tissue culture hood in a clean room laboratory include vortexing and aerosol production.

Aerosol is generated when containers holding infectious materials are opened, as they have different internal pressure than the surrounding air pressure.

To know more about this type of cabinet read this ultimate buying guide to know its features, use, service, applications, testing, etc.

Sunnyda Microbiological Safety Cabinet in a Clean Room Laboratory

What is a Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

A Microbiological Safety Cabinet is equipment that provides safety and protection to the user and the product against harmful agents.

These harmful substances might be toxic gas vapors, that upon inhalation damage the air passageway, or biohazardous substances that risk human life upon contact.

It helps in the maintenance of the quality control standards of the substance underuse.

It filters the air entering from the sterile room as well as the one leading to the outside environment via exhaust fans.

As a result, not only personnel and organisms present inside the laboratory are protected from the harmful agents but also the protection of life present outside the laboratory is achieved.

The primary purpose of designing a Microbiological Safety Cabinet is to get protection against aerosols and particulates.

To get maximum results and efficiency use it properly and follow ISO safety and precaution standards.

Sunnyda Microbiological Safety Cabinet

What are the Prominent Features of a Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

• EN 12469 safety standard compliance

• Aerosol and air-tight electrical sliding sash

• Continuously monitoring microprocessors for maximum operator safety

• Progressive primary filter clogging stability

• Transitional disturbance stability

• Recessed V-profile inlet air grill on the front for maximum flow

• Semi-automatic fumigation rotation

• EC technology blower motors for low CO2 release and heat output

• Noise reduction and management with integrated technology

• Slopy front for easy access

• Sliding windows for maximum work area lighting

• Airflow laminator for surface protection during the cleaning process

• Removable 3-piece stainless steel work surface for efficient cleaning

Anti Rust Taps of Microbiological Safety Cabinet

What are the Specifications of a Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

• Overall Dimensions Options: (D × W × H) in mm: (840 × 1074 × 1450), (840 × 1380 × 1450), (840 × 1685 × 1450) or (840 × 1990 × 1450)

• Work Dimension Options: (D × W × H) in mm: (600 × 924 × 700), (600 × 1230 × 700), (600 × 1530 × 700) or (600 × 1840 × 700)

• Front Opening Height: (in mm): 200

• Air Filter Grade: 99.999% efficient H14 class HEPA filter box for particles sizing 0.3 microns

• Weight Options: 150 kgs, 190 kgs, 230 kgs or 300 kgs

• Power Supply: 220 by 240 Volts (50 Hz)

• Noise Levels: less than 49 dB (A), less than 50 dB (A), less than 53 dB (A), or less than 55 dB (A)

• Lighting Level: less than 900 lux

Dimensions of Microbiological Safety Cabinet

What are the Applications of a Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

• Medical Clean Room

• IVF Process

• Surgical Suites

• Laboratories

• Pathology Clinics

• Chemical Manufacturing

• Electronics Production

• Stem Cell Culturing

• Food Production

• Animal And Research Facilities

• Pharmaceutical Clean Room

Applications of Microbiological Safety Cabinet

What are the Advantages of a Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

• Eliminate the risk of contamination of the personnel, environment, and products.

• Trapping harmful particulate matter and filtering exhaust air.

• Inbuilt ventilation system to prevent saturation of harmful vapors.

• Airtight construction for preventing entry and exit of infectious particles.

• Providing a sterile environment for safe tissue culture growth.

Filtration of Exhaust Air of Microbiological Safety Cabinet

What are the Testing Instructions for a Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

Testing the performance, design, and structure of your Microbiological Safety Cabinet is essential for its good functioning.

Always make sure that the functional performance of your product meets the requirements stated by national and international standards.

This should be checked when fitting it into the installation site and also should be done after the usage for specific periods and maintained as per the instruction manual.

To check the effectiveness of your product, check the HEPA filter, face velocity, sensors and indicators, alarms, the integrity of the main body, the pattern of airflow, downflow velocity profile.

Sometimes, checking the normal light intensity, the intensity of UV light, electrical leaks, and the level of noise produced is also critical.

All these tests should be done by professional technicians using professional and quality instruments, to avail precise and accurate results.

Testing of Microbiological Safety Cabinet

How Does a Microbiological Safety Cabinet Provide Protection?

The functioning of a Microbiological Safety Cabinet involves devising a hygiene plan, suitable training, and implementation of good microbiological practice to achieve given types of protection:

• Protecting the materials from the harmful microorganisms present in the environment.

• Safety of the internal laboratory environment from the aerosols produced during operation.

• Safety of the operators from harmful aerosols.

This equipment can also save you from different splashes that may contain infectious pathogens, as it may act as a physical barrier. You may get improved splash protection by implementing other measures.

However, if you are looking for protection against radioactive substances or highly toxic substances, the Microbiological Safety Cabinet is not a suitable option.

Sash of Microbiological Safety Cabinet Protect Lab Operator

How to Minimize Cross-Contamination Risk When Working in a Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

Following proper protocols when working in a Microbiological Safety Cabinet can reduce the chances of contamination that may result from spills or aerosol production.

Minimize cross-contamination, which basically indicates the transfer of microorganisms, requires advanced safety conditions.

For this, you should not touch your face with your hands, as this may cause interaction between a contaminated and a non-contaminated surface.

Also, make sure that you are not using dirty gloves or hands to touch surfaces like the door handles that are placed out of this controlled environment.

Wear Proper PPE Before Using Microbiological Safety Cabinet

Does Microbiological Safety Cabinet Protect from Accidental Inoculation?

This safety cabinet is not suitable for protection against diseases or infections that may occur due to accidental inoculation, which includes sudden cuts, or wounds.

So, stay careful when using sharp objects and prefer using disposable materials within your Microbiological Safety Cabinet.

Sickness can occur if pathogenic microorganisms enter your body via contact or accidental inoculation, or through the oral or airborne routes.

Within the specialized environment of a laboratory, the transfer of pathogenic microorganisms is easier; the main reason for this is the presence of aerosols.

Which Activities Increase the Risk of Aerosols and Droplet Production in a Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

Dealing with microorganisms such as the agar plates or the liquid cultures often generates aerosols.

During the inoculation of a plate with a platinum loop or the preparation of a gram stain, aerosols are produced.

The aerosol production in this controlled environment elevates with the increase in your movement or the procedure done in it.

Shaking of liquid cultures generates a large aerosol number as compared to lower aerosol production which occurs as a result of using a platinum loop for inoculating plates.

Some activities that can result in the production of aerosols in your Microbiological Safety Cabinet are:

• Dealing Liquid Cultures

• Centrifugation

• Culture Flasks

• Shaking, Stirring, and Mixing

• Ultrasound

• Scraping off Unnecessary Content

• Cleaning the Consumables

• Dealing With Freeze-Dried Organisms

• Lyophilization

• Using Syringes

Lab Operator Dealing With Culture Flasks in a Microbiological Safety Cabinet

How to Operate your Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

The safe operation of your safety cabinet demands the following considerations:

• All the activities should be performed four inches away from the front grille, on a clean and sterilized working surface.

• Always place the disposable underpads in a direction that is not blocking the rear or front grille openings of your Microbiological Safety Cabinet.

• Until you have surface decontaminated the potentially contaminated objects, don’t take them out from the controlled environment.

• It is suitable to place the products far away from the front grille portion, towards the backside.

• To avail easy cleaning and to minimize splatter and formation of aerosols, use toweling procedures.

• If your Microbiological Safety Cabinet can produce aerosols, put them on the backside of the equipment.

• Always go with slow movements of arms, in a direction perpendicular to the face; this reduces the disturbance in the air curtain.

• Never put lightweight products after use, as they can enter the motor area, disturbing the normal operation of your equipment.

• The arrangement of materials inside this place should be done in a way to minimize the transfer of dirty products over clean ones.

• Always disinfectant properly after using your equipment.

• When cleaning with alcohol, open the sash to permit alcohol evaporation, and bring this sash back to its normal place after around ten minutes.

• Never cover the front grille with unnecessary items such as paper or a notebook.

Carefully Place Your Arms in Microbiological Safety Cabinet

Why Should you Use a Microbiological Safety Cabinet for Activities Involving Group 2 Microorganisms?

Personal Protection:

A Microbiological Safety Cabinet protects the personnel from biohazardous or pathogenic substances that can enter the human body and cause infections.

Some extreme pathogenic substances can even cause death when ingested or inhaled by humans.

Product Protection:

A Microbiological Safety Cabinet also helps to keep the product safe and protected from microbial impurities. Contamination of samples can cause a difference in the testing results.

For this reasons samples and collected using sterilized equipment, stored in clean and sterilized containers, and used with a safety cabinet ON to prevent contamination.

Environment Protection:

A safety cabinet is not just required for our protection but also important for environmental safety.

If harmful particulate is thrown directly into the outside environment without being cleaned, it can cause contamination in the environment.

Microbiological Safety Cabinet Protecting Lab Operator

How is a Microbiological Safety Cabinet Helpful in Medical Microbiological Diagnostics?

It is essential to analyze a clinical sample to detect the presence of pathogenic microorganisms and to discover their type, using the medical microbiological diagnostic studies.

The features of the microorganism and the nature of samples are the two main factors that influence the measure of the risk of potential infection.

Hence, the clinical sample must be assessed with proper risk detection tests to figure out whether a Microbiological Safety Cabinet is needed for the task or not.

Many considerations for this analysis are similar to those involved in research activities.

These include the risk of infection of the operators, organisms’ transmissibility, and the chances of aerosol formation.

Most importantly, sufficient information about the handling of this equipment and the clinical sample under testing is mandatory.

Sunnyda Microbiological Safety Cabinet in a Medical Microbiological Diagnostics Lab

When Should you not Use a Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

Always make sure not to perform the following activities in a Microbiological Safety Cabinet, and carry them out in their specified work areas:

• During handling large animals because of insufficient workspace

• When inoculating animals with syringes for injecting specific substances into their body to know the results of that particular substance.

• During the handling of specific parasites and their vectors as they might find secret places to hide within the hood.
• When large equipment is required for a process, this cabinet has not have enough space to fit in very large equipment like FACS (Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorters) and centrifuges.

How to Safely Handle your Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

For safe handling of your biological cabinet class 1, 2, and 3, follow these guidelines:

• Test your Microbiological Safety Cabinet before use, and after modifications.

• Correctly position it for ensuring smooth airflow and maximum efficacy.

• Follow the recommended operating instructions and get basic training.

• Take care of regular servicing, maintaining, and disinfection protocols.

• Do not cover the openings and avoid sudden movements in the premises of your Microbiological Safety Cabinet.

• Only place required items on the workspace during the working process.

Air Velocity Testing of Microbiological Safety Cabinet

What is Special About a Class I Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

The class 1 biological safety cabinet is used to achieve protection for both the operator and the environment when handling powders and potent chemicals.

It takes in the air through the front aperture, which then crosses the fan and HEPA filter, supplying protection to the environment and the user. This air leaves this system via the backside of the working surface.

Filtration of the air and inward airflow via the front opening is responsible for controlling the exiting of airborne particles.

The HEPA filters present in this cabinet are meant for the protection of the external environment by trapping the contaminating dust particles from the air.

An important thing to note is that the Microbiological Safety Cabinet is not suitable for working with research materials that can be easily subjected to airborne contamination.

The reason behind this is the inward flow of unfiltered air which may possess microbial contaminants, so in this case, prefer using a biological safety cabinet class 2.

Microbiological Safety Cabinet Class I

What are the Sub-Classes of a Class II Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

The two subclasses of class II biological safety cabinet on the basis of construction and configuration are:

Type A Cabinets:

These cabinets are used in microbiological research activities. A special requirement is the zero involvement of toxic and volatile chemicals because the air recirculates inside the cabinet. The further sub-types of Type A cabinets are:

Class II Type A1 Microbiological Safety Cabinet

• Filtered downflow (HEPA-filtered)

• 70% air recirculation inside the cabinet

• 30% of exhaustion of filtered air into the laboratory environment or outside, with the help of a thimble type duct connection.

• Alternative biologically contaminated positive pressure plenum presence

Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet

Filtered downflow (HEPA-filtered)

• 70% air recirculation inside the cabinet

• 30% of exhaustion of filtered air into the laboratory environment or outside

• Biologically contaminated negative pressure plenum

Type B Cabinets:

A hard duct is used for building a connection between the biosafety cabinet class 2 type b2 cabinet and the building exhaust system. Type B cabinets feature negative pressure plenum and have further sub-types including:

B1 Microbiological Safety Cabinet

• Filtered downflow (HEPA-filtered)

• 70% air recirculation inside the cabinet

• 30% of exhaustion of filtered to an external ventilation system

• Hard duct attachment with the external ventilation system

• Must feature biologically contaminated negative pressure plenums and ducts

B2 Microbiological Safety Cabinet

• Filtered downflow (HEPA-filtered)

• No air recirculation inside the cabinet

• 100% of exhaustion of filtered air into the external ventilation system

• Negative pressure plenums and ducts

Class 2 Type A2 Microbiological Safety Cabinet

When is a Class III Microbiological Safety Cabinet Required?

It is an aerosol-tight, completely-sealed, non-opening enclosure having a front window to build a physical barrier between the operator and his work.

A biosafety cabinet class 3 is also known as a glove box because all the work related to this cabinet is conducted with gloves on. In the cabinet front, on the ports, special long heavy-duty rubber gloves are attached in a gas-tight manner.

As a result, you get access to the Microbiological Safety Cabinet which also serves as your service area without compromising containment.

A Class 3 Microbiological Safety Cabinet is used for applications with high threats of biological risks in biosafety level 4 laboratories which require maximum protection and containment.

Samples having unknown transmission and pathogenicity risks are also incident also imply biosafety level 4 safety, so you should use a Class 3 Microbiological Safety Cabinet in these situations.

Class II Microbiological Safety Cabinet

What are Different Biosafety Levels of a Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

Biosafety Level 1:

This biosafety level is useful when dealing with biological agents that are slightly risky to the environment and the health of the laboratory personnel.

Such working procedures can be carried out in open laboratory cabinets and do not have any special equipment requirements.

Biosafety Level 2:

This biosafety level is involved when working with infectious or pathogenic agents that are moderately risky for the environment and personnel.

Common applications involving biosafety level 2 risks are working with the Measles virus, Hepatitis B virus, and Salmonellae.

Biosafety Level 3:

When dealing with exotic or indigenous substances, biosafety level 3 is applied as these substances can cause lethal diseases and serious health risks because of contaminated aerosol transmission.

Common applications involving the concept of biosafety level 3 are Encephalitis and Yellow Fever.

Biosafety Level 4:

When dealing with highly life-threatening, dangerous, and contagious agents biosafety level 4 is considered.

For this level, maximum protection and containment are required throughout the process. Common applications involving biosafety level 4 are the Lassa virus and Ebola.

Biosafety Levels

Can you Use UV Lamps in a Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

You cannot use UV (Ultraviolet) lamps in a Microbiological Safety Cabinet as the only disinfection method.

When installing UV lamps, make sure to clean them regularly to remove any film that results in the blockage of lamp output.

Check the performance of the lamps regularly using a UV meter and find out if they are emitting the appropriate UV light intensity.

If the fluence rate goes below 40 UW/cm2, it is an indication of lamp replacement.

If the room is filled with multiple people, turn off the unshielded lamps for protecting your skin and eyes from exposure to UV rays.

During the operation of the UV lamp keep the sliding sash closed. Prefer sliding sashes with interlocks for maximum prevention of UV exposure.

UV Light of Microbiological Safety Cabinet

What is the Waste Disposal Instructions of a Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

To protect Microbiological Safety Cabinet users, not only proper usage is important but proper disposal is also necessary.

To help with the best waste disposal, a vacuum flask system is recommended. In this system, the contaminated fluid is collected into the suction flask (present on the left), which already contains a compatible decontamination solution.

In case of overflow, the extra fluid is collected in the collection flask (present on the left).

A HEPA filter box is also installed in this system to provide protection from microorganisms. Proper waste disposal steps include:

• Build a connection between the primary flask, the overflow collection flask, and the HEPA filter.

• Add a compatible disinfectant to both flasks.

• You can build this setup either inside the Microbiological Safety Cabinet or outside it. For outside placement, build the vacuum flask system on the floor, on the side of the MSC, or beneath it.

Outside construction is helpful in saving space within the Microbiological Safety Cabinet.

• Dispose of the liquid materials as noninfectious waste, into the sink once inactivation takes place. Empty the flask and discard the waste according to the following instructions:

• Empty the flask daily.

• Once the experiment or process is completed, empty the flask.

• Empty it when the ¾ volume is reached.

HEPA Box for Microbiological Safety Cabinet

How to Handle Minor or Major Biological Spill in a Microbiological Safety Cabinet?

Minor spills are those spills that can be easily handled by the laboratory staff, without requiring emergency or safety personnel’s help.

In case of minor spills, consider the following practices:

• Keep the Microbiological Safety Cabinet functioning to ensure your protection from harmful contaminants released as a result of spillage.

• Let people in the spill premises know about the minor spill accident and tell them to stay alert.

• Always make sure that you have your lab protective equipment on, including gloves, safety goggles, and a full-sleeve lab coat.

• Use a decontaminant spray on all the items and surfaces before taking out equipment from your Microbiological Safety Cabinet.

• Use a paper towel for covering the spills and then use a disinfectant to saturate the covered zone.

• Let the disinfectant sit there for about 20 minutes before you clean it up.

• Do not pick the soaked paper towel with bare hands; always use forceps or tongs to pick it up.

• Take a fresh towel, soak it in disinfectant, and then use it for cleaning the spill area. A composition of 70% ethanol and 10% bleach is recommended for making an appropriate disinfectant.

• Use an autoclave bag for enclosing the waste material and follow standard autoclave procedures to get rid of the waste.

• Run the Microbiological Safety Cabinet for extra 10 minutes before you turn it off or resume your work.

• A major spill demands immediate help from emergency personnel. Never try to clean major spills on your own; they might have hazardous vapors or toxic substances.

Immediately seek professional help to clean up large spills especially in biological safety cabinet class 3.

Spills Handling in Microbiological Safety Cabinet

Conclusion.

Using a Microbiological Safety Cabinet you can keep yourself and your environment protected from harmful particulate during different laboratory processes.

Always choose the best and the most trusted manufacturer for purchasing your biosafety cabinet for making a worth-it purchase.

Make sure to buy a compatible cabinet that fully meets your application demands and provides maximum efficiency.

Also take care of the regular cleaning, maintenance, and servicing of your Microbiological Safety Cabinet to maintain its performance, durability, and efficiency.

ISO Certified Heavy Duty Microbiological Safety Cabinet