What Happens During a Biosafety Cabinet Certification?
Technicians who regularly work with lab equipment know that safe handling of biohazards and other potentially harmful materials is an absolute must. You rely on your biosafety cabinet to work correctly so that you and others are kept safe, and so that your work samples are not contaminated. To achieve all those goals, regular biosafety cabinet certification needs to be on your checklist. DigeLab Solutions is here to help–let’s get into why biosafety cabinet certification involves and why it’s so vital.
What Is Biosafety Cabinet Certification?
Biosafety cabinet certification is essentially a routine check-up–like your car’s inspection or your annual physical–to ensure that the cabinet is functioning as it should and that nothing is amiss. This process needs to be done regularly, by credentialed professionals, for both Class 1 and Class 2 biosafety cabinets. New biosafety cabinets require certification, along with units that are being relocated and after any repairs are made. For certain settings, annual and bi-annual biosafety cabinet certification is required, regardless of whether or not operational issues are indicated, such as when complying with guidelines from US health agencies like the NIH and CDC.
What Happens During Biosafety Cabinet Certification?
During this testing protocol, one of DigeLab’s qualified technicians will assess key components of your biosafety cabinet that need to be fully and accurately operational in order to be safe for use. These steps include:
- Airflow assessment: Technicians ensure that air is moving in the right direction, within the defined space, at the correct inflow and downflow velocity, and that the motor and blower are working correctly
- Filter inspection: Certifiers take a close look at filters to ensure that they are effectively filtering dangerous particles, replacing HEPA filters as needed
- Cabinet integrity check: Technicians ensure that there are no leaks or other issues that may compromise safety
- Function check: Certifiers will ensure that temperature, air pressure, humidity, RPM, sensor levels, particle counters, noise levels, lighting levels, alarms, and vibration levels are calibrated correctly
- Site assessment: Technicians will verify the proper installation of the unit
If the biosafety cabinet passes certification, your lab will receive documentation proving compliance. But if the certification process finds that the unit is not up to par, it will be repaired and recertified before regular use is resumed. Biosafety cabinet certification needs to be handled by a technician who has become an accredited field certifier following a written and practical test as administered by NSF, like the team at DigeLab.
Biosafety Cabinet Certification From DigeLab Solutions
Regular maintenance and scheduled biosafety cabinet certification are vital to ensure your safety while using your lab equipment. At DigeLab, your safety is our utmost priority. For your biosafety cabinet certification and maintenance needs, contact DigeLab Solutions today so that we can assess your requirements and get your lab equipment back up and running. We are committed to your convenience, and offer full-service repairs and safety during and after-hour service calls as needed. If your biosafety cabinet is due for certification for any reason, don’t delay—contact us today to schedule an inspection with one of DigeLab’s qualified technicians.