Top 5 Questions you should ask when buying a biosafety cabinet

I've given you reasons why you need to purchase a new biosafety cabinet, and the Top 5 Signs that you should service or replace your BSC. And when you decide to buy a new one, I've given you the features you should look for - Ergonomic Design, Excellent Performance, Safety and Health Features, Savings and Services.

But do you already know what classification and type of BSC you will buy? Or are you sure it will fit in your laboratory? 

Worry no more. In this blog, we will cite the essential questions you should ask when buying a biological safety cabinet. Hope you find it helpful!

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1. What needs to be protected? This will help you determine what type of BSC you need. Do the samples/ specimens/ cultures need to be protected from environmental particulates? If no, then a Class I BSC will do. If yes, a Class II or III are the most appropriate. 
2. What are the different types of work to be done in the cabinet? Are chemicals involved in your application? Take note that hazardous (toxic or volatile) vapors are not filtered by the HEPA/ ULPA filters found in BSCs. In most cases, a Class II Type A2 with thimble duct can be used for microbiological work involving hazardous chemicals. Class II Type B2 is only needed when you have a large opened container, more than 4 liters total, of hazardous chemicals. See blogs: The biosafety cabinets are on Viber Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. 
3. What are your size limits? Do you have enough space in your lab? You should know the maximum space allotment so that you don't end with a BSC that is too big for your lab, or so small that you can't work. Consider also this question, will the BSC fit on hallways, doors, elevators and other paths? Makes sense, right?
4. Does your procedure require modifications to the equipment? Consider other optional accessories or service fixtures needed. If the unit requires an exhaust system, is there an appropriate location for the cabinet and its ductwork? Consider also other uncommon modifications to the cabinet. BSCs should be built to an appropriate standard and listed by a testing agency. Some modifications can lead to the equipment being unsafe. Remember, you use a BSC for safety purposes - this should not be compromised. 

   

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   www2.lbl.gov

5. How much does it cost? This question is tricky. We know cost is always a concern. Avoid looking at the price tag of a BSC; inquire instead about the lifetime cost of each BSC - energy-savings, services and warranty, and a proven track record. Consider also how much will you spend in annual certifications and maintenance.

So when buying a new biosafety cabinet, make sure you have definite answers for the questions above. Good luck and happy shopping!

Is your biosafety cabinet truly safe?

Many cabinets meet the minimum safety requirements of NSF and other international standards for BSCs, but does your biosafety cabinet have these extended safety features to further protect you from the cabinet's wear and tear and unexpected situations?

1. Negative-pressured side walls. The entire cabinet should be pressure and air-tight to ensure that biohazards will not leak through joints and seams. Even if filters have very high efficiency, some particles may bypass the filters and leak through joints in the body of the cabinet - making the whole cabinet unsafe. However,  if the side walls are negatively-pressured, this helps prevent contaminants from escaping out. 
2. Puncture-resistant metal plenum. Cloth or bag-based plenums are subject to mechanical failure. What if it tears? Then it will compromise the cabinet's safety function. On the other hand, metal plenum resists tear and leak - which provides added safety for you and your environment.
3. ULPA Filter. ULPA stands for Ultra Low Penetration Air. ULPA filters can remove from the air at least 99.999% of particles of sizes 0.1 to 0.3 microns. You should know that ULPA filters have 10 times filtration efficiency of HEPA filters; therefore, 10 times more protection against biohazards.
   
4. Antimicrobial coating. Paint finish of most biosafety cabinets in the market have resistance to humidity and corrosion. What about its ability to combat microorganisms? Nah. But have you heard of an antimicrobial coating impregnated with silver ions (we all know silver exhibit oligodynamic property) that can inhibit microbial growth? Yes, it is existent and it can greatly improve your safety against biohazards.

Hear this. Think safety, You should choose the biosafety cabinets that have these enhanced safety features, beyond international standard requirements.

Here is a quote from Dave Collins: 

"If safety is zero harm, then love must be zero hate."

Hey guys, this is just a reiteration of the blog What to look for in a biosafety cabinet? 3. Safety and Health Features.

Why do you need to purchase a new biosafety cabinet?

Want or need?  Need or want? Which is which?

Maybe you have asked yourself many times why you should buy a new biosafety cabinet. I know it is really hard to determine if you really need a new biosafety cabinet. Moreover, it means you need to spend cash coz biosafety cabinets are expensive.

But wait,  if you experience one of the below-mentioned reasons then there is no need to ask yourself again why you need to purchase a new biosafety cabinet. Because I am telling you now, you really need to buy a new one. 

1. You are setting up for a new laboratory facility. For a laboratory facility to fully operate, you need to have the necessary equipment.And if you are dealing with biohazards, then definitely you need to have a biosafety cabinet. This is to ensure that you and your environment are safe from these possible sources of occupation-acquired infections. Surely, you don't want to bring home these microbes. 

   

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   www.appliedlabs.com

2. You currently have an old and less efficient unit that has high operating cost. Come on, guys. When you have this type of biosafety cabinet, it is time to replace it with a new one. Perhaps,  you've already got your money's worth, and maybe you are spending more money in your electric bill and maintenance. New generation biosafety cabinets are known to be energy-efficient which in the long run can provide you energy savings and lower operating costs. (See blog: What to look for in a biosafety cabinet? 4. Savings)
3. Your biosafety cabinet is defective. Yes, servicing is another option because it can be less costly than buying a new biosafety cabinet. But if the biosafety cabinet frequently has electronic and mechanical malfunctions, then start computing your servicing expenditures. If it appears you spend too much in servicing and repair, then be practical about it. You should buy a new biosafety cabinet.
4. Rust is already present on the stainless steel component and other metal parts. This only means two things - your biosafety cabinet aged already or corrosive solvents were used in decontaminating the work surfaces of the biosafety cabinet.  If rust is present, then cleaning will be more difficult since microbes can stick to these rusty surfaces. You don't want a culture to grow in your cabinet, without your knowing. Surely, you may want to buy a new cabinet.

   

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   http://www.paulbatchelor.com/

5. Your biosafety cabinet fails to pass annual certification. Certainly, you know already the importance of having your biosafety cabinets certified. (See blog: What to look for in a biosafety cabinet? 2. Excellent Performance) And if your cabinet fails to pass annual certification, it only means that your cabinet is not anymore safe to use. Do not compromise your safety. Safety should be your top priority.
6. Your biosafety cabinet no longer meets current performance criteria. Well number 5 reason is similar to this one.
7. You have increased laboratory works. If laboratory works are increased and the number of equipment used for these workload is not increased, then surely there will be much pending work to be done. If you want to facilitate processing of these laboratory work, better buy a new biosafety cabinet to suit your workload needs.

   

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   http://www.blandfordia.org.au/

No matter what is the reason why you need to buy a new biosafety cabinet, you should consider the things you should look for in a biosafety cabinet, which we already discussed in the previous blogs. Happy shopping!

Top 5 signs that you should service or replace your biosafety cabinet

From the previous blogs, we've tackled about what you should look for when buying a new biosafety cabinet. 

But why do you need to buy a new BSC in the first place? 

Here are the Top 5 Signs that you should service or replace your biosafety cabinet. Check this out.

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1. The stainless steel interior is showing signs of rust or pitting. Ooops, when you find this in your biosafety cabinet, it is time to replace your BSC. Rough surfaces (rusted) can harbor contaminants, and worst, hazardous contaminants. For sure, you don't want your samples to be cross-contaminated with rust and other particles. Moreover, rusted surface is hard to clean and decontaminate. So hassle and unsafe. 
2. Any time an alarm sounds and does not self-correct. Are you aware that there is a thin line between life and death (a little bit exaggerated, right?) when it comes to a biosafety cabinet's alarm? Because an alarm tells you there is something wrong in your biosafety cabinet, and it may signify imminent danger to you and your environment. That is why we encourage you to seek certification, at least annually, to ensure that your cabinet is performing as expected.
3. Is the BSC still supported by the manufacturer, are parts still available? This is what we call obsolete biosafety cabinets. It is time to give up your biosafety cabinet. Surely, you already got your money's worth. There are many available biosafety cabinets in the market with exciting and up-to-date features that may not be present in your biosafety cabinet. 
4. The BSC no longer passes its annual certification. Well, we have already discussed the importance of certifications. (See blog: Why you should not buy a Non-Certified Biological Safety Cabinet?; What to look for in a biosafety cabinet? 2. Excellent Performance). And I quote, "the use of non-certified BSCs, technically, beats the purpose of using one."
5. The BSC no longer meets current performance criteria. Well, the reason is just the same as no. 4.

Remember, a biosafety cabinet that performs well is important in ensuring that you and your environment are safe.

What to look for in a bisoafety cabinet? 5. Services

5. Services

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www.escoglobal.com

You may miss this out. Usually, after you get your brand new biosafety cabinet, you will no longer think about after-sale services, right? You are too excited to work with it that there is a high tendency for you to forget about the services you can avail after you got your cabinet.

Well, think about this. You may miss some important things that you need when your biosafety cabinet breaks up. You need to look for a company that has a good record in terms of after-sales service. Here are what you should check up for:

1. Warranty. Yes, yes. The biosafety cabinet is new, and you do not expect it to break down in the near future. But what if it does break down? Then it will be another expense for you. That is the purpose of the warranty. It is just like your insurance. It will greatly lessen your expenses, if your cabinet breaks down or malfunction. However, some companies provide a limited warranty period for the products they sell. Some companies offer additional fee when you want to extend it. So better take a look on how long will the warranty last. 

   

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2. Free service. Some companies offer free services - delivery, installation, assessment, testing, certification, calibration as part of the warranty. These may not be tangible but are definitely of value. Some companies do not offer these services, and in worst case scenarios, you may opt to outsource for these services. You may save much money when the company offers free services.
3. Advice on how to use the product. It is possible that a laboratory personnel may not be knowledgeable enough in operating a biosafety cabinet, or what are the safety measures to do when using one. Well, a company that sells a biosafety cabinet has employees knowledgeable enough on how to properly use the product, and they may give some pieces of advice on how to preserve the quality of the biosafety cabinet. The company employee may provide an end-user seminar - operations and troubleshooting - which are valuable in using correctly a biosafety cabinet.

But why should you look a company that has a good record in terms of after-sales service?

Because if a company has a good track record in terms of customer service, it means you will not be stressed in contacting them in case your cabinet malfunctions. But how will you establish this? 

Here are some of the questions you should be able to ask:

First. Where is the company located? If it is located within your country, then it's good. You can easily locate and contact them should you have any problem with biosafety cabinet. But what if the company is overseas? Oops, if that's the case, you need to further investigate. Does the company send dedicated engineers to customers overseas for the after-sales service? If no, then try to look for another company. If yes then ask them how long does it take for them to come to visit your cabinet once you reported a problem. You may opt for a company that provides fast service so that you can lessen downtime of your cabinet. Will you pay for their travel expenses? So are you overwhelmed of these questions? Are you thinking of buying a cabinet from a company that has a domestic office from where you are? Just kidding.

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Second. Are the dedicated service engineers certified by NSF, EN, etc. If yes, then their credibility is established. If no, you need to investigate further. For sure, you don't want your cabinet to be checked by a unqualified personnel, right?

Third. Does the company offer other services such as filter replacement, calibration, and certification? You should opt for someone who is capable of doing any service related to biosafety cabinets - that will save you time and money.

Once you have determined these things, you will surely identify which company to choose. 

Remember, you should not only consider the price of the biosafety cabinet per se. Be aware of the money you will spend and save if you buy a particular biosafety cabinet - warranty, services, electric bill, etc. Well then, choose wisely.

What to look for in a biosafety cabinet? 4. Savings

4. Savings

We all know that a biological safety cabinet is not cheap, right? So, if you're a wise buyer, you should look for a quality biosafety cabinet  that can give you savings.

But does buying a cheaper biosafety cabinet, in the long run, provide you savings?

Yes, it can but only temporarily. At the time of purchase, you may have much savings since you will buy a cheaper one, but how about after purchase? Have you ever considered how much can you save during the daily operation of your cabinet? When the cabinet malfunctions, how much does it will cost you to seek service from engineers? Well, think about these things before you buy a new biosafety cabinet.

You may choose to buy a more expensive biosafety cabinet that can provide you much more savings thereafter.

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www.escoglobal.com

If so, you are a wise buyer. Here are the details of what can you save when you buy a quality biosafety cabinet:

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1. Energy. You may not notice but some biosafety cabinets consume a lot of energy. Check the type of motor of the biosafety cabinet. If it's the traditional AC motor, then you are wasting energy. With the energy-efficient DC ECM motor, you can have up to 70% energy savings. If the biosafety cabinet has a Night Setback/ Standby mode, power consumption can be further reduced to 60%. So much energy savings, right? So better look for the biosafety cabinet equipped with DC ECM motor. Another energy-saving feature would be LED lamp. It lasts 4x longer than a regular fluorescent lamp. 
2. Time. Time is gold, they say. At work, how much of your time is allotted for cleaning your biosafety cabinet? If you take too much time in cleaning, then you are wasting your time. Yes, I know, the cleanliness of your biosafety cabinet should be maintained, but you should not allot more time cleaning than working, right? Guess what, there is a way to save your precious time. Look for the biosafety cabinet's ergonomic feature - easy-to-clean feature. Look for a biosafety cabinet with large radius corners for easy cleaning. Angled drain pan can easily contain spills and with its angled design, it is therefore easy to clean. Are you excited to work with an easy-to-clean biosafety cabinet?

   

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3. Cost. Though you may be buying a more expensive cabinet, here's the catch - in the long run, you may be earning savings much more than you may save if you buy a cheaper version. Consider maintenance costs and warranty since these can let you save a lot of money. 

   

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4. Environment. You may miss this important saving. You must look for a biosafety cabinet that can also save the environment - that is it should be environment-friendly. Some biosafety cabinets are so environment-friendly that they only emit 140 kg of carbon dioxide as compared to other BSCs that emit 560 kg of gas! You can have as much as 420 kg savings!

Remember that if we talk about savings, it's not just about money. Consider other things like energy, time and environment savings.

Happy shopping!

What to look for in a biosafety cabinet? 3. Safety and Health Features

Well, you are about to use a biosafety cabinet. Surely you know why you will use one, don't you? Okay, here is the thing - you use a biosafety cabinet to ensure your, the product and environment's protection from biohazards. A biosafety cabinet is used to ensure biohazard containment. So when buying a biosafety cabinet, you should look for its safety and health features.

Guess what? A biosafety cabinet is expected to perform well - in terms of providing protection to you, the product and environment. But how can you check for this?

• Know your cabinet. You should know what type of biosafety cabinet you will be buying. There are different classifications and types. Each type has different airflow patterns, airflow velocities, design and construction  and exhaust systems. Consider these parameters since not all types of biosafety cabinets can provide product protection, just saying.(See blog: The biosafety cabinets are on Viber, Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6).
• Look for the cabinet's certification from international standards. The certification will definitely tell you that the cabinet is of quality since it is not that easy for a cabinet to be certified. Your biosafety cabinet is expected to perform well, or else your safety is in jeopardy. (See blog: What to look for in a biosafety cabinet? 2. Excellent Performance ).

Other cabinets usually focus on the above-mentioned, yet there other things about a biosafety cabinet you look into, such as:

• Type of Filter. Biosafety cabinets usually are equipped with HEPA filter (with typical efficiency of at least 99.97% for contaminant particles with 0.3 micron size). However, we have another filter type - ULPA filter - and it is better in filtering particles (with typical efficiency of at least 99.999% for contaminants 0.12 microns or larger in diameter).
• Blower plenum design. Blower plenum and side walls should be surrounded by a negative pressure to prevent contaminants from escaping outside. This is an added safety feature for advanced biosafety cabinets. (See Airstream® Class II Biological Safety Cabinet).
• Antimicrobial coating. An antimicrobial coating will surely inhibit microbial growth, and if applied to a biosafety cabinet, it will be an added safety feature. There is this antimicrobial coating applied to biosafety cabinets of Esco - Isocide™ - which  is a silver-ion impregnated powder coat. (See Airstream® Class II Biological Safety Cabinet).
• Airflow sensor. Airflow sensors can monitor real-time airflow for safety and alert the user if airflow is insufficient.
• Cabinet construction. The cabinet shall be designed to eliminate sharp edges, protrusions in order to minimize the risk of personal harm to the operator. All metal edges shall be dressed and deburred.
• Other features. It may not be that obvious but each feature of the biosafety cabinet can contribute to its safety and health feature.

See, there are alot of things to consider in assessing the biosafety cabinet's safety and health features. So when you plan to buy one, look for the above, too. Happy buying!

Resources:

Esco. 2015. Airstream® Class II Biological Safety Cabinets (S-Series). Available from: http://www.escoglobal.com/products/download/Biological-Safety-Cabinet-AC2-G3-brochure-A4-vC-LR.pdf [Accessed 12 October 2015].

IHS Engineering 360. 2015. HEPA Filters and ULPA Filters Information. [Online]. Available from: http://www.globalspec.com/learnmore/manufacturing_process_equipment/filtration_separation_products/hepa_filters_ulpa_filters. [Accessed 12 October 2015].

What to look for in a biosafety cabinet? 2. Excellent Performance

Well, a biosafety cabinet is not an ordinary cabinet. It has a very important role in the lives of people dealing with biohazards. A biological safety cabinet (biosafety cabinet) is used to provide personnel, or both personnel and product protection from biohazardous materials. (See blog: Biosafety Cabinet: Defined).

But how can you ensure that the cabinet you are buying will perform as expected? 

It will be troublesome for you (if you are the operator of the cabinet) if it malfunctions unexpectedly, right? So here is a tip to assure the biosafety cabinet's performance - look for its certification from international standards specific for biosafety cabinets (See blog:  All about biosafety cabinet standards).

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www.nsf.org

If the biosafety cabinet is certified to an international standard (NSF and EN are the most common standards in use today) then its performance is established. Take note that it is never easy to comply to a standard. It takes a lot of effort from the company to ensure that its line of biosafety cabinets comply to these international standards.

To pass a particular standard, a biosafety cabinet shall undergo a series of tests, such as:

1. Pressure decay/ soap bubble/ tracer gas leak
2. HEPA/ ULPA filter leak
3. Noise level
4. Lighting intensity
5. Vibration
6. Personnel, product, and cross-contamination protection
7. Stability
8. Downflow and Inflow velocities

• Inflow velocity
• Airflow smoke patterns
• Drain spillage trough leakage
• Motor/ blower performance
• Electrical safety

There are a lot of tests for a biosafety cabinet to comply with, right? Wew. Well, this is to ensure that the biosafety cabinet will do its part - that is to provide containment for biohazards and protect the operator, product and environment.

See blog: Do you know the Most Certified Biosafety Cabinet in the World?

The certification ensures that all manufactured biosafety cabinets are of quality, safe and efficient.

Aside from the certification, look for exciting features of the cabinet, such as:

• Airflow sensor to monitor real-time airflow for safety and alert the user if airflow is insufficient.
• Microprocessor controller that can display all safety information on one screen.
• Motorized window that conveniently moves by your fingertip.
• Energy-efficient motor that can provide you energy savings.
• ULPA filter that is 10x more efficient than usual HEPA filter.
• LED lamp that lasts 4x longer and is brighter than fluorescent lamp.
• Antimicrobial coating that inhibits microbial growth.
• And many other features unique to a particular biosafety cabinet.

Well, you've looked for the certificate and exciting features and you've decided to buy. That is not the end of it. When a biosafety cabinet has been purchased and delivered to you, it shall be tested during installation. Downflow velocity and uniformity test and filter leak scan (both downflow and exhaust filters) shall be the minimum tests to be performed. 

Take note that it is your responsibility to ensure that the cabinet is tested after installation, in order to ensure all the safety requirements have been met.

And voila, you can finally use your very own biosafety cabinet.

Last reminder. Make you acquire recertification of your biosafety cabinet. Do not forget about it.

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Esco Biological Safety Cabinets FB Page

Enjoy working in your biosafety cabinet! 

What to look for in a biosafety cabinet? 1. Ergonomic Design

We've talked about the cons of buying a non-certified biosafety cabinet. But have you asked yourself what are the specific features that you as the user should look for before buying a biological safety cabinet?

Well, this blog is the solution! I've identified several features that should be present in a biosafety cabinet. However, let's discuss it in series.

1. Ergonomic design. As defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary, ergonomics is a science that deals with designing and arranging things so that people can use them easily and safely. Another definition states that ergonomics is "an applied science concerned with designing and arranging things people use so that the people and things interact most efficiently and safely".

Lighting, vibration, noise level, position and angle of the display and control panel are few of the things considered when buying a biosafety cabinet.

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www.ors.od.nih.gov

When working with a biosafety cabinet, there are associated intrinsic risks which include:

• Poor working posture 
• Upper limb disorders
• Environment risks (space, lighting, temperature, vibration)
• Load (working with hazards)
• Other factors such as personal protective equipment
• Fatigue

It is necessary for a biosafety cabinet to have features that minimize operator fatigue. That is why, in order for a biosafety cabinet be certified to biosafety cabinet international standards, it must pass tests related to worker comfort and safety, such as:

1. Lighting intensity. To aid in minimizing cabinet operator's fatigue.
2. Vibration.To aid in minimizing cabinet operator's fatigue and to prevent damage to delicate tissue culture specimens. 
3. Noise level. To aid in minimizing cabinet operator's fatigue.
4. Electrical leakage, ground circuit resistance, and polarity tests. To minimize and prevent potential shock hazard.

Moreover, added ergonomic features of a biosafety cabinet include:

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1. Position and angle of the display and control panel. A control panel located on the middle of the cabinet is easier to see and reach as compared to control panels located on either corner of the cabinet.
2. Position of the UV light. The UV light should not be on direct line of sight of the operator to avoid eye irritation.
3. Arm rest. The arm rest helps prevent grille blocking and achieve comfortable working posture.
4. Sloped window. The angled viewing window improves reach into the work area and prevents reflection. It also provides better operator visibility into the work zone.
5. Ergonomically designed chair. The chair provides adequate back support.
6. Foot rest. For individuals whose feet do not rest comfortably on the floor.

Remember, it is important for a biosafety cabinet to have features that minimize operator discomfort and fatigue. So before buying a biosafety cabinet, look for its ergonomic design.

References:

1. Esco. (2013) Factors to Consider When Selecting a Biosafety Cabinet. [Online]. [Accessed: 5th October 2015].
2. Garret, B. (2013) The culmination of biosafety cabinet human factors design. [Online] Available from: http://www.labconco.com/news/forhumans. [Accessed" 5th October 2015].
3. Merriam-Webster. (2015) Ergonomics. [Online] Available from: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ergonomics. [Accessed: 5th October 2015].
4. National Institutes of Health. Ergonomics at Work. [Online]. Available from: http://www.ors.od.nih.gov/sr/dohs/HealthAndSafety/Ergonomics/atwork/Pages/default.aspx. [Accessed: 5th October 2015].
5. NSF International Standard/ American National Standard. (2008) NSF/ANSI 49 - 2008. Biosafety Cabinetry: Design, Construction, Performance, and Field Certification. [Online]. Available from: http://standards.nsf.org/apps/group_public/download.php/3604/NSF_49-08e-rep-watermarked.pdf. [Accessed: 5th October 2015].