Biosafety cabinets, fume hoods, and clean benches are common operating equipment in food laboratories. Although they seem to have similar structures and appearances on the surface, in fact these are three different types of equipment, so in the laboratory In the construction, it is necessary to clearly understand the distinction between biological safety cabinets, fume hoods and ultra-clean work platforms.
First of all, we must make clear that the fume hood and the ultra-clean workbench are not part of the biosafety cabinet and should not be used in experiments or production processes involving infectious pathogenic microorganism materials.
Biological safety cabinets (BSCs) are used to protect workers, laboratory environments, and laboratory products from the above operations when they are used to infect experimental strains such as bacterial strains and diagnostic specimens. Designed for infective aerosols and spills that may occur during the process. The Laboratory Biosafety Manual published by the World Health Organization (WHO) clearly states: “Biosafety cabinets can effectively reduce laboratory infections caused by aerosol exposure and cross-contamination of cultures. Biosafety cabinets can also protect work. surroundings". Of course, the premise of safe cabinet work is to purchase qualified safety cabinets and use safety cabinets correctly.
The current effective national standard "General Principles of Food Microbiology (GB 4789.1-2010)" stipulates that the isolation and identification of pathogenic microorganisms should be carried out in the secondary biosafety laboratory (BSL-2), and the general requirements for laboratory biosafety (GB) 19489-2008) also made clear requirements for biosafety cabinets in the definition of secondary biosafety laboratories. Therefore, the biosafety cabinet has become one of the necessary equipment for the inspection of food pathogenic microorganisms.
Fume hoods (ventilation cabinets) are designed to remove corrosive chemical gases and toxic fumes during chemical experiments. The fume hood does not effectively remove microbial media because it is not equipped with a HEPA filter. Microbiological samples placed in the fume hood will spread out of the cabinet and contaminate the laboratory environment.
The ultra-clean workbench (clean bench) is designed to protect the test piece or product. It prevents the test article or product from being contaminated by dust or bacteria outside the work area by blowing vertical or horizontal laminar air through the work area. Once the infectious pathogenic microbial sample is placed in the work area, laminar air will create a hazard by blowing air with such microbial media to the front desk staff. Therefore, it is suitable for inoculation and isolation of non-pathogenic microorganisms.
The biosafety cabinet is designed to protect workers, laboratory environments, and laboratory materials from the use of infectious materials such as primary cultures, bacterial strains, and diagnostic specimens to avoid exposure to the above operations. Designed to produce infectious aerosols and spills. Its purpose is to protect the experimental process, operators and the environment from harm. Fume hoods and clean benches are not biosafety cabinets and should not be used in experiments or production processes involving microbial materials.
The choice of biosafety cabinet depends largely on the type of test substance used in the biological test:
1. If biological tests involve microbial samples and trace chemical reagents (non-corrosive), it is necessary to use safety cabinets equipped with external piping. Because HEPA filters do not effectively filter and remove chemical gases, if they are not effluxed, they will pose a threat to workers and the environment in the laboratory;
2. If the biological test involves cytotoxic drugs, such as various cancer treatment drugs, the cytotoxic safety cabinet must be used.
3. If the biological test involves only microbial samples, the basic type of biosafety cabinet can be used; in addition, the distinction between the biosafety cabinet and the fume hood/ultra-clean workbench needs to be clearly understood. Fume hoods and clean benches are not biosafety cabinets and should not be used in experiments or production processes involving microbial materials.
The ultra-clean workbench (clean bench) is designed to protect the test piece or product. It prevents the test article or product from being contaminated by dust or bacteria outside the work area by blowing vertical or horizontal laminar air through the work area. Once the microbial sample is placed in the work area, laminar air will create a hazard by blowing air with microbial media to the front desk staff.
Fume hoods (ventilation cabinets) are designed to remove corrosive chemical gases and toxic fumes during chemical experiments. The fume hood does not effectively remove microbial media because it is not equipped with a HEPA filter. Microbiological samples placed in the fume hood will spread out of the cabinet and contaminate the laboratory environment.
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