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Performance of open‐fronted microbiological safety cabinets: the value of operator protection tests during routine servicing
Author(s) -
Osborne R.,
Durkin T.,
Shan H.,
Dornan E.,
Hughes C.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2672.1999.00781.x
Subject(s) - cabinet (room) , containment (computer programming) , operator (biology) , toxicology , environmental science , aeronautics , operations management , engineering , computer science , biology , mechanical engineering , programming language , biochemistry , repressor , transcription factor , gene
The performance of class I and II microbiological safety cabinets over 7 years, employed in a force‐ventilated containment level 3 (CL‐3) laboratory, is described. Operator Protection (OP) provided by the cabinets, assessed by still and latterly limited ‘in‐use’ KI‐Discus tests, showed no overall deterioration during the review period. Comparisons show that a selected class II unit, but not a second, and a new class II MSC in a recently commissioned, similar CL‐3 facility, provide the same order of OP as a class I cabinet. From the experiences described, it is strongly recommended that OP tests (OPTs) should be part of the routine servicing regime to ensure that cabinets meet required performance levels, and additionally to allow detection and rectification of poor containment, particularly where induced by environmental factors. The value of OPTs is discussed with reference to certain national standards.