Things to Consider When Purchasing a Biosafety Cabinet

A biosafety cabinet (BSC) – also known as a biological safety cabinet or microbiological safety cabinet – is an enclosed laboratory workspace that allows researchers to work with potentially contaminated materials, protecting both the worker and surrounding laboratory space from pathogens.

 When purchasing a biosafety cabinet, consider a few things:

What type of BSC will you need?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies BSCs into three different classes. While Class II BSCs are extremely common in biomedical and microbiological laboratories, each class has its own set of pros and cons. For example, Class I cabinets protect the user and the laboratory environment but could potentially contaminate samples; Class III cabinets can handle high-risk bio materials, while Class II cabinets are classified for low- to moderate-risk samples. Knowing what type of samples you’ll be working with can help inform which class of BSC  you purchase.

What are your size limits?

Space can be precious in a laboratory; that’s why it’s important to determine exactly how large a BSC you will actually need. Finding the happy medium between having enough workspace to move efficiently within the cabinet and not monopolizing your laboratory is very important. Sash size needs and motorized lifts can also affect your choice.

Will you need to modify your BSC in any way?

Because of the critical job these cabinets perform, it’s extremely important that they be assembled appropriately and be tested thoroughly. Some modifications can cause the equipment to malfunction or become dangerous. If you think you may need to modify a cabinet to suit your lab’s needs, consider purchasing a different model instead.

What is the lifetime cost of each BSC?

These cabinets are a sizable investment, whether they’re purchased new or used. It’s important, however, to consider the lifetime cost of a particular model or class, rather than the up-front cost. Just because one model’s sticker price is lower than another’s doesn’t mean it will be a cheaper investment in the long run. It’s important to consider energy consumption, maintenance, and other customer reviews. 

We stock many options and classes in Biosafety Cabinets, Hoods, and Dead Air Boxes. Our inventory is constantly updating, and we have several widths, sashes, and decontamination features. We also have years of expertise in maintaining, moving, and preparing these lab staples. If you have questions and need, we have answers and solutions. 

Click here to view our current inventory of used biosafety cabinets