Cell Culture Fume Hood

A cell culture fume hood, often referred to as a biological safety cabinet (BSC) or laminar flow hood is a specialized piece of laboratory equipment designed to provide a sterile and safe environment for working with cell cultures and other biological materials. Here's a concise overview:

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Key Features:

1. Sterile Environment: Uses HEPA filters to provide clean, particle-free air to prevent contamination of cell cultures.

2. Airflow Types:

   Laminar Flow Hoods: Provide unidirectional airflow (horizontal or vertical) to maintain sterility but do not protect the user from hazardous materials.

 

   Biological Safety Cabinets:

     Class I: Protects the user and environment but not the sample.

     Class II: Protects the user, sample, and environment (most common for cell culture).

     Class III: Fully enclosed for highly hazardous materials.

 

3. Contamination Control: Shields cell cultures from airborne contaminants like dust, microbes, or spores.

 

4. User Protection: In BSCs, protects the operator from exposure to biohazards or volatile chemicals.

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Applications:

• Culturing mammalian, bacterial, or fungal cells.

• Handling sterile reagents or media.

• Working with biohazardous materials (e.g., viruses, pathogens) in BSCs.

• Preventing cross-contamination in sensitive experiments.