Understanding the Differences Between Class I & II Biological Safety Cabinets

What is the difference between Class I & Class II biosafety cabinets? Which biosafety cabinet can protect the operator, sample and work area? Which biosafety cabinet protects the operator and work area?

Class I biosafety cabinet:

Operator and environment protection

These enclosures are used to protect the user and laboratory environment from Aerosol contamination. The air from the room is sucked into the cabinet through the work area and polluted air passes through the HEPA filter on the top of the cabinet. HEPA filtered air exhaust to the room through HEPA filter.

Class II Type B2 biosafety cabinet:

Operator, samples and environment protection

30% air exhaust, 70% air recirculation

This type of biological safety cabinet not only protects operators, but also protects the samples and laboratory environment. The HEPA filtered air is blown into the cabinet, creating a safe space for the operators in front of the cabinet, and providing an uncontaminated space inside the cabinet to protect the samples that the operators handle with.

Class II Type B2 biosafety cabinet:

Operator, samples and environment protection

100% air exhaust, 0% air recirculation

This type of biological safety cabinet uses clean and HEPA filtered air to bathe the inside of the cabinet and exhaust the contaminated air from the outside of the laboratory, thereby further protecting operators and the samples that the operators handle with.