How often should biological safety cabinets be performance tested?

Biological safety cabinets (BSCs) are essential tools in laboratories that handle biological materials, providing a sterile environment to protect both the user and the sample. Regular performance testing is crucial to ensure these cabinets are functioning correctly and providing the necessary containment levels to prevent exposure to hazardous biological agents.

The recommended frequency for performance testing is annually. This schedule is based on guidelines established by organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which emphasize that BSCs must be tested at least once a year. The annual testing includes checks of airflow, HEPA filter integrity, and overall performance to ensure that the cabinet maintains its protective functions.

While more frequent testing, such as monthly, could be beneficial in high-risk environments or if any changes to the laboratory operations occur, it's not a routine requirement for all situations. Testing every two years or a decade would not provide timely assurance of safety and performance, allowing potential risks to go undetected for too long. Thus, an annual performance test strikes the right balance to maintain safety standards in laboratories equipped with biological safety cabinets.