Holy Angel University

School of Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences

Department of Medical Technology
Molecular Biology and Diagnostics Laboratory
LAB BIOSAFETY, FACILITIES AND DESIGN OF A GROUP MEMBERS:
Worksheet MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LABORATORY Diwa, Marry Ann
1 Lalic, Ideline Joyce
Villanueva, Michal

I. OBJECTIVES

At the end of the activity, the student should be able to

1. identify the various potential hazards and demonstrate good laboratory practices in the
molecular biology laboratory.
2. have a basic knowledge in the design and facilities of a biosafety level-2 laboratory.

II. LABORATORY DESIGN

A. Illustrate the typical set-up/lay-out of a biosafety level-2 laboratory. Label the different
areas and indicate its function.

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 Biosafety Level 2 laboratories control microorganisms that produces moderate
hazards. There are some requirements that must be obtained and done by the owner of the
laboratory. Having an emergency shower and eye wash station must be present. Automatic
closing doors are found too. Stated below are some of the integral part in the laboratory.

Fume Hood – This is a ventilation system that provides protection against vapors, dusts,
and toxic fumes. It is also used in terms of being protected against chemicals spillages,
reactions of runaway, and even fire.

Biosafety Cabinet – This is considered a primary engineering control because it is used in

protecting the laboratory staffs against biohazardous and infectious agents. It is also
integrated in the BSL-2 laboratory because it filters the entry and exit of air.

Incubators – Incubators have controlled and contaminant-free environment for cell and
bacterial cultures. It usually regulates temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide. It is also
used in the growth of and proper storage of the bacterial cultures.

Centrifuge – This equipment is used in separating fluids, gas, or liquid based on their
density. Due to the fast spinning at a very high speed, the separation is usually achieved.

Freezers – This equipment is used in storing medical samples such.

Shower and Eye wash station – These two must be accessible and it must be available
within 10 seconds of travel to a specific part of the laboratory to this station. This is usually
used when someone was affected by laboratory accidents.

Autoclave – This equipment usually works by using a very high pressure and temperature.
This is done to kill possible microorganisms and spores.

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B. Illustrate ten (10) different warning and hazard signs commonly used in the molbio
laboratory.

Compressed Gas Flammable Material Oxidizing

Explosion hazard Harmful or Fatal Biohazardous/ Infectious

Corrosive Health hazard Harmful

Harmful to the Environment

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C. Illustrate the Class II Biosafety Sabinet. Label its parts and describe its functions.

LCD display – It indicates detailed key parameters and reflects the equipment working
condition that includes effective working state of the filter.

Remote Control – A small and light remote control that is use to manipulate all the
functions of the cabinet in a ≤6m, 30° distance. For convenience, the operator can carry it
with themselves.

UV lamp – It is placed inside the work area, and it sterilize the whole space of the work
area.

Fluorescent lamp – It ensures that an average illumination inside work area satisfy the
standard requirements.

Foot switch – During experiment, it is used to adjust the front window height by foot to
avoid airflow turbulence resulting from arm movement.

Power lock – The cabinet has a power lock that when the power cord is connected to main
power, and switch the key for power lock, then the equipment starts to work when you
press the power button.

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Sockets – They are two (2) waterproof sockets that are located in the side wall, for
optimum convenience of utilizing small devices inside the cabinet.

Work area – It is a space where the experiments are done. It is surrounded by negative
pressure to ensure safety in work are in a maximum level.

Base stand – It serves as the main base that holds and support the body of the safety
cabinet.

Water and gas tap – Through a pipe, it controls the flow of the water and gas from its
supply source.

Drain valve – It is essential for the disinfection of the safety cabinet. When
decontaminating the cabinet with disinfectant fluid, it is attached to a hose barb and
flexible tube to minimize the aerosol generation while disinfecting.

ABS front panel – It serves as the barrier of the ventilation motor that allows the user to
maintain more control over the ventilation system of the safety cabinet.

III. QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH:

1. What is biosafety? What are the biosafety and biosecurity measures that must be
observed when working in the laboratory?

Biosafety programs is to lessen or eliminate exposure of individuals and

environment to conclusively hazardous biological agents. It is achieved by implementing
laboratory controls and containment from laboratory design and access restrictions, use of
containment equipment, personnel expertise and training, and safe methods of managing
infectious materials in a laboratory setting. It looks at the right laboratory procedures and
practices that are important to prevent exposures and occupationally-acquired infection.
Moreover, biosafety practices secure the access to the laboratory facility and biological
material are necessarily controlled and limited (Chosewood, L., 2007, p. 118). The biosafety
and biosecurity that must be observed when working in the laboratory includes be based
upon clear national guidelines, be based on a risk management approach, be site-specific as
variations in circumstances preclude common universal regulations, make use of standards
and supervisions mechanisms, adapt wherever possible existing oversight and regulatory
frameworks, address differences in aims and tools for biosafety and biosecurity, and be
regularly reviewed (World Health Organization, 2006, p. 5).

REFERENCES:
Chosewood, L. (2007). Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (5th ed.) (p.
118). U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/2LC8mQm

World Health Organization. (2006). Biorisk management: Laboratory biosecurity guidance

(p. 5). Retrieved from: https://bit.ly/2Z033gI

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2. Identify and describe the facilities in the molecular biology laboratory are typically not
found in the clinical laboratory?

One of the most commonly found design feature that is exclusive only to molecular
biology is the application of barrier containment wherein there are separate working areas
for reagent preparation, nucleic acid extraction, specimen accessioning, and for the analysis
of amplified material. Ideally, it consists of three entirely separate rooms or areas. Two are
the preamplification rooms which are considered as clean rooms— where every task done
prior to in vitro amplification are executed. Whereas the third room—known as the
postamplification room is regarded as the dirty room as it is designated for in vitro
amplification and assessment of the amplified material. The air handling system is also
different from standard laboratories—as each room should have an independent air
management system. However, for some laboratories the preamplification rooms are
located closest to the main source of air—these rooms are under positive air pressure,
which function to hinder the entry of airborne contaminants inside when the door is
opened. Whereas, the postamplification rooms are under negative air pressure to hinder
anything from escaping or coming out of the room and possibly contaminate the adjacent
environment. An anteroom is utilized to achieve the differential pressure needed for the
laboratory. An anteroom for preamplification room (positive pressurized) consists of a fan
in the ceiling which pulls air from inside the laboratory and blows it into the anteroom.
While the postamplification room (negatively pressurized) anteroom has a fan pull air out
of the anteroom and propel it inside the laboratory—it has a seal around the door which
splits the anteroom from the laboratory which functions to prevent air inside the lab from
returning to back to the anteroom. Moreover, molecular biology laboratories have unique
equipment such as dead air boxes—which provides a tightly controlled work place where
reagent and reaction preparation are performed; and a biosafety cabinet designated for the
processing of specimen and nucleic acid extraction (McPherson, et al., 2011).

REFERENCES:
McPherson, R. A., Pincus, M. R., & MD consult LLC. (2011). Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and
Management by Laboratory Methods. Philadelphia: Saunders. p. 1317

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