When choosing a biosafety cabinet in a laboratory, you should have a detailed understanding of the main elements included in the biosafety level when working with infectious microorganisms, and select different levels of biosafety based on the protection provided to individuals, the environment, and society. cabinet.
Biosafety Level 1 (BSL-1): Suitable for very familiar pathogenic sources that do not often cause disease in healthy adults and pose little potential risk to experimenters and the environment. There is no need for laboratories and buildings. Separate from the general walking area in the object, work is generally carried out on an open laboratory table according to standard graded biological operations. Special containment equipment and facilities (biosafety cabinets) are not generally required nor used.
Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2): Suitable for sources of moderate potential risk to humans and the environment. The difference from BSL-1 is: ① All experimental personnel should receive special training in disease source handling and be guided by qualified workers. ②Restrict access to the laboratory when conducting experiments. ③Special attention should be paid to contaminated sharps. ④ Certain processes that may produce infectious aerosols or splashes should be carried out in biological safety cabinets or other physical suppression equipment. Class I and II biological safety cabinets can be selected.
Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3): For use in clinical, diagnostic, teaching, research, or production facilities, work related to endogenous and exogenous pathogens is carried out at this level. Inhalation of this pathogen through exposure can cause severe and potentially fatal illness. Laboratory personnel should be professionally trained in handling pathogenic and potentially fatal pathogens and should be supervised by qualified scientific workers experienced in working with the pathogens. All steps related to the operation of infectious sources are carried out in biological safety cabinets or other physical suppression devices. It is best to use a second-level or higher biological safety cabinet. The laboratory requires special design and construction, and the indoor is negative pressure.
Biosafety Level 4 (BSL-4) is used for dangerous pathogens or exogenous pathogens that are highly dangerous to life. For pathogens that can cause laboratory infections or unknown infection risks through aerosols and cause fatalities, level 3 biosafety cabinets and positive pressure protective clothing should be used. If the SARS virus has a moderate potential risk to people or the environment, it is important to carry the virus with it. The processing of virus patient samples should be carried out in a biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) or above laboratory. In order to provide effective protection for operators, the environment and samples, the laboratory should use level 2 or above or full exhaustion. Air-type biological safety cabinet (type B2).