Class III Biological Safety Cabinets (Gloveboxes)

Germfree is the USA's preeminent company providing Class III Biological Safety Cabinets.

Class III Biological Safety Cabinets are defined as gas-tight chambers with a sealed view window, in which manipulations of hazardous materials are performed through sealed gloves thereby providing the highest level of personnel, product and environmental protection.

The Glovebox is maintained under negative pressure with HEPA-filtered supply air and double HEPA-filtered exhaust air. Carbon filtration systems are available for work with hazardous chemicals.

Class III BSC Applications:

Class III (Glovebox) BSC lines have been a biosafety workhorse for many decades, serving communities requiring up to BSL-4 containment as well as containment for operations generating pathogenic and toxin aerosols. These lines provide an important alternative to high construction and maintenance costs inherent in conducting work in a BSL-4 suite lab.

When work involves dangerous pathogens or unknown agents, Class III BSC lines can be built to accommodate projects involving fermentors, processes that generate aerosols, and infected animals. Equipment such as incubators, autoclaves, microscopes, refrigerators and analytical equipment can be contained. Design flexibility facilitates worker comfort and laboratory workflow, while providing effective and efficient alternatives to ingress, egress and decontamination processes.

Class III BSC for Research and Aerobiology:

Germfree’s research and aerobiology Class III Biological Safety Cabinets are the industry standard. Originally co-developed with USAMRIID (United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases), our Class III BSCs provide a safe environment for performing aerobiology studies and can be equipped with a variety of accessories such as:

  • Rapid Transfer Ports (RTP)
  • Autoclaves
  • Airlocks
  • Dunk Tanks

All of our Class III BSCs can be designed for specific projects.

Class III BSC for Animal Transfer:

Originally co-developed with USAMRIID (United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases), this innovative technology allows a new level of safety and efficiency for animal handlers while:

  • Ensuring humane conditions and comfort for animals;
  • Allowing a rapid and continuous method of containment and transport for exposed and infected animals;
  • Significantly reducing human contact time with animals;
  • Significantly reducing the length of time animals must be anesthetized;
  • Significantly reducing the possibility of contaminating the environment.

Transporters can dock to the Class III BSC or vivaria doors equipped with interlocking Rapid Transfer Ports (RTP), thereby eliminating containment breaches and potential animal injuries or escapes.

Class III BSC for Hazardous Sample Receipt/Triage:

This Class III BSC designed for unique Laboratory Response Network (LRN) and Public Health Labs (PHL) triage requirements is both HEPA and ASZM-TEDA Carbon filtered to provide the highest level of user protection against chemical and biological threats.

The Class III BSC provides an environment for the safe and secure containment, transportation and analysis of suspect NBC terrorism evidence from the facility receiving area to the analytical laboratory. The units can be fitted with Rapid Transfer Ports (RTPs) to facilitate chain of custody procedures, secure storage of Select Agents, and to simplify work flow and processing.

This glovebox integrates with primary containment systems within the AHRF (All Hazard Receipt Facility). The technology for this glovebox was developed under a CRADA (Cooperative Research and Development Agreement) with the U.S. Army Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center.

Class III BSC for Microbiology – SEA:

SAFE-ERGONOMIC-AFFORDABLE
At a fraction of the cost of standard Class III BSCs this glovebox provides an added level of safety in facilities that lack reliable secondary containment controls. This Class III BSC is part of a global solution to provide a safe, ergonomic and affordable (SEA) work environment during diagnostic screening of unknown and potentially highly pathogenic samples.

Designed with the operator in mind, ergonomic considerations promote natural arm position, extend reach and reduce fatigue. The SEA makes efficient use of space and is easily cleaned and decontaminated. When lab space is at a premium, SEA is a sensible, cost effective solution for providing protection and separation of PCR reagents and sample preparation steps.

Portable and Mobile Class III BSC:

Portable and Movible Image

The standard Class III Portable Glovebox was developed by the U.S. Army specifically for handling WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) samples. This system is portable, transportable and rugged and is ideally suited for first responders.

This Glovebox is a complete package. Its components and options have been developed, tested and field proven with over 300 units in mobile lab operation. The exhaust air filtration system is available with either HEPA or HEPA and Carbon (MIL Spec is available) filtration for either biological or chemical and biological hazards.

Rapid Containment for Field and Lab:

Rapid Containment Kit

The Rapid Containment Kit (RCK) provides a highly reliable, double HEPA or HEPA and Carbon filtered containment solution for field collection, laboratory containment, surge capacity, emergency response operations or as a decontamination chamber. It protects the user, the integrity of samples, reagents, and sensitive equipment from harsh environmental conditions and contaminants. The flexible film containment system is rapidly deployable and requires no tools for assembly. Low cost makes it a potentially disposable unit.

Class III BSC with Temperature and Humidity Control:

Temperature and Humidity Control

Germfree can provide Class III Biological Safety Cabinets with controls to maintain desired temperature and humidity within the enclosure. These gloveboxes are useful when performing studies in which environmental conditions are a critical factor.

CLASS III BSC Exhaust Filtration Systems:

Designed originally for military mobile laboratory applications, the NBC filter system unit has been incorporated into Class III BSC for civilian first responders and public health laboratories.

Air coming from the Class III BSC passes through an exhaust HEPA filter prior to reaching the NBC Filter System Unit where it passes through an additional HEPA filter and two MIL Spec Carbon filters prior to discharge to the outside environment.

The air sampling port located between the two Carbon filters is used to monitor any breakthrough from the first filter to determine whether both Carbon filters should be replaced during maintenance. Bubble-tight inlet and exhaust dampers allow for gas decontamination of the HEPA filter and housing prior to filter change.

The filter unit is designed with a Bag-Out system for safe removal and disposal of the HEPA and Carbon filters.

Germfree can also develop custom filtration systems for your specific needs. .

Custom:

Custom

With a history of innovation spanning more than four decades, Germfree has the expertise to solve your containment challenges. Let our designers and engineers work with you to provide the appropriate primary containment controls for your project.

 

Questions about our Class III BSC?

To find out more about Germfree's Class III BSC, contact a consultant by filling out our form to the right.