What is a Biosafety Cabinet?
A Biosafety Cabinet (BSC) is a primary containment device that provides three-way protection:
- Operator Protection: Shields the technician from biological aerosols
- Product Protection: Maintains sterility of work materials
- Environmental Protection: Contains hazardous materials within the cabinet
What is HEPA Filtration?
HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filtration is the gold standard in contamination control. A true HEPA filter removes 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 micrometers—that's 1/200th the width of a human hair.
Why 0.3 Microns?
At 0.3 microns, particles are at maximum penetration due to the complex physics of air movement and particle behavior. This particle size represents the Most Penetrating Particle Size (MPPS). By capturing particles at this size, HEPA filters remove virtually all particles both larger and smaller than this threshold.