Class 1 biosafety cabinet - (Nov/08/2018 )

Dear All

we are considering to purchase a biosafety cabinet for in vitro work on human cancer cell lies (biosafety levels 1 and 2). however for budget issues we have been offered class 1 as a cheaper alternative to class 2 cabinets. I have searched the internet about critical differences that may adversely affect the personnel or the cell culture but could not find sound differences in our case that justify the price difference assuming that options in both models are the same. we need to take a final decision to buy but I need to hear your opinions that  surely will help.

I have attached a PDF for the offered model

thanks 

It depends on the materials you are working with - as you are doing cell culture, I would recommend a class II cabinet because the class I cabinets usually do not provide protection for your samples. Having said that, with good technique cell culture used to be done on the bench (before many biosafety rules) with just a bunsen as containment/protection.

I would check the relevant biosafety regulations for your region/country - often class II materials will require a class II hood.

you may also want to take into consideration future plans. if you think you will need a class ll cabinet in the future, then you may want to purchase it now (if for no other reason than that the price will be higher in the future). personally, i always liked to get more than my current need with the expectation that i may need the capabilities in the future.

bob1 on Thu Nov 8 16:19:02 2018 said:

It depends on the materials you are working with - as you are doing cell culture, I would recommend a class II cabinet because the class I cabinets usually do not provide protection for your samples. Having said that, with good technique cell culture used to be done on the bench (before many biosafety rules) with just a bunsen as containment/protection.

 

I would check the relevant biosafety regulations for your region/country - often class II materials will require a class II hood.

does not provide protection to the samples?? get contaminated?? alternatively, what do you mean by protection?. 

Exactly what I said, the protection is not there - air does not get purified and recirculated. Basically as I understand it, the air is blowing from you (the user) to the sample...

bob1 on Mon Nov 26 17:11:12 2018 said:

Exactly what I said, the protection is not there - air does not get purified and recirculated. Basically as I understand it, the air is blowing from you (the user) to the sample...

could you please have a look at the attached manual in my first post . It says HEPA filters are there circulating the air . I  cannot find something about the air moving from outside (the operator) to the inside (the sample) without being HEPA filtered. can you let me know where can I infer this info from the manual (which page?)

The brochure is a product sales one, it doesn't have the full description of the airflow. However, from the specs I can see that one has an air barrier in place, which is good - it does mean that you have some protection of your sample from the outside. I'm not sure what happens to the air after that. 

Here's a description of how they work (disclaimer: it's from a manufacturer of hoods, but seems to be about right.): https://www.nuaire.com/how-class-one-bsc-work