The Lab Manager

BIOLOGICAL
SAFETY CABINET
GUIDE
THREE WAYS TO DETERMINE WHAT BIOLOGICAL
SAFETY CABINET YOUR LAB NEEDS
Ryan Ackerman

CHOOSING THE BEST BIOSAFETY CABINET

FOR YOUR APPLICATION (VIDEO)
Lab Manager

BIOLOGICAL SAFETY CABINETS AND

2017
PERSONNEL MUST WORK TOGETHER
Mike May PhD

WORKING WITH RADIOLOGICAL ISOTOPES

Angelo DePalma PhD

MAINTENANCE MATTERS: BIOLOGICAL SAFETY CABINETS

AND DUCTLESS FUME HOODS
Rachel Muenz

LAB MANAGER PRODUCT FINDER

Lab Manager

MANUFACTURER LIST
Biological Safety Cabinet
Three Ways to
Determine What
Biological Safety
Cabinet Your Lab
Needs
Understanding the types of samples being
handled will determine the type of BSC required
By Ryan Ackerman
1. Why is it important to be mindful of your
sample types before purchasing a BSC?
Understanding the types of samples being handled will
determine the type of BSC required. BSCs come in three
main categories, Classes I, II, and III, with appropriate
sub categories for each. The BSL rating of the samples,
the type of reagents and processes used, and the level of
contamination protection required for the samples will
impact which BSC will be the best fit.
2. In what situations is a laminar flow hood
sufficient?
If the type of sample being worked with is not a biohazard
or chemical hazard, a laminar flow hood may be sufficient
for the lab. Laminar flow hoods offer protection to the
samples themselves, but will return air back from the fume
hood. This can potentially be harmful to the operator and
the environment if working with hazardous biological or
chemical materials.
Lab Manager 2017
3. How will certain chemicals influence the
design of the BSC?
The style and build of a BSC can be directly influenced by
sample type, processes, and reagents used in the BSC. For
instance, if perchloric acid is used, then a wash-down system
must be utilized in order to prevent perchloric salts (an
explosion hazard) from forming. Also, if the work requires
flammable liquids, chemicals, isotopes, or radionuclides, this
may necessitate a hard ducted system to ensure operator safety.
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MAINTENANCE TIP:
Biological Safety Cabinets
All maintenance, including certification and repair,
must be done by a qualified technician familiar with
the proper maintenance procedures required for the
labs BSC. When a BSC cannot reach proper airflow, it
usually means the HEPA filters need replacing. Other
signs its time to do BSC maintenance are also fairly
easy to spot, such as fluorescent lamp bulbs burning out
or the blower motor failing to run. Users should also
set up standard operating procedures for cleaning their
BSC to avoid damage caused by disinfectants that use
chlorides or halogens.
Choosing the
Best Biosafety
Cabinet for Your
Application
WATCH
THE VIDEO
Join Linda the lab manager as she discovers some of the
options to consider, and decisions that must be made during
the evaluation and purchase of a new biological safety
cabinet (BSC).
_________________________________________________
2 LabManager.com
Biological Safety Cabinet

Biological Safety with things that they dont need. Even worse, she sees people
putting Bunsen burners inside. This causes big problems,

Cabinets and she says. It generates so much heat that it completely

disrupts the airflow. Also, Bunsen burners in cabinets have led

Personnel Must to many explosions.

Work Together To use a BSC safely, says Sondrini, a scientist must think
about how it works. Once you understand the airflows and
how fragile the filters are, you learn what to not do, she says.
When working with a biological safety cabinet To help show scientists the way a BSC works, Sondrinis team
(BSC), safety comes first. Nonetheless, its easy uses smoke and particle counters in the safety classes, which
to make mistakes that can compromise a BSCs her company has been teaching for more than 25 years.
performance.
By Mike May PhD Prepare a plan
To ensure using a BSC in the safest way, you need a plan.
One of the most common mistakes while working in the Make sure that you have an entire plan of how you will get
cabinet is to cover the front grill, where the air enters, says in and out of the BSC, says Deborah Thibodeaux, science
Mary Ann Sondrini, executive director at the Eagleson director at The Baker Company (Sanford, ME).
Institute (Sanford, ME).
That disrupts the airflow, That plan must include
compromising both how you handle items that
personnel and product you will use. For example,
protection. It might Thibodeaux says, Ive
seem convenient to set seen peopleI see this
somethinglike a rack of constantlyopen pipettes
test tubesover the grill, but outside the cabinet before
its definitely not safe. using them inside the
cabinet. It introduces
In addition, a scientist anything contaminated
needs to be aware of the outside the cabinet into it.
movements that he or she
makes in and around a BSC. The plan, she says, should
For example, Sondrini says include wearing gloves.
that you should move your Many scientists think the
arms in and out of the cabinet is clean, so they
cabinet slowly. At NuAire LabGard ES Air Class II, Type A2 BSC BioChemGARD e3 Class II Type B2 BSC dont need gloves. But
(Plymouth, MN), marketing gloves should be worn, and
director John D. Peters agrees. He says, Arm movements will they must be sterile. Spray the gloves with 70 percent ethanol
disrupt unidirectional laminar airflow within the work zone or bleach, Thibodeaux says. That way the gloves dont
and the air barrier at the front of the cabinet. That starts a contaminate the cabinet with something from the outside.
chain reaction of problems. As Peters says, This disruption
could cause air turbulence, increasing the odds of product Beyond cleaning your gloves, Thibodeaux also reminds
cross contamination within the work zone. In general, scientists to clean the BSCs surface. That means using a
keeping down the turbulence inside a BSC improves safety cleaner approved for your lab or 70 percent ethanol; soak the
inside and out. For example, Peters says, it prevents the surfaces and let it go a minute, or five minutes if you can, she
unwanted spread of aerosols or splatter of liquids. says. Then you can wipe it dry, but let the cabinet run a few
more minutes to resettle the airflow.
Also, be sure to take a look inside your BSC to see whether
you are making any mistakes there. For instance, Sondrini The plan should also include what to do if something goes
says that people commonly clutter the inside of the cabinets wrong. Imagine that a BSC indicator shows that a filter is no

Lab Manager 2017 3 LabManager.com

Biological Safety Cabinet
longer working properly. What do you do? Peters says, In this
scenario, work will need to stop, the window sash should be
closed, turn the power off, place a note stating that the cabinet
is out of order, and place a call to your service provider. This
might be the most important part of a plan.
Up to speed
In general, keeping a BSC running keeps it safer but can
consume more energy. Some BSCs come with a night mode,
though, in which the viewing screen can be closed, the lights
are shut off, and the airflow is reduced.
The longer a BSC runs the more impact on the filter, which
gets loaded over time. Some BSCs have a magnehelic gauge
that gives a general idea of how much filter loading has
taken place. As a filter loads with particulates, some BSCs
automatically adjust the fan speed as needed to ensure
adequate airflow for safety.
Knowing when a BSC last received service also impacts
its safety. There needs to be clear communication on
maintenance, says Thibodeaux. Only then can all of the
users be sure that they are working with a safe device.
Nonetheless, even different organizations recommend
different maintenance cycles. For example, Peters says, NSF
recommends to certify your cabinet annually, while USP
797 recommends twice a year. In a certification, says Peters,
your cabinet will be finely tuned to maximize safety through
airflows. He adds, Your certifier can also recommend when it
might be time to replace your BSC or if its in need of parts.
If a BSC does need repairs, it could go beyond adjusting the
airflow or replacing filters. Some BSCs also include audible
and visual alarms. These need to be kept in working order too.
In some cases, the result of a certification or repair will be
that a BSC cannot meet the necessary airflows. This is bad
news, but it must be heard to keep a lab and its personnel
safe. As Peters says, If a cabinet is unable to meet specified
downflow and inflow air, it usually means its time for new
supply and exhaust HEPA filters. He adds, Cabinets in the
field today will either have a manual process or an automated
alarm to notify users if airflow is not within safety set points.
At some point, staying safe means replacing an old BSC with
a new one. In a lab that keeps the personnel properly trained
and the BSCs properly certified, though, everyone can be safe
for a long time.
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Lab Manager 2017
Working with
Radiological
Isotopes
Rumors of the demise of radiolabeling are very
much exaggerated
By Angelo DePalma PhD
The emergence of fluorescence- and luminescence-based
assays has significantly reduced the need for radioisotope
labeling in the life sciences. Fluorescence assays are safer and
generally less expensive, often come as kits, and are easier to
run. Performing multi-labeling experiments with fluorescent
tags is easier than with radioisotopes.
Yet rumors of the demise of radiolabeling are very much
exaggerated. 32P is still commonly used in northern and southern
blotting nucleic acid assays, and 125I and 35S remain widely
employed in protein analysis, with radioiodine heavily favored
by virtue of its extensive use in clinical radioimmunoassays.
According to literature from GE Healthcare, Signals
from 125I and 35S are unaffected by enzyme, metal salts,
pH, or temperature, making them very useful for new and
uncharacterized systems often used during life science research.
Select the right cabinet
This leads to the issue of how to handle radioactive materials
and processes within the confines of a biosafety cabinet (BSC).
Just as the choice of Class I, Class II, and Class III (and their
several subtype) biosafety cabinets depends on the need to
confer product or personnel protection, or both, the add-on
features for protecting operators and the surrounding lab from
isotopes is a function of the process and the isotope. Think of
the isotope in this regard as a third element or variable in the
specification of a BSC. The amount and kind of protection
required depends on the type of radioactive tag and its
concentration, explains Brian Garrett, LEED Green Associate
at Labconco (Kansas City, MO).
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Biological Safety Cabinet
Some processes that natively do not require the protection of a BSC
and that use low levels of low-energy isotopes such as tritium may
be more easily carried out on a benchtop (although in this writers
experience, virtually all isotope work is carried out in a dedicated,
preferably enclosed, workspace that might as well be a BSC).
According to Garrett, if a BSC is required, then all isotope or
otherwise hazardous work should be conducted in ducted BSCs
only. At this level, a Class A2 with a canopy will not protect
you, because it has internal recirculation. Fume hoods and type
B and the new type C BSCs employ single-pass airflow in order
to dilute and remove contaminants that cannot be trapped by
HEPA filters. Radiological contaminants often require single-pass
airflow so that the filters trapping the emitters are contained. You
might even consider moving to a true fume hood or perhaps a
Type B cabinet or one of the newer Type C units.
Add-ons and retrofits
Unfortunately, modifications for isotope work are the
responsibility of the purchaser, with a little help from body
shops that retrofit BSCs for every imaginable hazard or
specialty application. Users should consult with health physics
or plant safety personnel when specifying modifications.
Stainless steel may provide sufficient shielding, even for some
gamma-emitting isotopes, depending on the quantities used,
but third-party vendors can line boxes with lead if necessary.
Simple protective equipment like Plexiglas for shielding the
strong beta emitter 32P is available from many suppliers. 32P
has a very short half-life, about two weeks, so cleanup, while
desirable, is not as critical as it is for the gamma emitter 125I,
with a half-life of two months, or 35S, another beta emitter
with a three-month half-life. For most experiments, tritium and
14C require no special protection except for a good exhaust
system, unless labeled materials are gaseous or easily airborne.
Prevention and cleaning are the keys
No matter how carefully one works within dedicated isotope
workspaces, most eventually become chronically hot. Disposable
pads that are absorbent above and liquid-proof below are a must
for work surfaces, and stainless steel surfaces are the easiest to clean.
If you work regularly with isotopes, your site safety personnel
have probably devised a monitoring protocol based on swiping
the insides and outsides of the BSC and perhaps some random
surrounding areas as well, and then checking the swipes in a liquid
scintillation counter for beta emitters or a suitable gamma detector.
Since the air filter will probably become contaminated as well,
Garrett advises changing it with care. A bag-in-bag-out air
filter allows for removing the exhaust filter without exposing
Lab Manager 2017
nearby workers to isotopes. Its also possible to change the
protective level of a BSC by swapping out the sash.
But retrofitters should be aware that many modifications will
negate the NSF certification. Thats the reason OEMs dont do
those mods in the first place, Garrett says. It would invalidate
the certification for safety under NSF/ANSI 49.
Good radiological practice within BSCs
The first rule is to work with as low a dose as possible, and make
sure you have the proper shielding in your work area regardless of
whether its in a BSC or on a benchtop, advises Kara Held, PhD,
science director at The Baker Company (Sanford, ME). Always
do a dry run first before you unpackage the radioisotope, and make
sure the BSC used for radioactive work is appropriately labeled.
Operators may use Class II A2 BSCs, the most common cabinet
found in labs, for trace quantities of low-energy isotopes, but
note that these systems use recirculated air. Beyond that, Held
recommends Class II B2 BSCs, which are fully exhausted and hard-
ducted to the laboratory ventilation system. This way, you will not
be exposing yourself or your process to recirculated isotopes.
Which raises the point of why not simply use a fume hood?
Many labs actually do this. But keep in mind that a BSC
offers significantly better protection for the worker and the
experiment. BSCs provide directional airflow through a HEPA
filter that flows down onto your experiment, whereas a fume
hood only intakes room air and vents it. Fume hoods provide
good protection, but your best bet is a Class II B2.
Held also suggests implementing a directional workflow, working
left to right or clean to dirty. Clean work materials would be on the
left, work occurs in the center, and waste is kept on the right. This
minimizes the likelihood of cross-contamination and concentrates
waste and contamination in one small area.
Held feels strongly about retrofits. Always contact the BSC
manufacturer before you cut large holes or make any other
significant alteration, because those changes can alter the BSC
function and level of protection.
Baker offers some retrofitting to accommodate radioisotope work.
We know these retrofits are safe. But speak to our customer
support people before doing anything on your own. Its critical for
your safety and the safety of your product that the cabinet remain
within certification after physical changes, she says.
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5 LabManager.com
Biological Safety Cabinet
Maintenance
Matters: Biological
Safety Cabinets
and Ductless Fume
Hoods
For lab equipment as essential to protecting
employees safety as biological safety cabinets
(BSCs) and ductless fume hoods, making sure
youre looking after such equipment properly is
crucial. By: Rachel Muenz
Cleaning and chemicals are common errors when doing upkeep
Preventive maintenance should not be taken lightly, says John
Peters, marketing director at NuAire (Plymouth, MN), about
maintaining BSCs. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and
training should be in place before any work begins inside the
BSC.
He adds that all maintenance, including certification and
repair, must be done by a qualified technician familiar with the
proper maintenance procedures required for the labs BSC.
NuAire recommends that BSCs be certified at least once a year
in accordance to the NSF/ANSI 49 Standard for Biosafety
Cabinetry annex F.1.
For ductless fume hoods, the most important part of
maintenance is the filter.
It is important that [users] recognize the filters are not just a
simple replacement part, says Erlabs North American safety
specialist Barbara Borzecki. The filter is without a doubt
Lab Manager 2017
the most crucial part of your ductless fume hood and the
guarantor of your health and safety.
Erlab (Rowley, MA) hoods in particular, can have up to a 25-year
lifespan if they are maintained correctly, she adds. Other ways
to keep fume hoods in top shape include keeping track of the
hoods intended use and chemicals utilized, and to notify the
manufacturer of any changes in use. Erlabs PhD chemists
evaluate the chemical used, the filters retention capacity for each
one, and how long the filter will last, Borzecki says. Replacing
the filters as suggested by our lab is the key to safety.
Helpful Resources to Consult
Onsite biosafety officer or environmental
health officer
State or national organizations such as
National Institutes of Health, Centers for
Disease Control, Health Canada, etc.
Local service company
Certifiers
Vendors technicians/safety specialists
Training programs offered by the vendor
or other experts
She adds that for Erlab hoods, which are manufactured in
accordance with the AFNOR NFX 15-211 filtration safety
standard, there is an alarm that notifies users when 60 hours
of use has passed and they should look at their chemical
evaluation to learn how long their filter will last. If you are
close to the replacement date, you should test the filter for
saturation, Borzecki says. Some customers test for saturation
once a month, others once a year. It depends on the usage.
Others just replace the filter as recommended by Erlab.
For BSCs, many cabinets also have alarm features that will trigger
in the event of high or low airflow once the high or low set point
has been reached, Peters says. When a BSC cannot reach proper
airflow, it usually means the HEPA filters need replacing.
Under normal usage and barring a puncture, a BSCs HEPA
filters do not need replacement until the efflux velocity
cannot be maintained or the access inflow velocity cannot be
maintained at 100 LFPM (.51 m/s) (min.), Peters says.
Other signs its time to do BSC maintenance are also fairly
easy to spot, such as fluorescent lamp bulbs burning out or the
blower motor failing to run.
6 LabManager.com
Biological Safety Cabinet
Service Program Options:
Can be either direct from the manufacturer or
a third-party service company
For Erlab ductless hoods in particular,
enrollment in the Erlab Safety Program, (E.S.P.)
is automatic when users purchase their hood,
giving them eligibility for the companys
extended warranty program.
NuAire utilizes a network of third party
and onsite facilities service personnel (i.e.
university, pharmaceutical, etc.)
This [motor failure] can be recognized by viewing your airflow
monitoring device and, more importantly, there will be no noise
and no air being pulled into the BSC, he says.
Users can easily replace light bulbs themselves, but Peters
recommends they contact their service professional to replace
the motor.
As far as common maintenance mistakes go, for BSCs, Peters
says cleaning is a common one.
Cleaning the cabinet is an important function in terms of
both containment and sterility, he says. Disinfectants that use
chlorides and halogens will cause damage to the stainless steel
surface (if present) if left on for long periods of time.
All BSC maintenance, including certification and repair, must be
done by a qualified technician who is familiar with the unit.He rec-
ommends users set up and follow SOPs to avoid cleaning errors and
that, if disinfectants use chlorides or halogens, users should re-
wipe all surfaces with 70 percent alcohol or similar non-corrosive
anti-microbial agent to prevent damage to stainless steel surfaces.
Lab Manager 2017
For ductless fume hoods, the most common maintenance errors
are chemical-related.
Many users assume that their filter is not saturated because
they do not smell an odor, Borzecki explains. But many
chemicals do not have an easily detectable odor.
She adds many users dont know the full list of chemicals used
in their hoods.
It is important to know the chemicals used and have a
chemical analysis completed by the manufacturer and posted
on the unit, Borzecki says. Any chemical not on the list
should not be used in the hood without prior approval by the
manufacturer. The chemical analysis determines the type of
filter that will be used depending on the chemicals.
Users can leave the unit running continuously to clean the
air in the lab but this will shorten the life of the filter. And,
as with any ductless fume hood, storage of chemicals is not
recommended in the hood for safety reasons.
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Lab Manager
Product Finder
Biological safety cabinets provide effective containment for lab
workers working with human pathogens. Three are three separate
classes of BSCs available: Class I, II and III; some with additional
sub-class levels.
Start searching for a new BSC now.
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7 LabManager.com
Biological Safety Cabinet

Featured Manufacturers

NuAire
Quality and dependability for the future. For over 40 years
NuAire has been universally recognized as the leader in
providing laboratory professionals with reliable products for the
most demanding environments.
In every NuAire product you'll find brilliant but practical
design, keen attention to detail in every phase of the fabrication
and assembly process, thoroughly tested, outstanding value,
and dependable service. These are the foundation for NuAire's
international reputation, and practical reasons why NuAire is
universally recognized as the finest.
2100 Fernbrook Lane
Plymouth, MN 55447 USA
Phone: (763) 553-1270
Baker
Internationally recognized for our research and development
of Class II biosafety cabinets, Baker offers a complete line of
BSCs that exceed industry requirements for the protection of
product, personnel and the environment from microorganisms
and aerosols. Each BSC offers an adaptive ergonomic design
with proven containment technology, to improve comfort,
increase productivity and reduce the costs of ownership.
161 Gatehouse Road
Sanford, Maine 04073 USA
Phone: 800-992-2537
www.bakerco.com

www.nuaire.com

Lab Manager 2017 8 LabManager.com