Laminar flow hoods are highly specialized equipment that allows obtaining a sterile and safe area for any need that is required within a laboratory. They can be: Horizontal and Vertical. Basically it constitutes a space, which, by means of a specific treatment of the air, allows to work in an area with a strict control of non-road particles. This type of equipment is used for certain processes where it is necessary to extreme the control of contamination.
Normally, these systems are used for microbiological control procedures, packaging process, sterile filling, etc. but in no way should they be used for processes involving strains of contaminating biological agents, whether they are known or not. For these cases there are biological safety cabinets, prepared for the protection of the product / process, the operator and the environment.
Team Purpose
• Protect the worker from the risks associated with the handling of potentially infectious biological material.
• Protect the sample being analyzed so that it is not contaminated.
•Protect the environment.
What is laminar flow?
Laminarity is generated thanks to a constant velocity at the air outlet that allows the distribution in the workplace to be homogenized. This is possible thanks to the placement of HEPA filters as a previous step to the air outlet. However, considering a complete room with filters of these characteristics would be extremely expensive, and the question we must ask ourselves and if we really need the entire surface covered with HEPA filters. While these systems may differ in some constructive characteristics, maintaining a constant laminar air flow is critical to the objective. So it turns out that we could reduce the requirement to a clean or ultra clean area, instead of thinking about the entire area under this condition.
There are two main sources of contamination in an area with a specific control requirement, these can be external (associated with the environment), and internal (produced within the area either by staff or by type of work). In the case of the former, pollution reduction is achieved with the different stages of filtration through which the outside air must pass until it reaches the environment. In the case of the latter, it is necessary to work on strict procedures, both for the development of the activity and for cleaning, even considering the possible events.
How does a laminar flow hood work?
Laminar flow hoods contribute to the recirculation of clean air in the environment where they are, since they have a continuous work of air renewal. Let’s not forget that they take it from their environment, filter it and return it to the environment with an extra stage of absolute filtration, and this process is constant.
In the case of laminar flow hoods, the air output speed, in a constant way, continues and of homogeneous distribution through HEPA filters, allows to move the particles generated in the work area causing a sweeping effect out of that area. This mechanism achieves a grade A workspace with a very low concentration of particles of different sizes.
Why should I use a laminar flow hood?
However, if we understand that the laminar flow system provides us with a work zone free of contaminating particles, that in addition, the location environment will benefit from continuous use, as much as the use of a controlled environment will be advantageous for the operation of the system, we can consider that many times the failures associated with the operation of the equipment are given by the way they are used.
We must understand that a laminar flow hood is not a storage cabinet, or a desk, or a receptacle for waste, but a critical work tool, so it is important to provide adequate care and maintenance to allow working with results. consistent throughout its life.
In Kalstein we offer you a new horizontal laminar flow cabinet. That’s why we invite you to take a look HERE