A biosafety cabinet (BSC) — also called a microbiological safety cabinet (MSC) — is an enclosed, ventilated laboratory workspace. A BSC protects the operator and the environment from pathogenic materials and volatile chemicals.
There are three types of biosafety cabinets; thebiosafety levelspecifies which cabinet should be used:
| BSC Class | Protection provided | Biosafety level | Principle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class I | Protects the operator only. | 1-3 | These are open-fronted, and the air is drawn in entirely via the front opening. |
| Class II | Protects both work and operator. | 1-3 | Also open-fronted, with the air drawn in via the front, but it is drawn through a HEPA filter before being blown over the work. |
| Class III | Offers maximum protection to both the user and the work. | 3,4 | These are fully enclosed, with glove ports, and the air is drawn into the cabinet via a HEPA filter. The operator is therefore segregated from the work by a solid barrier. |
| Class I/III | Protects both work and operator. | 1-3 | 能够运行在一级或第三类mode. |
Figure 1.Biosafety cabinets.
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