Laboratory Safety – Bio Safety Cabinet Decontamination
18 April 2018
Extreme Caution Should be Observed When Decontaminating Bio Safety Cabinets.
- Use caution when wiping surfaces to avoid injury from broken glass that may be present and sharp metal edges.
- When removing internal parts of the cabinet, it is best practice to work with a partner as some of the workbenches and grilles may be heavy and have sharp edges.
- Proper personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used.
- Bio Safety cabinets that have been used for work involving infectious materials must be decontaminated before high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are changed, when the BSC is moved, or when maintenance work is planned.
- This decontamination would be performed by a 3rd party using formaldehyde gas, hydrogen peroxide vapor, or chlorine dioxide gas.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Always wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when working in or near the Bio Safety Cabinet and when performing decontamination procedures.
- PPE includes a lab coat, gloves, and eye protection, as well as long pants and sturdy, closed-toed shoes which provide maximum foot protection.
- You should tuck lab coat cuffs inside gloves.
- Isolation suites or gowns, double pairs of nitrile gloves, booties, and respirators may be required depending on the agents used in the Bio Safety Cabinet and to protect from sensitivities to the disinfectants used.
Decontamination Prep
- You can plan on at least one (1) hour or more of uninterrupted time to complete a thorough disinfecting routine.
- Schedule in advance with others in the lab to minimize down time.
- When performing a full decontamination, it is best to set up an area adjacent to the BSC to place items that you may have removed (grille’s, work bench, etc.…)
- Ensure that several layers of absorbent materials are paced on the floor to soak up the disinfectant being used.
- Lab bench protectors or soakers
- Best to have a partner to help move the heavier removable parts in and out of the BSC.
- Determine the appropriate disinfectant based on the microbiological materials used in the BSC.
- 20 – 30 minutes is considered an appropriate contact time for decontaminating. This can vary with the disinfectant and the microbiological agent.
- Manufacturer’s directions must always be followed
- Using chlorinated bleach, or halogen chemicals may damage the stainless-steel surfaces.
- Best to not use paper towels, then can cause lint, consider using a squeegee type tool or a duster with disposable pads to wipe the internal surfaces.
As a leader in Scientific Equipment Repair and Medical Equipment Calibrations, Scientific Instrument Center works with many corporations, universities, and hospitals providing the highest level of laboratory services. Feel free to contact us at (614) 771-4700 to learn more about Isolator Cabinet Repair.
Reference:
CDC/NIH Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories (BMBL), 5th Edition, Appendix A- Primary Containment for Biohazards: Selection, Installation and Use of Biological Safety Cabinet.
For additional information regarding OSHA standards or to download the OSHA Fact Sheet, please visit the USDOL