Containment and

Biosafety cabinets
Submitted to: Sir Naveed
39955 Semester: 5th
(BS) Microbiology
Iqra Mujeeb 8/4/19 Biosafety and risk management
Containment
Containment is described as the methods of dealing biohazardous organisms in the standard
environment of the laboratory in order to control or minimize the contact of laboratory staff and
other entity around it to the agent(s) to be managed.

Types of containment:
There are two types of containment which help to build the Biosafety levels. These containments
are:

Biological containment:
This containment is constructed to minimize biohazardous effects related with an agent by vectors
(strains with naturally or genetically modified characteristics) that weaken their virulence and
infectivity.

Example: a microorganism that is attenuated have less capacity to replicate, infect or transmit.

Adenoviruses are modified as safe vectors. As the vector, they lack all viral genome and for the
infection, they must seek helper adenovirus or another system by which they package without
helper adenovirus.

Physical containment:
This containment is designed to reduce and manage exposure of pathogen to personnel, laboratory
and its staff and the vicinity. This containment is devised by

1.Primary containment 2.Secondary containment

Primary containment:
It provides personnel and nearest laboratory environment protection. This containment is attained
by:

Having expertise in techniques of handling the microorganism and having awareness about its
potential hazard effects. In addition, personal protective equipment is included. Also other
equipment i.e. Biosafety cabinets and enclosed centrifuge containers are part of primary
containment.

Secondary containment:
It provides protection to other members of the lab and the environment outside the lab. It prevents
the organism from escaping from the contaminated area. By confining the organism in the
contaminated area, it created a barrier between the potential hazard area in the building and
neighbourhood. It consists of:
Specific procedures i.e. strictly managed access zone, authentic
decontamination methods etc. Special engineering and facility
design e.g. decontamination equipment, showers, autoclaves, air
filters, etc.

Biosafety cabinets:
During work in the laboratory, the production of aerosol may be
possible. These aerosols can be hazardous material that could be
inhaled. Biological safety cabinets are developed to provide the
primary barrier to reduce the exposure of laboratory personnel and
contamination of the general environment.

Classification of BSC
There are three classes of BSC

1. Class I 2. Class II 3. Class III

BSC I:
It contains

A. Front opening

B. Sash

C. HEPA filters

D. Plenum

BSC I is used for working with low or moderate risk biological agents. It
is for environmental and personal protection. The airflow is inward. The
air passes through HEPA filters and then discharge into the environment.

BSC II:
It ventilates air for personnel, product and environmental protection. It contains open front and
inward airflow for personal protection. The HEPA filters exhaust air from the cabinet. It has a further
four types:

A. A1 B. A2 C. B1 D. B2

BSC II (A1)

A. Front opening
B. Sash
 C. Exhaust HEPA filter
D. Supply HEPA filter
E. Common plenum
F. Blower

The work opening is 8-10 inches. A fan is located within the unit to provide intake, recirculated
supply air and the exhaust. Around 70% of the air recirculates through a HEPA filter into the work
area through a common plenum, while about 30% of the air which enters from the front opening
is exhausted through HEPA filter. It is suitable for work with low to moderate risk biological
agents in the absence of volatile radionuclides and toxic chemicals.

BSC II (B1)

A. Front opening
B. Sash
C. Exhaust HEPA filter
D. Supply HEPA filter
E. Negative pressure dedicated exhaust plenum
F. Blower
G. Additional HEPA filter for supply air

The cabinet has to be hard connected to the building exhaust

system. The work opening is 8 inches high. Sliding sash is
moveable to enter or remove the equipment. Around 70% of
contaminated downflow air is exhausted through a HEPA filter
and air duct and then discharged outside the building. All
contaminated ducts and plenums are under negative pressure. This cabinet is used to deal with
low to moderate risk biological agents.

BSC II (B2)

A. Front opening
B. Sash
C. Exhaust HEPA filter
D. Supply HEPA filter
E. The negative pressure exhaust plenum

The cabinet needs to be hard connected to the building

exhaust system. This cabinet contains sliding sash of 8-inch
opening. There is no air recirculation is allowed. A supply fan
draws air from the laboratory and forces it through a supply HEPA filter located over the work
area. All duct and plenum are under negative pressure. The cabinet is useful for dealing with low
to moderate risk biological agents.

BSC II (A2)
A. Front opening
B. Sash
C. Exhaust HEPA filter
D. Supply HEPA filter
E. Positive pressure common plenum
F. Negative pressure plenum

This cabinet’s canopy should be connected to the exhaust. All duct and
plenum are under negative pressure. Air exhausts through HEPA filter
and may be filtered back to the laboratory or to the canopy. The cabinet
is suitable for work with low to moderate risk agents.

BSC III

A. Glove ports with O-ring for attaching arm-length gloves to the

cabinet.
B. Sash
C. Exhaust HEPA filters
D. Supply HEPA filters
E. Double ended autoclave or pass through the box

The exhaust air must be double HEPA filtered or HEPA filtered and incinerate. This cabinet is
totally ventilated, enclosed and leak-tight construction. The attached arm length rubber gloves
provide a physical barrier through which worker can do his operation. It contains negative
pressure. The fans of cabinet draw supply air using HEPA filters into the cabinet. This cabinet is
used to deal with low to high-risk biological agents
and also used in high containment laboratories i.e.
BSL 3.
 References
1. The management, design, and operation of microbiological containment laboratories.
(2001). Sudbury: HSE Books.
2. Collaco, R. E., X. Cao, and J. P. Trempe. 1999. A helper virus-free packaging system for
recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors. Gene 238: 397–405.
3. Samulski, R. J., M. Sally, and N. Muzyczka. 1999. Adeno-associated viral vectors, p. 131–172.
In T. Friedmann (ed.). The development of gene therapy. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory,
Cold Spring Harbor, NY.
4. Kimman, T. G., Smit, E., & Klein, M. R. (2008). Evidence-Based Biosafety: A Review of the
Principles and Effectiveness of Microbiological Containment Measures. Clinical Microbiology
Reviews, 21(3), 403-425. DOI:10.1128/cmr.00014-08
5. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. (n.d). Biosafety [PDF file]. Retrieved
from http://www.iitb.ac.in/safety/sites/default/files/BIO%20SAFETY%20IITB_1.pdf
6. Viewing: Laboratory Safety Manual - Chapter 16: Biological Safety Cabinets. (n.d.). Retrieved
April 7, 2019, from https://unc.policystat.com/policy/5819516/latest/