What is a biosafety cabinet and when is it used?

• A. A cabinet that protects both user and environment from biological aerosols; used for handling infectious agents.
• B. A cabinet for storing chemical waste.
• C. A cabinet that filters air in the entire building.
• D. A cabinet used for metalworking.

Answer: (A)

A biosafety cabinet is a containment device that protects both the handler and the surrounding environment from airborne biological hazards. It achieves this by drawing air in from the work area and passing it through high-efficiency filters, often recirculating it safely inside or exhausting it after filtration. This setup prevents aerosols generated during handling of biological materials from escaping into the room while also protecting the samples from contamination.

It’s used whenever you’re working with infectious agents or any biological material that could release aerosols, such as culturing microorganisms, preparing clinical or research samples, or performing sterile techniques in biology or microbiology labs. It’s not for storing chemical waste, not intended to filter air for an entire building, and not used for metalworking, since those tasks require different equipment and safeguards.