How often should biosafety cabinets be tested and certified?

Biosafety cabinets are critical components in laboratories that work with potentially hazardous biological materials. These cabinets help protect both the user and the environment by providing a sterile and contained workspace. It is crucial to ensure that they operate effectively and maintain their safety features.

The correct practice is to test and certify biosafety cabinets prior to their initial use and periodically thereafter, with a minimum frequency of once a year. This routine testing checks for airflow, filter integrity, and overall functionality, ensuring that the cabinets provide the necessary protection for laboratory personnel and experimental samples. Regular certification not only helps in maintaining compliance with safety regulations but also ensures that any potential issues are identified and addressed early, thus safeguarding lab operations.

The other options suggest infrequent testing or responding only to problems, which could lead to undetected failures in cabinet performance that could compromise safety. Regular, proactive maintenance is essential in bio-research settings where the risks associated with biological materials must be managed diligently.