Purifier® Axiom™ makes Class II Biosafety Cabinet selection easy

By Elizabeth Dille, Ph.D., Product Manager

On October 21, 2014 in Blog

Ask any life science laboratory employee working in microbiology and they will tell you how confusing and frustrating it is to select a new biosafety cabinet (BSC) for the lab. Do I need a Class I or a Class II? What is the difference between Class II Type A2 and Type B2 BSCs? Is a canopy needed on this Type A2 cabinet? Are the chemicals I am using hazardous enough to warrant a Type B2? Can I convert my A2 to a B2 (or vice versa)? The questions go on and on.

Nothing before has answered so many questions, addressed so many shortcomings or simplified Class II BSCs before like the Purifier® Axiom™ by Labconco. Through innovative airflow channeling, intelligent programming and safety driven design, this revolutionary Class II cabinet boasts the cumulative safety of a Type B BSC while utilizing the flexibility of a Type A BSC. Furthermore, it can alternate between Type B and Type A mode in three simple steps.

Safety of a Type B:

All Class II BSCs provide the same level of protection from hazardous aerosols, droplets or particles. Type B BSCs surpass the safety of Type A cabinets when it comes to handling chemical vapors due to their single pass airflow design. They are also recommended over Type A cabinets when handling hazardous powders or radionuclides because they can be fitted with Bag In/Bag Out HEPA filters. The Axiom also utilizes a single pass airflow design in an area of the cabinet called the Chem-Zone™, where active work is to be performed.

Safer than a B:

When operating connected to its remote exhaust system, the Axiom in Type B mode and a Type B cabinet have few differences, but there is one that is significant. When an exhaust system fails, a Type B must engage its interlock and shut the cabinet down – becoming a dead air enclosure. The Axiom uses intelligent programming and sensor technology to recognize the same exhaust system failure, and utilizing its internal exhaust blower, maintains safe airflow through the cabinet for up to five (5) minutes. This programmable Active Protection Protocol™ alerts BSC operators to an exhaust failure and provides a countdown timer for BSC shut down – all the while keeping them safe. This allows the operator time to safely and controllably secure assets, and ready themselves to leave the cabinet safely.

Flexibility of a Type A:

Though incapable of handling the hazardous chemical applications reserved for Type B BSCs, Type A cabinets are much more laboratory friendly. In a recirculating mode, they can placed on mobile stands allowing for movement required by today’s modular lab designs. When ducted through a thimble or canopy connection, a Type A cabinet has much lower exhaust requirements and can often be installed into existing laboratory exhaust networks. Type B BSCs, however, require their own dedicated exhaust system per cabinet; once installed a Type B BSC is a slave to its mechanical system. The Omni-Flex™ design of the Axiom allows it to easily alternate between Type A and Type B modes as the laboratory needs change.

Savings of a Type A:

Along with the Type B BSC’s dedicated exhaust system requirement, they also have high vacuum and volumetric air rate requirements. This makes them expensive to own and operate. In fact, a Type B2 BSC costs twice that of a Type A2, a Type B1 or the Axiom to own and operate due to its high airflow demands. A Class II Type B1 and the Axiom will require comparable airflow requirements, yet the Axiom can be disconnected from its ductwork and save the lab the precious air and energy it takes to temper that air that a B1 will always require.

Bridging the Gaps:

The Purifier Axiom provides enhanced safety over all modern and current Class II BSC Types, while exhibiting unmatched flexibility. When combined, these advantages offer greater energy and budgetary savings over the life of the cabinet. Since this one BSC, the Purifier Axiom, can do everything a Type A or a Type B is capable of, saves money, is safer, is greener, is more flexible… the choice of which Class II Cabinet that is right for you is a no-brainer.