Biological safety cabinet operation specifications and maintenance

Biological safety cabinets are box-type air purification negative pressure safety devices that can prevent the escape of aerosols containing certain dangerous or unknown biological particles during experimental operations. It is the most basic safety protection equipment in the first-level protection barrier in laboratory biosafety.

In order to standardize the operation of biological safety cabinets, this article explains from several aspects such as personnel, use environment, equipment operation process and precautions, so that operators can use biological safety cabinets correctly.

User and environment

1. First of all, microbiological testing personnel need to be trained in the use of biological safety cabinets before they can operate them. Personnel who have not received formal training cannot use them.

2. Secondly, the use environment conditions are recommended to be placed in an environment with a cleanliness degree of more than 10,000, with a temperature of 0-40℃, a relative humidity of no more than 80%, no corrosive gases and a well-ventilated room, away from high-speed dust sources and earthquake sources. There must be no airflow near the safety cabinet that exceeds the front suction wind speed of the safety cabinet (>0.5m/s). It is prohibited to install and use safety cabinets in places where people frequently enter and exit, near doors and passageways, and near air-conditioning air outlets, so as to prevent air from interfering with the air flow of the operation port and exhaust port. There should be maintenance and repair space around the safety cabinet (at least 25cm on both sides and 30cm on the back).

Precautions for use
1. The front window glass of the biological safety cabinet is opened by hand and can be positioned arbitrarily to ensure that the door can be closed in time for protection when the power is off. During normal operation, the opening height of the glass door reaches the red dot mark position. If it exceeds or falls below the height, the sound and light alarm system will start to remind the user that the glass door is abnormal. (Note: When the glass door is open, the UV lamp cannot be turned on.) The power supply of the biological safety cabinet is 220V, 50Hz. After the power is turned on, it is powered on and enters the standby state.
2. Before the experiment begins, wipe the inner surface of the biological safety cabinet with 70% alcohol to disinfect and remove contamination, and then wipe it with sterile water to remove residual chlorine and reduce cross-infection during the experiment. Then move all the items needed this time into the biological safety cabinet to avoid frequent hands passing through the air curtain to destroy the airflow, contaminate the sample, and cause the experiment to fail, etc.
3. Turn on the fan for 5 minutes, and wait for the air in the cabinet to be purified and the airflow to stabilize before performing the experiment. Slowly extend your arms into the safety cabinet and stay still for at least 1 minute to stabilize the airflow in the cabinet before operating.
4. Do not place items unrelated to the experiment in the safety cabinet. The items inside the biological safety cabinet should be placed in a convenient way. The items should be placed as far back as possible and should not block the airway opening to avoid interfering with the normal flow of air.
5. During the operation of the biological safety cabinet, it is strictly forbidden to use open flames such as alcohol lamps to avoid the heat generated to generate airflow and interfere with the stability of the airflow in the biological safety cabinet.
6. During the experimental operation, the glass window cannot be opened to ensure that the operator's face is above the working window. When operating in the cabinet, the movements should be gentle and soothing to prevent affecting the airflow inside the biological safety cabinet.

Operation steps
1. Press the [UV light control key] for the first use, turn on the UV light for disinfection for 30 minutes, and then turn off the UV light. (Note: The glass door should be closed at this time)
2. Open the glass door to the mark.
3. Press the [fan start key] and turn on the fan for about 5 minutes to make the operation area reach the specified cleanliness.
4. Press the [lighting control key] to turn on the lighting, and the operator can start the operation.
5. Shut down after the operation
When the operator finishes the operation, first remove all materials and other items used in the experiment from the equipment. Maintain the airflow circulation for a period of time, then close the front window glass door and fan, and turn on the ultraviolet light for disinfection to kill the germs remaining inside the safety cabinet.

Maintenance and care
Daily maintenance
Operate the safety cabinet and check whether the functions of each part of the safety cabinet are operating normally.
▲ Wipe the surface of the equipment and the surface of the operating area with 70% alcohol;
▲ Clean the glass of the biological safety cabinet with a special glass cleaner;
▲ Disinfect and sterilize the operating room.

Regular maintenance
Carry out a comprehensive inspection of the equipment every three months and perform careful maintenance.
▲ Clean the equipment thoroughly and sterilize it;
▲ Check whether each component is flexible to open and close and whether each part functions normally;

On-site inspection
The on-site inspection of the biosafety cabinet should be carried out in one of the following situations:
▲ After the biosafety cabinet is installed and before it is used;
▲ After the biosafety cabinet is moved;
▲ After the biosafety cabinet is inspected;
▲ After the high-efficiency filter is replaced in the biosafety cabinet;
▲ Annual routine inspection of the biosafety cabinet.

Through the above standardized operation and maintenance, the normal operation and use effect of the biosafety cabinet can be ensured, while ensuring the safety of laboratory staff and the cleanliness of the laboratory environment.