• Definition
• Classes of Biological Safety Cabinets
  • Biological Safety Cabinet Class 1
  • Biological Safety Cabinets Class 2
  • Biological Safety Cabinets Class 3
• Biological Safety Cabinet Uses
• Biosafety Cabinet Price in India

Biological safety cabinet or microbiological safety cabinets are enclosed compartments with lights, research equipment, and facilities that are used to contain and study substances that may be potentially pathogenic, in order to protect the user and the environment.

Biological Safety Cabinet Diagram showing the air inlets and outlets, position of the HEPA filters, air circulation pathway and the workspace. 

Definition

The biological safety cabinet filters incoming and outgoing air from the cabinet, which is ventilated. The ventilated cabinet is where the worker places the substance they are working with and continues to process it, preferably wearing additional protective equipment, such as masks, gloves, safety goggles and PPE kits.

1. HEPA Filters: The filters are fitted with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, which remove incoming air contaminants.
2. Filtration Efficiency: HEPA filters can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria, and airborne particles ≥ 0.3 microns (µm) (USEPA).
3. Alternative Names: Also known as a laminar flow cabinet or tissue culture hood.
4. Safe Handling Practices: All procedures should be performed in a way that minimizes aerosol generation and prevents spills.
5. Aerosol-Generating Procedures: 

These include:

• Centrifugation
• Vortex
• Sonication
• Opening containers of infectious materials (with internal pressure different from ambient pressure).

6. Containment Measures: Such procedures should be performed inside the biological safety cabinet or additional safety measures should be implemented to mitigate risks.

Classes of Biological Safety Cabinets

Biological Safety Cabinet Class 1

The Class I biological safety cabinet has a simple and fundamental design. It provides protection for the operator and the environment by drawing inward airflow that captures aerosols generated during microbiological work. This air then passes through a filtration system, typically consisting of a pre-filter and a HEPA filter, which removes airborne particles and contaminants before being exhausted.

• User & Environment Protection: Class I cabinets protect the operator but not the sample.
• Cross-Contamination Risk: Exposure to airborne contaminants may affect experimental accuracy.
• Limited Applications: Restricted use due to contamination risks.
• Obsolescence: Largely replaced by Class II cabinets for better protection.

Biological Safety Cabinets Class 2

The Class II Biosafety Cabinet is primarily used for handling pathogenic biological samples or applications requiring a sterile work environment. It is designed with three key protective features:

1. Inflow air – Protects the operator by preventing exposure to hazardous materials.
2. ULPA/HEPA-filtered downflow – Maintains an ISO Class 3 clean work surface, preventing cross-contamination and ensuring sample integrity.
3. ULPA/HEPA-filtered exhaust – Safeguards the environment by filtering outgoing air before release.

These features make Class II cabinets essential in microbiology, pharmaceuticals, and biomedical research. This is the most commonly used biosafety cabinet in schools, colleges and research institutions. To set up a biosafety level 2 cabinet in your organization, go over here. 

Biological Safety Cabinets Class 3

Class III biological safety cabinets offer the highest level of containment, surpassing Class I and II cabinets. However, they are much costlier. 

• Construction: Made of welded metal, gas-tight, with glove ports for handling materials.
• Negative pressure: Maintains negative pressure to enhance containment safety.
• HEPA filtration: Exhaust air is HEPA-filtered and incinerated for additional safety.
• Material transfer: Uses a pass-through unit for safe transfer of materials.
• Air exhaust: Air is typically exhausted back into the lab or through a dedicated duct system to the external environment.
• Toxic chemical compatibility: Suitable for use with toxic chemicals in addition to microbiological work when connected to dedicated exhaust systems.

Biological safety cabinet class 3

Biological Safety Cabinet Uses

Biological safety cabinets (BSCs) are essential in laboratories handling hazardous microorganisms, viruses, and toxic chemicals. They ensure containment and safe processing of materials across different biosafety levels (BSLs).

Biosafety Levels (BSL) Pyramid

• BSL-1 & BSL-2: Suitable for handling non-pathogenic and less hazardous bacteria. BSL-2 is preferred when working with non-pathogenic bacteria due to a slightly higher level of containment.
• BSL-3: Designed for highly pathogenic and dangerous organisms (e.g., Corona, Ebola). Provides a higher level of containment to prevent the spread of infectious agents.
• Chemical Applications: BSL-3 cabinets are used for handling toxic chemicals, ensuring both biological and chemical safety.
• Bacterial Handling: Bacteria are typically streaked or processed on Petri plates in BSL-2 or BSL-3 cabinets, depending on their pathogenicity.
• Viral Applications: Viruses are primarily handled in tissue culture environments, where tissue culture hoods are preferred for safe processing.
• Plant Tissue Culture: Plant tissue culture work is conducted in BSL-2 cabinets to maintain sterile conditions and prevent contamination of samples and germplasm. 

Biosafety Cabinet Price in India

Biosafety cabinets are essential in laboratories to protect personnel, products, and the environment from hazardous materials. In India, these cabinets are available in various classes, each offering different levels of protection and features. Below is a summary comparing the prices of Class I, Class II, and Class III biosafety cabinets available from Biological Safety Cabinet supplier Labkafe, in India:

Please note that prices can vary from time to time and are subject to change at any moment.  For the most accurate and up-to-date pricing, it’s recommended to contact our lab experts directly.

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