The difference between safety cabinet and fume hood and ultra-clean table

Biosafety cabinets are designed to protect the working staff, laboratory environment and experimental products from exposure to infectious aerosols and splashes that may occur during the operation of primary cultures, bacterial strains, diagnostic specimens and other infectious experimental materials. In the manual of laboratory biosafety published by WHO, it is clearly stated that "biosafety cabinets can effectively reduce laboratory infection and culture cross contamination caused by aerosol exposure, and biosafety cabinets can also protect the working environment". Of course, the premise that safe ark works effectively is the safe ark that choose and buy qualifies and USES safe ark correctly. At present, there are many kinds of biosafety cabinets on the market. This paper introduces the basic knowledge of laboratory biosafety standards, classification and certification of biosafety cabinets, aiming to provide reference for purchasing personnel in purchasing biosafety cabinets.



◆ the selection of biosafety cabinet basically depends on the type of test products used in the biological test:



1. If only microbial samples are involved in biological tests, basic types of biosafety cabinets can be used;



2. If microbial samples and trace chemical reagents (non-corrosive) are involved in biological tests, it is necessary to use safety cabinets equipped with outfall pipes. Because the HEPA filter is not effective in filtering and removing chemical gases, if it cannot be discharged, it will pose a threat to laboratory staff and the environment.



3. If cytotoxic drugs are involved in biological tests, such as various cancer treatment drugs, the cytotoxic safety cabinet must be used.



◆ it is necessary to clearly understand the distinction between biosafety cabinet and fume hood/ultra-clean workbench.



Fume hoods and ultra-clean workstations are not biosafety cabinets and may not be used in experiments or production involving microbial materials.



Fume hoods are designed to remove corrosive chemical gases and toxic fumes during chemical experiments. The fume hood cannot effectively remove microbial media without HEPA filters. Microbial samples placed in fume hoods can spread out of the cabinets and contaminate the laboratory environment.



The ultra-clean bench is designed to protect the test product or product from contamination by dust or bacteria outside the work area by blowing vertical or horizontal laminar air across the work area. Once the microbial sample is placed in the work area, laminar air will blow the air containing the microbial medium to the front desk personnel, creating a hazard.