Biopharma, pharmaceutical, and biosafety labs may have unique air quality needs, but each should provide safety to workers, products, and tools by following safe processes. Scientists deal with viruses, bacteria, toxic materials, parasites, and other infectious agents in biosafety facilities. When interacting with impure air, uncollected gas molecules can cause severe threats. Then, using chemicals and different situations also necessitates building a suitable lab infrastructure with the right equipment. They should follow biosafety levels to increase precautions. When it comes to this, the utility of clean air solutions like fume hoods, PCR cabinets, biosafety cabinets, and laminar clean benches becomes more prominent. Let’s explore them quickly.
Fume hoods
The innovative fume hood and enclosure designs are environmental-friendly and sustainable. These enclosed workspaces allow students and researchers to handle hazardous materials safely with reduced or no exposure risks. You come across two options: ducted and ductless fume hoods. These are for educational, industrial, and biomedical research. Ducted systems absorb the air and push it into the outside environment to avoid contamination.
However, ductless hood uses a particular filtering system to circulate the clean air back into the space. Before these systems, scientists worked with substances in an open lab. As a result, the exposure risks were higher for them and others. But technologies like fume hoods help create controlled research and experimentation environment.
Working with fume hoods
The equipment and the exhaust system clear the potential fumes from the inside atmosphere so the technicians can manage the substances well. Some models operate without needing additional ductwork. These are ductless systems. With in-house filters, they purify the air and recirculate it. When you shop for it, you must consider a few aspects. One is size and capacity. A fume hood should match your lab space's needs and ensure a smooth workflow.
Check the ventilation system as well. Ducted designs will demand having an exhaust system to dispel air outside. A ductless enclosure will have a filter to purify it. Now, the pertinent question is, which one should you buy? It depends on your budget and facility layout.
Modern ductless equipment works independently of ductwork to vent air. As a result, it costs less and can fit anywhere in a lab. Since this equipment uses technologically advanced features, fume containment is better. Also, the recirculating clean and conditioned air back into the lab causes less HVAC load, keeping the overall charges under control. A place where multiple such systems are in use notices a significant reduction in utility bills compared to the conventional ducted models. For help with ductless fume designs, you can visit https://topairsystems.com/.
Besides this, you also need to choose it based on the types of substances you work with in the lab. It will help you decide whether a regular chemical hood will be okay or one with UV protection or such features will be more helpful. These enclosures use materials like polypropylene, steel, aluminum, etc. You can pick one that is more durable and safer. Of course, each lab unit should thoroughly conform to the safety guidelines mentioned by the health departments.
Biosafety cabinets
A biosafety cabinet is another enclosed workspace in a laboratory that protects workers from harmful agents and materials. When handling toxic chemicals, radioactive substances, and infectious agents, these units control airborne particles, vapors, and aerosols. You get this equipment in different makes and shapes with a designated protection level. The most common BSC type is A2 Class II. Let's understand what different biosafety levels denote.
Various biosafety levels
The health authorities have categorized four biosafety levels based on the use of biological agents, work practices, equipment needed, and facility layout. The hazardous agents include viruses, parasites, fungi, bacteria, etc.
Many studies focus on vertebrate animals, from cattle to mice. Any research work on them requires implementing higher safety and preventive measures. For instance, level one of biosafety level involves using less harmful agents that may not be a health threat to a healthy adult. For them, open lab benches can be adequate. These can be a part of the general building, where personnel perform their task under the supervision of an expert scientist or microbiologist.
Biosafety level 2 work involves working with infectious organisms or pathogens that can cause human illnesses and are moderately hazardous. Think of HIV, for instance. Because of the high risk of ailment, the facility must have enough provisions to prevent injuries like cuts or other skin damage, ingestion risk, etc. Such environments require more controlled biosafety levels. In these cases, you would need a Class 2 biosafety cabinet or something with similar strength that comes with warning signs, self-closing doors, etc.
As for level 3 of biosafety, you can consider researchers to work with agents like West Nile or Yellow Fever viruses. When working with them, strict adherence to safety levels is necessary because of the risk of lethal or severe diseases caused by aerosol transmission or breathing in the droplets or particles.
At this stage, the equipment should handle everything related to biosafety level 2 practices and more with stronger access control. Likewise, level 4 facilities pose more risk of life-threatening ailments. Lassa and Ebola viruses can be the best examples of this. It is the highest biosafety level needed for the best containment and protection. It comes with added features to the level 3 equipment. So, how do you pick a biosafety cabinet for your needs?
Choosing biosafety cabinets
Biosafety cabinets' market demand has increased, especially for Class II in types A and B categories. These cabinets stand out for their long-term use. You can select between them based on your application requirement and location.
You must know where you will install the cabinet that is safe from turbulent airflow. Plus, cabinet materials such as polypropylene and stainless steel can be one more parameter. You can also check the gas services they facilitate, such as CO2 inlet, vacuum aspiration, etc. Noise control and lighting can be other areas of consideration. At the same time, your staff should be able to develop their skills to use them. Remember, standard cabinets cost less than something made for higher safety levels.
You will pay more for Class II than Class I. But this expense is unavoidable, given the nature of your lab work. Other pricing factors include size, quality, brand, and features. Generic manufacturers will charge less, but branded models are more trustworthy and efficient. Hence, it’s better to practice precaution.
PCR cabinets
The healthcare industry needs this equipment to produce medical devices, while the automobile industry depends on this to make fuel-efficient and lightweight vehicles. Labs rely on this equipment to avoid contamination risks during procedures like Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). You get two models in this, floor standing and desktop. Small-scale use cases can depend on portable and compact PCR cabinets while floor-standing designs are suitable for heavy PCR works. Everyone, including clinics, R&D divisions, and hospitals, needs them to create a well-regulated and clean environment for PCR processes.
What does a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test or process do? The scientific study in molecular biology helps quickly copy a specific DNA sequence in huge numbers. The process contains three stages: applying high temperature to DNA to break it down into a single strand, annealing or matching primers, and polymerization. The process involves 28-30 cycles, each lasting 3-5 minutes.
Laminar clean benches
With this equipment, one can replicate a cleanroom environment at a cost-friendly budget. Companies requiring class 5 working situations need this for a particle-free and clean environment to prevent contamination.
The primary function of this equipment is to keep the air running in a parallel manner at a certain velocity in one direction in a downward fashion, from the hood to the work surface, and move out from the sides or base of the hood.
However, it would be best to have this cabinet when working with non-hazardous material because this equipment doesn't simultaneously ensure personnel's and sample's safety. For that, you should consider biological safety cabinets.
Nevertheless, you get laminar flow hoods in horizontal and vertical models. The horizontal models push the filtered air horizontally toward the workspace and the user. It helps with the sample's safety. The other one moves air vertically toward the work surface. It ensures the operator's protection by preventing contamination of the environment.
These devices use HEPA filters to remove dust, particles, and other airborne microorganisms and maintain a contamination-free environment. The sterile work surfaces inside the hood help researchers work with sensitive samples hassle-free. Also, using unidirectional airflow technology checks contamination risks in the work area by controlling turbulent air. The alarm, UV light, control panel, casters, and other features make it a complete package.
Any successful lab research work depends on the use of the correct equipment. The facility should be secure for people and samples inside it. Today, advanced technological innovations have led to the development of various equipment that offers full support to accomplish a scientific study with minimal or no risk. Each has a cost. But it is nothing compared to the safety they provide to the entire facility.
