BIONICS SCIENTIFIC TECHNOLOGIES (P) LTD

Laminar Air Flow Bench

Laminar Air Flow Bench

Many microbiological and cell culture laboratories require highly sterile working environment for performing research activities and laminar air flow cabinets are the best solution for them. A laminar air flow (LAF) cabinet, also known as a laminar Hood or tissue culture hood, is an enclosed cabinet designed for preventing contamination of biological samples, semi-conductor wafers and sensitive materials. In other words, the laminar flow cabinet provides an excellent clean air environment, which is free from contaminant for performing a number of laboratory requirements. These cabinets are used for general laboratory work and in electronic and pharmaceutical industries extensively. Clean benches are other names of laminar air flow cabinets as the working air environment remains clear due to the high-end filtration process. Industries demand both horizontal and vertical laminar air flow cabinets for different purposes.

A laminar air flow cabinet maintains a unidirectional flow of HEPA-filtered air over the work area and protects the working environment from dust and other air-born particulates. The flow can be horizontal (parallel to the work surface) or vertical (from top to the work surface). Both the air flow types have their own significance in research. The question, where to use horizontal air flow cabinet or vertical air flow cabinet, this choice solely depends upon the requirements of applications.

Working Principle & Parts of Laminar Air Flow

Laminar air flow or laminar Hood consists of stainless Steel Cabinet, Filter pad or pre-filter, HEPA Filter, Fan or blower, UV Lamp, Working stations Fluorescent lamp etc. These important parts perform individual functions during its operation. The main function of laminar air flow is to remove all airborne contaminations for maintaining sterile conditions. This process takes place in the following manner:

• The cabinet uses inwards flow of air passed through one or more HEPA filters for creating sterile environment.
• The air taken inside via a filtration system is exhausted across the work surface.
• Primarily, air is passed through the filter pad that ensures the streamlined flow of air into the cabinet.
• After that, the blower directs the air towards HEPA filters.
• The HEPA filters capture the fungi, bacteria or other particulate materials and make air circulating inside the cabinet particulate-free.
• Some effluent air passes at the bottom rear end of the cabinet via perforation while most of the air passes over the working bench (it is the area encompassing burner, loops and culture plates inside the cabinet where all processes take place) towards the face of the operator.

Vertical Vs Horizontal Laminar Flow

As mentioned above, in a horizontal air flow cabinet, filtered air blows across the work zone in horizontal direction; this constant flow of air provides material and product protection. Whereas, in a vertical laminar air flow cabinet, filtered air blows on the work zone and leaves through the holes in the base. As compared to horizontal type, vertical flow cabinet can provide greater operator protection. Furthermore, it is user preference that decides which type of laminar air flow cabinet should use.

Precautions to follow while operating laminar air flow

• Before and after the operation, the cabinet needs to sterilize with UV light.
• It is mandatory to switch off the UV light while performing any work.
• The airflow and the UV light need not use at the same time.
• The operator must wear long gloves and lab coats while operating the laminar air flow cabinet.
• After completion of the work, the cabinet, glass shield and other components need to sterilize carefully.

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