A biological safety cabinet is designed to facilitate good sterile technique and to provide a protective barrier for personnel safety. Improper use of this valuable piece of equipment can compromise personnel safety and contaminate cultures. Review the following list so you know what to avoid when working with a biological safety cabinet.
DON'T store equipment or supplies inside the cabinet. Unnecessary objects can disrupt the airflow in the cabinet.
DON'T use the top of the cabinet for storage. The HEPA filter could be damaged and the balance of airflow could be disrupted.
DON'T leave the view screen open when the cabinet is not in use. Keeping the screen closed between uses will help keep any contaminants in the room from getting inside the cabinet.
DON'T eat, drink, chew gum or tobacco products, or store food near the cabinet. If the cabinet is contaminated, you may inhale or ingest toxins.
AVOID sudden movements in and out of the cabinet, as well as in areas adjacent to the cabinet. Sudden movements can disrupt the airflow and compromise safety.
ALWAYS decontaminate the interior surfaces prior to working in the cabinet and between procedures.
ALL biosafety cabinets must be re-certified annually.
For more information regarding selection, installation and use of biological safety cabinets, see the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention/National Institutes of Health web site.
Source: University of California – San Diego
Environmental Health and Safety Department
Lab Notes, May/June 1998, No. 35.
http://www-ehs.ucsd.edu/home.htm