Laminar flow cabinet type-tested to EN12469:2000

Edited by the Laboratorytalk editorial team Sep 2, 2004

Esco's Labculture horizontal laminar flow cabinet has been successfully type-tested to a rigorous set of test methods adapted from European Standard for microbiological safety cabinets

The tests were designed to evaluate the product and cross contamination capabilities of the cabinet, as well as laminar air flow velocity, uniformity, noise level, lighting and vibration.

Most notable are the microbiological challenge tests to determine product and cross contamination protection which were carried out using a set of methods adapted from EN 12469 normally performed on biological safety cabinets.

For the product protection test, B subtilis was nebulised outside the cabinet and allowed to enter the pre filter and Ulpa filtration system.

Agar plates were then placed in the work zone to collect any bacteria passing through the filtration system or entering via the open front of the cabinet.

Test results proved that despite a very high bacteria challenge, practically zero CFU was recovered in the work zone for the duration of the experiment.

Microbiological challenge testing is normally not performed on laminar flow cabinets and this is a world-first development by Esco.

Independent testing was performed by the Health Protection Agency (HPA, Porton Down, UK), where Esco's Labculture Class II Type A2 biosafety cabinet has also been certified to the same standard in August 2004.