RACKING SYSTEM

 Biosafety Cabinets (BSCs) are enclosed workspaces with a ventilated hood that is designed to contain pathogenic microorganisms during microbiological processes.

· The primary purpose of biosafety cabinets is to protect the laboratory personnel and the environment from the pathogenic microorganism as aerosols might be formed during the processing of such microorganisms.

· Biosafety cabinets are only used for certain risk group organisms and for processes that might result in aerosol formation.

· These cabinets are provided with HEPA-filters that decontaminate the air moving out of the cabinet.

· Biosafety cabinets might be confused with the laminar hood as both of these pieces of equipment work as enclosed workspaces. But, laminar hood only provides protection to the sample and not to the personnel and the environment, whereas biosafety cabinets protect all three.

· The use of biosafety cabinets or other such physical containment is not required in the biosafety level 1, but depending on the risk assessment, some processes might require such containment.

· BSCs are an essential part of biosafety as they minimize the formation of aerosol, protecting the environment, the pathogen, and the laboratory personnel.

· Besides, most BSCs also function to sterilize biological materials that are kept inside the cabinets.