Protect Your Samples from Getting Adulterated

Want to protect your samples from airborne contamination? Choose the best laminar flow hoods as mentioned in this guide.

1. Introduction – 

One thing that protects your samples from airborne contamination is the laminar flow hoods – clean benches that provide a filtered airflow across the entire work area. Wherever a clean and sterile environment is required for that laminar flow hoods are suitable and they are also suitable for a variety of applications regarding a clean environment. Such as there are many medical labs, research labs, assembly workplaces of sterile equipment or electronic devices, etc.

There are many laminar flow hoods which are available in the 2 kinds of configurations – i) horizontal airflow and ii) vertical airflow. In Vertical laminar flow hoods, clean filtered air moves downward from the filter surface on the top to the work surface.

Whereas, in the horizontal laminar flow cabinets, from the filters located behind the work surface towards the operator, the clean air moves from it. And on the type of process, operator safety, clearance requirements the airflow direction depends. There are many good companies which offer several kinds of laminar flow workstations be it vertical airflow directions, or horizontal airflow directions, others are – benchtop, free-standing, and portable design that meet cleanliness requirements of  ISO4 & ISO5 – Class 10 and 100 cleanrooms.

2. Vertical Laminar Flow Hood – Clean bench 

• By providing the area with the laminar flow of air, free of particulate contamination, the vertical flow ISO5 clean bench is created in a way to protect the samples and material on the hood from getting contaminated. Vertical laminar flow hoods offer a wide range of options and also accessories which comprises of the following –
• Support stands & stainless steel work surface
• A power outlet &  germicidal UV lamp
• Second hinged front face shield &IV bar,
• Ionizing bar and static dissipative windows

So, that it can be placed on the worktable, a clean bench can be ordered with a bottom open frame. Worksurface is optional. It can also be bought by you with work surface and mobile base stand. There is also a black plenum which provides air re-circulation and reduces the % of the dirty air passed through the filter. This helps greatly in extending the overall life of the filter.

3. Some of the Standard Features of Vertical Laminar Flow Hoods –

• Vertical laminar flow hood comprises a portable laminar flow a work station which offers a space-saving design that can be easily positioned on any bench.
• It is also available with optional work surface and stands which is stainless steel or Polypropylene work surface and epoxy Powder coated steel stand with caster available.
• It also comprises of an integrated fan filter module which meets the IEST recommended practices. It has low sound, low watts, etc.
• Then the next thing is the choice of HEPA which is 99.99% efficient or it is also ULPA 99.999% efficient with particles.
• Minihelic gauge is there which monitors pressure differential when it exceeds the limit; it indicates the need to replace the HEPA filter(s) also.
• Then there is each model which comprises of tilt-up sash which increases the airspeed by confining the airflow.
• The overall filter life is expanded with the help of the back plenum. Its bench to model offers an air recirculation which reduces the % of dirty air passed through the filter.
• It also comprises of built-in fluorescent light.
• There is also an optional Hospital Grade Dual Power Outlet- Built-in

4. Applications

Laminar flow hoods and clean benches don’t offer a personnel level protection as biosafety cabinets provide. Plus, it is not suitable in the presence of hazardous substances. If your experiment or operation involves the use of bio-hazards, a biological safety cabinet should not be used in such a case. Vertical laminar flow hood cabinets create a clean air environment which is the need for the labs and pharmaceutical procedures. It is great for use with the following –

• Antibiotics &thermal cycler
• Centrifuge &preparations of IV Admixture or other drugs
• Plant Cell Culture etc.

But please keep in mind that it should be used with the cultures that do not harm the environment and also you. It is also ideal for medical, food and other industrial sectors and also for the following such as –

• Sterile manipulations &  electronics
• Assembly of miniature mechanisms
• And any other application where clean conditions are required to protect the product from airborne contaminants

Ready to Cover up Your Experiments Use the best laminar flow hoods – 

It is one of the best to protect your experiments and operations and also ensure a clean and safe environment for experimentation of various kinds. It ensures protection against airborne contamination also. Available are vertical laminar flow hood – recirculating clean bench, free-standing, economical clean bench, portable clean bench, and vertical laminar airflow storage cabinets. So, you can choose anyone from it.