LimsPulse
Microbiology & sterility

Biosafety cabinet (microbiological safety cabinet)

A ventilated enclosure that protects the operator, the product and the room when handling microorganisms. HEPA-filtered downflow keeps the work clean, an inflow of room air at the front stops aerosols escaping, and the exhaust is HEPA-filtered before it leaves the cabinet.

  • Pharmaceutical
  • Biotech
  • Hospitals and clinical labs
  • Vaccine manufacture
  • Food & beverage
  • Research laboratories
Photo of a Biosafety cabinet (microbiological safety cabinet)
Photo: The wub, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
Follow your site SOP
This is a typical operating sequence for learning. Your instrument model and approved SOP take precedence.
STAGE 1

Before you start

  1. 1Check the certification label is in date and the airflow indicator shows a safe status.
  2. 2Switch on the fan and let it run for at least 5–15 minutes (as per the manufacturer) to purge the work zone.
  3. 3Set the sash to the marked working height; the alarm should be silent.
  4. 4Disinfect the work surface, side walls and inside of the sash with the approved disinfectant, then 70% IPA if required.
  5. 5Load only what you need, at least 10 cm in from the front grille, with clean items upstream of dirty ones.
  • Do not use the cabinet if the airflow alarm is sounding or the certification has expired.
STAGE 2

Working

  1. 1Work in the centre to rear of the work surface, keeping arms parallel to the floor and moving slowly.
  2. 2Keep the front and rear grilles clear; do not rest arms, papers or equipment on the front grille.
  3. 3Use disposable loops or a micro-incinerator instead of an open flame.
  4. 4Keep a discard container inside the cabinet for used tips and loops; close it before removing.
  5. 5Avoid people walking behind you or opening doors nearby, as this disturbs the air curtain.
  • Rapid arm movements and open flames break the air curtain and can let aerosols escape.
STAGE 3

Spills

  1. 1Leave the fan running.
  2. 2Cover the spill with absorbent material and flood with the approved disinfectant; leave for the validated contact time.
  3. 3Collect the material into a biohazard bag, then disinfect the surface and the area below the work tray if liquid has gone through the grille.
  4. 4Record the spill and inform the supervisor.
  • Do not switch off the fan during a spill: the inflow is what protects you.
STAGE 4

After use

  1. 1Close all cultures and waste containers and disinfect their outer surfaces before removal.
  2. 2Disinfect the work surface and walls.
  3. 3Let the fan run for a few minutes to purge the cabinet before switching off or lowering the sash.
  4. 4Record use in the log book.
In LimsPulse · Calibration Management

Keep every BSC in control: usage logs, calibration and maintenance schedules, and automatic blocking of overdue instruments.

See how