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Table 3. Performance Tests to be Applied to the Three Classes of Biological Safety Cabinets

Tests Performed For	Biosafety Cabinet
	Class I	Class II	Class III
Primary Containment
Cabinet Integrity	N/A	A	A
HEPA Filter Leak	Req	Req	Req
Downflow Velocity Profile	A	Req	Req
Negative Pressure/Ventilation Rate	B	A	Req
Airflow Smoke Patterns	Req	Req	E/F
Alarms and Interlocks	C, D	C, D	Req
Electrical Safety
Electrical Leakage, etc.	E, D	E, D	E, D
Ground Fault Interupter	D	D	D
Other
Lightning Intensity	E	E	E
UV Intensity	C, E	C, E	C, E
Noise Level	E	E	E
Vibration	E	E	E

Req	Required during certification.
A	Required for proper certification if the cabinet is new, has been moved or panels have been removed for maintenance.
B	If used with gloves.
C	If present.
D	Encouraged for electrical safety.
E	Optional, at the discretion of the user.
F	Used to determine air distribution within cabinet for clean to dirty procedures.
N/A	Not applicable

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Office of Health and Safety, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road N.E., Mail Stop F05 Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA Last Modified: 1/2/97
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