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The mission of Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL):  “To promote the role of public health laboratories in shaping national and global health objectives, and to promote policies, programs and technologies that assure continuous improvement in the quality of laboratory practice and health outcomes.” Based in Silver Spring, Maryland, US, this  is  “The Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) is the national nonprofit representing governmental laboratories that monitor and detect public health threats, ranging from lead contamination in drinking water to metabolic and genetic conditions in newborns…APHL’s core membership is comprised of public health, environmental and agricultural laboratories.  Representatives from federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, corporations and interested individuals also participate in the association. International participation is expanding in response to the globalization of disease and APHL’s active global health program.”

Salt Palace Convention Center
100 South Street West Temple
Salt Lake City, UT  84101 USA
http://www.saltpalace.com/

Society of Nuclear Medicine (SNM)
http://interactive.snm.org

The Society of Nuclear Medicine is “an international scientific  and professional organization representing more than 16,000 members in 78 countries, which promotes improving health care through the advancement of science, technology and practical application of molecular imaging and therapy.   The Society of Nuclear Medicine’s Annual Meeting is the world’s largest event focusing exclusively on fulfilling the educational and networking needs of the molecular imaging and therapy community.”

The mayor of Salt Lake City, Mr. Ralph Becker has declared June 5-9, 2010 “Molecular Imaging Week.”

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Germfree manufactures a range of equipment for the hospital and healthcare pharmacist.  From Compounding Aseptic Isolators (CAI) and Laminar Airflow Workstations to Biological Safety Cabinets and equipment that complies with USP 797, Germfree has a solution that fits your specific application. 

*** Don’t forget to stop by the Biodex Booth at the SNM Annual Meeting where Germfree will be showing its Radiopharmacy isolator. ***

The Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association (A-PBA) will present the 5th Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association Scientific Conference with programs from May 25th – 28th in Seoul, Korea.   The conference theme is Advancing Biosafety Technology and National Legislation in the Asia-Pacific and will include 2 days of conferences, 2 days of pre-conference workshops as well as exhibits showcasing products, technologies, lab design and related services. The Pre-Conference Workshops will take place from the May 25th – 26th and the Conference from May 27th – 28th 2010.

Seoul Korea 서울 대한민국 Photo: Sakoku

According to the A-PBS:  “This regional conference aims at generating a forum exchange on the various developments in biosafety legislation and emerging technology in respective countries around the region. Topics of discussion ranging from development in biosafety management, legislation, technology to the latest certification standards…International biosafety experts and professionals from around the world will be speaking and sharing their knowledge and experiences.”

The event’s programs are designed to serve the needs of a range people and industry sectors that have an interest in biological safety, including: Health-care, educational and research institutions; Biosafety Professionals; Biosafety Consultants; Researchers and Veterinarians; Engineers and Architects, Lab Auditors and other professionals.
Event Venue:  JW Marriott Hotel in Seoul, Korea   서울    대한민국   (大韓民國)

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Germfree provides biosafety equipment to many countries in the Asia-Pacific region and supports the mission of Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association.  Germfree will have representatives at the 5th Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association Scientific Conference in Seoul to address specific biosafety applications. Germfree’s representatives will be available to provide comprehensive information relating to Modular Container Labs  (up to BSL3 / P3), Mobile Laboratories  (up to BSL3 / P3), and Class III Biological Safety Cabinets (BSC’s).

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More About the Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association:

Organization promotes biological safety across Asia-Pacific;
Serves Biosafety professionals in Singapore, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Myanmar.

About A-PBA:  As stated by the organization: “A-PBA began on 22 Feb 2005 and is already representing over 220 practicing biosafety professionals across the Asia Pacific region namely in countries like Singapore, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines and Myanmar. This professional association was formed to congregate practitioners of biological safety for the promotion of biological safety and to facilitate the sharing of biosafety information. A-PBA is an affiliate of American Biosafety Association (ABSA), with representation on the Editorial Board of their journal, Applied Biosafety. Our activities over the past year include various biosafety training courses, conferences and forum exchange.”

The mission of The Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association is to:

To foster recognition of Biological Safety as a distinct scientific discipline.
To promote safe management of micro-organisms and the products of biological processes.
To establish a forum for the dissemination and continued exchange of information on biological safety.
To promote biosafety in the Asia-Pacific region through the activities of A-PBA.
To establish links with other biosafety associations internationally.

Chattanooga, TN, USA
http://www.jfpsinfo.org/

The Joint Forces Pharmacy Seminar (JFPS) is being held by the Joint Forces and according to their website,  ”is the largest annual event for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard pharmacy community…”

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Germfree will be exhibiting and demonstrating a range of equipment for the hospital and healthcare pharmacist.  Germfree manufactures Compounding Aseptic Isolators (CAI), Laminar Airflow Workstations, and Biological Safety Cabinets, including a range of equipment that complies with USP 797.

Philadelphia Convention Center
Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority
1101 Arch Street
Philadelphia, Pa 19107 USA
http://www.ncpanet.org/calendarncpa/2010convention.php
Booth # TBD

This event is being held by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA).  For more information about this event go to the NCPA website or the Philadelphia Convention Center website.

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Germfree will be exhibiting and demonstrating a range of equipment for the hospital and healthcare pharmacist.  Germfree manufactures Compounding Aseptic Isolators (CAI), Laminar Airflow Workstations, and Biological Safety Cabinets, including a range of equipment that complies with USP 797.

Buena Vista Palace Hotel & Spa
1900 Buena Vista Drive
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830 USA
http://www.fshp.org
Germfree Booth # 301

This 44th annual meeting is being held by the Florida Society of Health-System Pharmacists (FSHP).  According to the organizers, your registration will include:

• Complimentary breakfast and lunch for attendees during the meeting
• Pharmacists will have the opportunity to earn up to 20.0 hours of ACPE and Florida Board of Pharmacy approved General C.E.
• 16.0 Consultant Re-certification hours will be offered. Don’t forget consultant license renewal is December 31, 2010!
  …and more

Germfree will be exhibiting and demonstrating a range of equipment for the hospital and healthcare pharmacist.  Germfree manufactures Compounding Aseptic Isolators (CAI), Laminar Airflow Workstations, and Biological Safety Cabinets, including a range of equipment that complies with USP 797.

Anaheim Convention Center
Anaheim, FL, USA
http://www.ashp.org/Import/Meetings/MidyearclinicalMeeting
Germfree Booth # 553

This annual meeting is being held by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP).  According to the organizers,

The ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting and Exhibition is the largest gathering of pharmacists in the world. With its focus on improving patient care, the meeting is attended by more than 20,000 pharmacy professionals from 86 countries. For four decades, the ASHP Midyear Clinical Meeting has provided health-system pharmacy practitioners with a venue for updating their knowledge, networking with colleagues, enhancing their skills, and learning about the latest products and technologies.

Germfree will be exhibiting and demonstrating a range of equipment for the hospital and healthcare pharmacist.  Germfree manufactures Compounding Aseptic Isolators (CAI), Laminar Airflow Workstations, and Biological Safety Cabinets, including a range of equipment that complies with USP 797.

Class III Biological Safety Cabinets: Importance of Hands-on Training

Practical training is particularly useful for students that plan to work in high containment situations. While many students have access to Class II Biosafety Cabinets, too few are able to get hands-on experience with a Class III Biological Safety Cabinet. Class III BSC’s require a familiarization with a wide range of equipment features and configurations such as: Gloves & Gloveports, Pass-throughs / Airlocks, Rapid Transfer Ports, Autoclaves, Decontamination Systems, etc.

Class III BSC Demo

Germfree maintains a Class III BSC training unit at their headquarters. Germfree also participates in student training programs with other facilities, providing institutions with Class III BSC’s and other bio-containment equipment to give their students hands-on experience and training in proper technique.  For example, Germfree’s Biological Safety Cabinets have been used for training in university settings such as The Emory University Science and Safety Training Program as well as workshops in conference settings such as ABSA’s Annual Biological Safety Conference.   

Cliff Colby Demonstrating a Class III Biosafety Cabinet

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Cliff Colby is VP of Sales at Germfree. He has more than 12 years experience as a Biosafety Instructor. He has also worked extensively on multi-media biosafety training materials. And if you want to discuss applications that require chemical containment, his background as a Chemist will also come in handy.

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 The BioTechnical Institute of Maryland  provides training for students that want to enter the biotech field.  According to the BTI website, the institute ”fills a need for specialty scientific training of entry-level biotechnicians for employment in Maryland’s rapidly expanding biotechnology industry.  The BTI Laboratory Associates Program provides tuition-free training in basic laboratory skills to bright, ambitious, unemployed and under-employed Maryland residents. ”

What type of airflow should be used in a Class III BSC?  Is higher velocity better?

Class II BSC vs. Class III BSC Airflow

Unlike Class II BSC which employs laminar flow to protect personnel, the Class III Biological Safety Cabinet does not have an open sash in the front, hence does not require laminar airflow to provide personnel protection.  The main consideration for laminar air flow in a Class III BSC is for product protection.  Laminar flow could be important if an internal process generates copious amounts of aerosol, when work is conducted with fine powders, or if there is a risk of cross-contamination between different procedures being performed in the cabinet. Laminar air flow has a set mass airflow where clean HEPA filtered air comes from one direction at a given speed to entrain particles and carry them directly to the exhaust HEPA. The velocity can be very low, as low as 30 ft/min. However, note that 30 ft/min may cause extremely fine powders to become aerosolized. 

Generally, Class III Biosafety Cabinets use turbulent air flow designs. In a turbulent airflow design clean HEPA filtered air is continuously supplied to the cabinet where it dilutes the concentration of aerosolized particles by carrying them to the exhaust HEPA. This is a more passive mechanism of particle removal as compared to that of the air current generated when laminar airflow is established. The rate at which the particles are exhausted depends on the supply velocity (which is equal to the exhaust velocity). In reality, work in a Class III BSC is conducted methodically and carefully.  Most activities conducted in a Class III BSC produce minimal aerosols so turbulent airflow is the norm.  Turbulent airflows are easily adjustable and can have lower air velocity than those required to maintain laminar airflow, hence can pose less of a problem when working with fine powders.

Another question that comes up is whether the Biological Safety Cabinet should be operated at high airflow velocity to remove particles more rapidly.  Typically higher velocity airflows are used when working with volatile chemicals, but not with microbiological agents or toxins.  High velocity airflow can inadvertently, and very effectively, cause powders to be disseminated throughout the interior of the BSC.

A decision regarding whether laminar or turbulent airflow is needed, and the velocity of supply air required for operations should be made based on the anticipated work and user needs. Use of laminar air flow in a Class III Biosafety Cabinet will typically increase the volumetric supply and exhaust airflow  as compared to a BSC using turbulent airflow.  Higher velocity airflow will similarly increase volumetric supply and exhaust as compared to maintaining low velocity airflow.  Increased exhaust flow rate from the Class III BSC should be considered during facility and HVAC design if the cabinet is connected to facility supply air and is to be exhausted out of the building.