In any modern laboratory handling biological agents — whether microbes, cell cultures, or pathogens — maintaining a sterile, safe environment is non-negotiable. A key tool in achieving that is the biosafety cabinet (also called a biological safety cabinet, or BSC). At Labbazzar, we understand that selecting and using the right biosafety cabinet is critical to protecting personnel, experiments, and the facility. In this article, we explore what biosafety cabinets are, how they work, types, usage best practices, and how to choose the right one for your lab.
What Is a Biosafety Cabinet?
A biosafety cabinet (BSC) is an enclosed, ventilated workspace designed to provide three-tier protection:
- Personnel protection — preventing exposure of the user to infectious agents
- Product protection — maintaining sterility of the materials being handled
- Environmental protection — preventing release of contaminants into the lab or outside
Biosafety cabinets differ from laminar flow hoods or fume hoods: while those control airflow for sterile or chemical safety purposes, BSCs are specifically engineered to contain biological hazards using directional airflow and HEPA filters.
A typical Class II BSC draws room air through a front opening (inflow), then passes it downward (vertical laminar flow) and either recirculates filtered air or exhausts it back to the room or externally.
Class I
- Offers personnel + environmental protection
- No product protection (i.e. samples may be exposed to contamination)
- Air is drawn in and then exhausted after HEPA filtration
- Suitable for work that doesn’t need sterile environment inside the cabinet
Class II
- The most commonly used BSC in research/clinical labs
- Provides personnel, product, and environmental protection
- Inside airflow is designed to minimize turbulence and contamination
- Divided into types (A1 / A2 / B1 / B2 / C1) depending on how air is recirculated or exhausted
When & Why Use a Biosafety Cabinet
You should use a BSC when working with materials that may generate aerosols or droplets, or when sterility is critical. Common situations:
- Microbiological / pathogen work
- Molecular biology, virology, cell culture
- Pharmaceutical and biotech labs
- Diagnostics (handling infectious samples)
- Quality control / GMP environments
BSCs protect you from inhaling or being exposed to infectious agents, protect your sample from contamination, and prevent release of aerosols to the lab environment.
How Labbazzar Can Help
At Labbazzar, our goal is to supply high-quality, certified biosafety cabinets, as well as auxiliary services including installation, certification, and filter replacement. Some advantages:
- Models meeting international standards (NSF/ANSI, etc.)
- Options for different cabinet classes and types
- After-sales support: certification, maintenance, validation
- Experienced guidance on which BSC fits your facility
- Accessories: HEPA filters, airflow monitors, UV lamps (if applicable)
We believe in providing both the equipment and the expertise to ensure safe, compliant operation in your lab.