A Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC) is a specialized laboratory containment device designed to protect personnel, products, and the environment from biohazards and airborne contaminants during microbiological work. BSCs use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration to control airflow, ensuring that hazardous agents do not escape into the surrounding environment while maintaining a sterile workspace for sensitive biological processes. These cabinets are categorized into Class I, II, and III, each offering different levels of protection depending on the risk level of the materials being handled.
Class I BSCs protect the user and environment but do not provide product protection, Class II BSCs offer both personnel and product protection, and Class III BSCs provide the highest level of containment for highly infectious agents.
Equipped with laminar airflow, UV sterilization, and airtight glove ports (for Class III units), biological safety cabinets are essential in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and research laboratories, ensuring compliance with biosafety and GMP standards for handling infectious and hazardous biological materials.