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Differences between class i class ii Class iii microbiological safety Flow Cabinets for data recovery and disease control

Updated: Feb 16

Differences between class i class ii Class iii microbiological safety Flow Cabinets for data recovery and disease control

Class I, II,& III Bio safety cabinets

Differences between class i class ii Class iii microbiological safety Flow Cabinets for data recovery and disease control

Class I microbiological safety cabinet primarily protects the user and environment, while a Class II protects both the user, environment, and the sample being handled, and a Class III cabinet offers the highest level of protection by being completely enclosed and requiring glove manipulation, essentially acting like a gas-tight glove box, best suited for handling highly hazardous biological agents; making Class I the least protective and Class III the most protective. 

  

There are three classes of BSCs: Class I, II and III. While all three classes afford personnel and environmental protection, only Class II and III cabinets provide product protection. Class I BSCs are suitable for work involving low to moderate-risk agents.

      


Differences between class i class ii Class iii microbiological safety Flow Cabinets for data recovery and disease control

 Key differences:   

 

  • Protection level:

    Class I protects only the user and environment, Class II protects the user, environment, and sample, and Class III protects the user, environment, and sample with the highest level of containment. 


  • Airflow:

    Class I typically has a downward airflow, while Class II can have different airflow patterns depending on the type (A1, A2, etc.). Class III has a completely sealed enclosure with glove ports for manipulation. 


  • Application:

    Class I is suitable for low-risk biological agents, Class II is used for most standard laboratory work with moderate-risk agents, and Class III is reserved for handling high-risk, Biosafety Level 4 agents


Selecting a biological safety cabinet

When purchasing a biological safety cabinet, you should consider the type of work that will be conducted in it.



Table 1 describes the principal characteristics of all classes and types of BSCs.

BSC CLASS/TYPE

PRODUCT PROTECTION

MINIMUM FACE VELOCITY (FPM)

VOLATILE TOXIC CHEMICALS, GASES OR RADIONUCLIDES ALLOWED?

Suitable for Data Recovery Extraction of Platters and head swapping

I

No

75

No

Not Suitable a

II / A1*

Yes

75

No

No

II / A2

Yes

100

No, unless thimble connected to the HVAC system, then low levels of volatile toxic chemicals allowed

Yes can give you and the doner drive some air flow to keep natrual dust particals clear of the heads

II / B1

Yes

100

Yes: low levels of volatile toxic chemicals & trace radionuclides


II / B2

Yes

100

Yes: volatile toxic chemicals & radionuclides


III

Yes

N / A

Yes

Yes this is the most suitable Flow Cabinet available as its classification meets the 100 percent clean environment surroundings.






Differences between class i class ii Class iii microbiological safety Flow Cabinets for data recovery and disease control


Class I, II,& III Bio safety cabinets

Biosafety cabinets, also known as biological safety cabinets, are enclosed, ventilated laboratory workspace areas designed to protect the user and surrounding environment from pathogens. All exhaust air is HEPA filtered to remove hazardous agents such as viruses and bacteria. Biosafety cabinets are used in many laboratories including clinical and research labs.



Biosafety cabinets are divided into three classes: I, II and III. Class I provides protection for the user and surrounding environment, but no protection for the sample being manipulated. Class II provides protection for the user, environment and sample, and is divided into four types: A1, A2, B1 and B2.



The main differences are their minimum inflow velocities and exhaust systems. Class III, also known as glove boxes, provides maximum protection; the enclosure is gas-tight, and all materials enter and leave through a dunk tank or double-door autoclave. Choice of cabinet therefor depends on level of protection needed for the laboratory worker and the sample of interest.




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