Biosafety Cabinet

It's important to prepare your biosafety cabinet
and make sure all the safeguards are in place
before you begin working
check the expiration date
on the certification label
if the date has expired
do not proceed
next
turn on the fluorescent light
and blower fan
allow a minimum of ten minutes to purge the air from the cabinet
Check the magnehelic gauge
to ensure that the reading indicated on the gauge
is plus or minus ten percent of the value
noted on the certification label
check the alarms if your cabinet is equipped with them
Decontaminate the interior work surfaces
The sides
bottom
and sash only
With an appropriate decontamination agent
If 10% bleach is used
rinse the surfaces
With either a 70% ethanol water or water rinse
wipe down the equipment
and non-sterile supplies with a decontamination agent
load the cabinet
clean to dirty
with work taking place at least six inches back from the front grill
place bulky items
to one side or to the rear of the cabinet
place aerosol generating equipment
toward the rear of the cabinet as well
check that the front and back grills are open and not blocked
check the magnehelic gauge again
and check for air flow at the front grill
by using a tissue
finally
arrange your stool height
so that your chin is above the bottom of the sash
when you work inside your biosafety cabinet
good aseptic techniques should always be practiced
when you begin
Don two pairs of nitrile gloves
whenever you place your arms inside the cabinet
pause for a few seconds
to allow the air currents to stabilize.
Always work clean to dirty.
Use slow, deliberate movements.
avoid working over open containers
and
avoid frequent moving-in-and-out of the cabinet.
when you clean up a small biological spill in a containment device
such as a biological safety cabinet,
or a centrifuge,
carefully follow these steps
First, stop work
and remove your gloves
and then don a clean pair of gloves
and place paper towels and tongs in the containment device.
if the containment device is a biological safety cabinet
the decontamination agent
should already be in the cabinet
if the container is not broken
pick it up
and cap or seal it
carefully cover the spill area with paper towels
starting from the outside of the spill
and working inward toward the center
then
gently apply the appropriate decontamination solution
to the paper towels
allow the solution to contact the spill
for at least thirty minutes
60 minutes for spore formers.
Next,
gently pick up the paper towels with tongs,
and place the towels in a biohazard waste bag.
apply the decontamination agent
to the spill area
and place towels appropriately.
Use tongs
to place the towels in a biohazard waste bag
repeat this process at least once
finally,
take the primary container that spilled
and wipe that down with a decontamination agent
then place the container
in a biohazard waste bag
when you clean up and shut down your biosafety cabinet,
first, surface decontaminate all the materials and equipment.
and then place the towels used for decontamination
in the biohazard waste container.
If used,
pick up the absorbent paper
and place it in the biohazard waste bag.
Remove your outer pair of gloves
and also place them in the biohazard waste bag.
Close the biohazard waste bag
and or liquid waste container
Wipe them with the decontamination agent
and placed autoclave tape around the top
Decontaminate all interior work surfaces
with an appropriate decontamination agent.
If ten percent bleach is used
follow with a 70% ethanol-water
or water rinse.
Remove your inner pair of gloves
and placed them in the non-hazardous
biowaste container.
Transport dry waste to the autoclave.
Allow liquid waste
to sit for a minimum of thirty minutes
sixty minutes for spore formers,
then
allow the blower fan
to run at least five minutes
to purge the cabinet.
and finally
turn off the light and blower fan.