The secondary biosafety cabinet is an important equipment used in laboratories to protect operators, experimental samples, and the environment. Its use requires strict adherence to regulations to ensure safety. The following are the main usage precautions:
1、 Preparation before operation
1. Equipment inspection: Before use, the appearance of the biosafety cabinet, fans, filters, etc. should be checked for normal operation, and it should be confirmed that they have been regularly calibrated and are within their validity period.
2. Environmental requirements: It should be installed on a level surface that cannot be moved, avoiding direct sunlight, and the recommended ambient temperature is between 10-30 ℃. The distance between the back and sides of the safety cabinet and the wall should be maintained at 150-300mm, with a minimum space of 300mm at the top.
3. Personal protection: Personal protective equipment such as lab coats, gloves, masks, hats, and goggles must be worn.
2、 Operating standards
1. Item placement: Items in the cabinet should be placed in the direction from the clean area to the contaminated area, and all items should be placed at the back of the workbench as much as possible to avoid blocking the front and rear air intake grilles. The quantity of items should be kept to a minimum to avoid overloading.
2. Operation action: During operation, the action should be slow and steady, avoiding rapid movement that disrupts the airflow. Slowly insert both hands vertically from the front window opening of the safety cabinet, and wait for about 1 minute for the air to "sweep" over the surfaces of the hands and arms before starting the operation.
3. Work area: All operations should be carried out in the central area of the workbench, avoiding operations near the edge of the cabinet or the front window opening. The experimental operation should be carried out in the direction from the clean area to the contaminated area.
3、 Safety taboos
1. No open flames: It is strictly prohibited to use alcohol lamps or other open flames inside the cabinet, as they can interfere with the airflow mode and may damage the filter. Suggest using an infrared sterilizer instead.
2. Avoid vibration: try to avoid using vibration instruments such as centrifuges and vortex oscillators inside the cabinet to prevent particle matter accumulated on the filter membrane from shaking off and reducing cleanliness.
3. Different sample movement: When two or more items need to be moved inside the cabinet, the principle of moving low polluting items to high polluting items should be followed.
4、 Post operation processing
1. Cleaning and disinfection: After the experiment, disinfect all surfaces and items inside the cabinet again with 70% alcohol. Close the front window of the safety cabinet and keep the fan running for 10-15 minutes to purify residual pollutants.
2. Waste disposal: Experimental waste should be classified and placed in dedicated biosafety garbage bags or containers, and disposed of according to regulations.
5、 Maintenance and Inspection
1. Regular inspection: Once there is a warning of the end of filter life, the use should be stopped immediately and professional engineers should be notified for testing. UV lamp intensity should be regularly checked to ensure its sterilization effect.
2. Continuous operation: The fan of the safety cabinet should run for 5-10 minutes before and after work. Try to keep the safety cabinet in a continuous working state to provide greater personnel protection.