The Hidden Costs of Skipping Biosafety Cabinet Certification
When you’re operating a busy lab, the last thing you want to hear is that a piece of lab equipment is going to be out of operation, whether for biosafety cabinet certification or another reason. Your researchers depend on fume hoods being available when they need them, and their work is important, to be sure. However, this is a case where the risks outweigh the benefits–there is no perk to keeping a unit operational if it’s having issues or sounding alarms.
At DigeLab Solutions we are dedicated to helping laboratories and research facilities maintain safe and compliant operations. Here’s why biosafety cabinet certification is so important, and what you risk if you try to skip it.
What Biosafety Cabinet Certification Involves
Biosafety cabinet certification is a testing protocol that allows DigeLab technicians to assess key components of your biosafety cabinet. These systems and components must be fully and accurately operational in order to be safe for use.
Technicians assess airflow to ensure that air is moving as expected–in the right direction, within the defined space, at the correct inflow and downflow velocity. They also inspect the unit to ensure that the motor and blower are functioning as they should. HEPA filters are vital to safe biosafety hood operation, so our certifiers will ensure that they are not clogged, and are effectively trapping particulate matter. If they need to be changed, this will be handled after the inspection. If no leaks or other functional issues are noted, technicians will run a laminar smoke test, ensure that safety features are working, and then assess the site where the biosafety cabinet is located to ensure proper installation. If the biosafety cabinet passes certification, it’s good to use. If it does not pass or if repairs are needed, those will be handled and the unit will then need to be recertified. Certification is also required on an annual basis and after relocation.
Why Biosafety Cabinet Certification Matters
Biosafety cabinets are specialized pieces of lab equipment that serve as workspaces during experimentation. They are specifically designed to protect researchers, laboratory samples, and the surrounding environment from exposure to hazardous biological materials. Through the use of controlled airflow and high-efficiency HEPA filtration, biosafety cabinets can successfully contain potentially harmful microorganisms and prevent contamination.
When things are working well, everyone is safe. But should systems fail or filters clog, tiny particles such as bacteria, viruses, spores and other contaminants can enter the workspace. This can compromise the sterility of the work area and jeopardize the experiment. It can also mean harm to researchers and others. Without properly certified lab equipment, workers cannot carry out reliable experiments. For so many reasons, biosafety cabinet certification matters. It is the only way to ensure that unseen risk factors are accounted for and protected against.
Increased Risk of Contamination
One of the most serious hidden costs to skipping biosafety cabinet certification is contamination. If airflow is not optimal or obstructed somehow, air can flow back into the workspace. Damaged or dirty filters can cause a similar effect. This can lead to compromised research results, cross-contamination between samples, and the loss of valuable experiments. Months of work can be wasted if it is discovered that the experiments were done using a malfunctioning biosafety cabinet. Beyond this waste of time and investment, it may require expensive project restarts to get back up and running.
Safety Risks for Laboratory Personnel
The abovementioned risk of contamination poses a real threat to those who are conducting the experiments. As noted, if a biosafety cabinet is not functioning properly, it may fail to contain hazardous materials. This can expose laboratory personnel to infectious agents and cause them real harm. Chemical or biological hazards escaping the cabinet also contaminates the surrounding area and others who are working nearby. Increased workplace safety incidents can lead to serious health implications for lab staff, and can also have knock-on effects on other areas of the lab.
Regulatory Compliance Issues
Modern laboratories, wherever they may be located, must comply with regulatory and safety guidelines. These guidelines may be related to their line of research or the industry they’re closely associated with, but in all cases, failure to comply can only bring negative consequences. For example, the CDC and NIH lay out clear biosafety recommendations, and OSHA sets out mandatory workplace safety standards. Institutional biosafety committee requirements may also be at play. Whatever the case may be in a given institution or facility, skipping certification can result in failed inspections, compliance violations, and resulting suspended lab operations.
Financial Consequences
While avoiding certification may seem like a cost-saving measure up front, it often leads to larger expenses down the line. Some of these hidden costs can include:
- Repeating contaminated experiments
- Equipment repairs due to unnoticed problems
- Regulatory fines or penalties
- Increased liability in case of exposure incidents
- Downtime and delays
In most cases, the cost of certification is far lower than the cost of fixing problems caused by uncertified equipment. And the required downtime to certify is minimal–at DigeLab we work around our clients’ schedules and do all we can to get your lab back on track as soon as possible.
Damage to Research Integrity and Reputation
Laboratories depend on reliable results. And funders of research depend on laboratories to be doing their due diligence. If contamination or safety issues occur due to uncertified lab equipment, it can lead research funders to back out of working with your lab in the future. Worse still, already published research could be called into question if there is reason to doubt the validity of the results due to faulty lab equipment or skipped biosafety cabinet certification. If loss of funding opportunities wasn’t enough of a deterrent, then damage to institutional reputation may be the ultimate blow, and can undermine the past, present and future of a research laboratory. On the other hand, maintaining certified lab equipment and opting for fume hood repair when needed helps to protect both data quality and credibility.
How Regular Certification Prevents These Risks
In a laboratory environment, accidents may happen from time to time, but there’s no room for intentional negligence. Instead, opting for routine certification helps institutions to maintain safe and reliable lab equipment and prevent costly downtime. Regular certifications–annual, when relocated, or following repairs–allow for early detection of airflow and filter issues. Scheduled biosafety cabinet certification also allows trained technicians to verify that containment systems are working as they should. When lab equipment is working properly and doing its job to isolate risks to lab personnel and preserve a sterile environment, lab staff and management can rest assured that they are complying with safety standards–this gives everyone invaluable peace of mind.
Biosafety Cabinet Certification from DigeLab Solutions
Regularly scheduled preventative maintenance is a simple way to ensure that your lab’s biosafety cabinet performs as it was designed. But it’s not just a regulatory requirement—it’s a critical safeguard for safety, research accuracy, and financial stability. And when you take the necessary steps to ensure that lab equipment is working properly, you show that you value your workers and funders. Skipping certification may save money in the short term, but clearly, the hidden costs can be far greater.
If your lab equipment is due for biosafety cabinet certification or if you are in need of fume hood repair, we are here to help. The professional team at DigeLab Solutions handles all of your lab equipment repair and certification needs with an eye on efficiency–we know that you are eager to get back to work. Besides the certification itself, we also offer thorough documentation and additional insights in the form of gap analysis and consulting services. Don’t wonder–schedule certification or repair for your lab equipment today!