Biosafety Cabinet Cleaning: How to Clean Spills Safely

How should you clean spills inside a biosafety cabinet?

What should be done to clean spills in a biosafety cabinet?

Answer:

In case of a spill in a biosafety cabinet, first ensure personal safety, then clean the spill with warm detergent solution followed by disinfection using a strong basic solution.

When working inside a biosafety cabinet and a spill occurs, it is crucial to follow the proper cleaning and decontamination process to ensure safety. Initially, personnel should be equipped with a protective coat, face protection, and cut-resistant gloves for personal protection. After ensuring personal safety, the spill should be immediately cleaned with a warm detergent solution, without scrubbing the spill area. Then, the surface should be disinfected using a strong basic solution.

Biosafety cabinets usually have High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters, to filter out harmful microorganisms. The Class I BSCs protect laboratory workers by drawing air into the cabinet and then filtering before allowing it to exit via the exhaust system. However, for a thorough cleaning process, specific protocols may be needed based on the type of biosafety cabinet and the material being handled.

For instance, the material used inside a Class III BSC, which is designed for working with highly infectious agents, needs to pass through a double-door system allowing the intervening space to be decontaminated between uses. Any waste must be incinerated or autoclaved in a strong basic solution to ensure a clean and safe working environment.