Common mistakes leading to cross-contamination in biosafety cabinets, and how to avoid them

A biosafety cabinet is the work horse of many labs, it can have multiple users working in the same cabinet over the course of the day carrying out different experiments. A biosafety cabinet is designed to offer protection for the user, protection for the product you are working on and the environment. Incorrect usage of a cabinet can lead to cross contamination, wasting both time, money and jeopardising experiment accuracy.

Cross contamination can only compromise the product within the cabinet, the HEPA filter and incoming airflow through the front grill maintain the user and environmental protection.

Simple easy steps to follow

The majority of experiments in a biosafety cabinet involve cell culturing and therefore growing cells in media. The conditions involved include nutrient rich media and warm, humid conditions, creating perfect growing conditions, therefore during the culturing/experiments the workspace needs to remain sterile.  Cross contamination can be caused by several issues; however, the majority are caused by the end user rather than equipment failure as equipment failure will result in alarms and work should cease immediately. Here are some easy steps to maintain a sterile environment.

• Always ensure the cabinet is on and ready to use. Opening a cabinet before it has turned on properly can lead to outside contaminates getting into the machine.
• Clean the cabinet before and after usage with 70% ethanol. Alcohol makes some bacteria and virus inactive because it lowers the water activity.
• Ensure that only 1 user working in a cabinet at any time, 2 users carrying out 2 different experiments can result in cross contamination.
• If the cabinet has a UV lamp, turn this on and leave for the 3-hour timer (timers can be modified).
• For any spillages in the cabinet, ensure that it is fully cleaned up on the work surface and check that there are no spills under the worksurface.
• Ensure the cabinet is not cluttered. The more equipment, pipette boxes or ‘junk’ the less effective the airflow will be and more places for contamination to hide.
• Do not cover the air grill going at the front of the worksurface. This maintains the user protection and correct level of airflow to prevent contaminants from outside the cabinet coming into the cabinet.

How does Faster ensure a better safety net?

On top of these simple practical methods to reduce cross-contamination, here at Faster we as well as offering seminars and training to end users the Faster cabinets are coated with exclusive Dupont™ ALESTA® anti-bacterial “Ag+cations-based solution”, capable to prevent microbial contamination of surfaces thereby inhibiting long term surface growth. The mobile UV lamp also allows maximum exposure to UV light on the surface on the cabinet. In addition, with Faster models there is a clear LED that is green when the cabinet is in working conditions. Plus, most Faster biosafety cabinets, the worksurface is split into multiple pieces to allow them to be removed and thoroughly cleaned and autoclaved if necessary.

Following simple methodical steps can reduce the chance of cross-contamination, however using specific Faster branded Biosafety cabinets you can ensure the safety net to a high degree which would lead to, reduced downtime of biosafety cabinets, reduced costs and increased efficiency of cycles. Overall it decreases the chances of cross-contamination.

Learn more about how Faster Air can keep your progress safe and efficient, via the link here or speak with our experts here.