Exploring the Biosafety Cabinet Classification and the Type of Biosafety Materials They Can Handle

Biological safety cabinets (BSCs) have recently gained tremendous attention due to their growing demand in biopharmaceutical research. As the biopharmaceutical industry expands globally, developing gene and cell therapies, its dependence on biosafety cabinets has also increased. These thoughtfully engineered enclosures help them produce their products within a sterile and contained environment. The demand for the equipment is also driven by awareness about public health and the significance of the contributions made by research and diagnostics that deal with unique pathogens. Existing labs lack the updated infrastructure to protect their personnel, samples, and indoor and outdoor environments. With these latest solutions, labs can immediately become more functional and safer. 

What exactly does a bio safety cabinet do, and what types of biological materials can it handle? Let’s delve into this quickly for clarity.

Overview of biological safety cabinets

These enclosed workspaces or hoods create a protective layer between people and work samples containing pathogens, contaminants, and biological materials. These specialized cabinets are furnished with high-performing HEPA filters to cleanse the contaminated air and maintain a safe environment. Class I, II, and III are the three variants of biosafety cabinets. Each boasts a specific capability to manage different types of dangerous materials. 

• Class 1 BSCs

This basic design is created to protect the people and the surroundings. However, it cannot protect samples from contamination. You can buy these cabinets to handle low to medium-risk biological agents. Or, the materials should have a biosafety level of 1, 2, or 3 

• Class 2 BSCs

These can be good for personnel, samples, and the environment. You can find more options under Class 2 BSCs, such as A1, A2, B1, and B2. These variants feature different airflow rates and exhaust functions. You can include these cabinets for biosafety materials ranging from levels 1 to 3. These cabinets can have two or three filtration layers to allow safe passage for the air to exit the unit.

• Class 3 BSCs

These high-end cabinets are designed to offer maximum protection to their users, samples, and surroundings. Because of their airtight seals and robust physical barriers, you can use these enclosures to work with highly infectious biological compounds. Users must wear rubber gloves when working inside the cabinet with biosafety level 4 substances. Only these enclosures are suitable to manage these high-risk materials. 

Different biosafety levels 

CDC has categorized four distinct biosafety levels, from 1 to 4. Level 1 materials tend to be the least risky for the environment and the users. Healthy adults can be safe from diseases when handling Level 1 microbes. Hence, these can be managed at a lab bench. Level 2 materials can be slightly pathogenic and infectious. For these materials, lab workers need to use enclosures and safety gear. Level 3 microbes pose a risk of airborne contamination when inhaled. Some infections can be life-threatening. They must be handled in containments that don’t recirculate air. Instead, they must allow fresh air to flow inside. They must also have proper door-locking mechanisms in place. As you might expect, there’s significant danger associated with Level 4 microbes. Once infected, the worker cannot be treated. Hence, these materials should be handled within fully secured containment and under high levels of protection.

As such, biological safety cabinets can handle various types of harmful agents. Technicians need to choose the appropriate cabinet based on their specific project requirements.