How should safety buckets and sealed rotors be handled when centrifuging biohazards?

When centrifuging biohazards, it is essential to minimize the risk of exposure and contamination. The correct practice involves loading and unloading safety buckets and sealed rotors specifically within a biosafety cabinet. This environment is designed to protect both the user and the surrounding area from potential aerosolized biohazardous materials.

Biosafety cabinets provide a controlled space that filters airborne contaminants, ensuring that any potentially infectious materials remain contained. By performing these actions within a biosafety cabinet, you significantly reduce the risk of accidental exposure to pathogens and help maintain a safe laboratory environment.

The other handling practices, such as loading and unloading in unrestricted areas or moving centrifuge setups to different rooms, would increase the likelihood of contamination and exposure. Additionally, using unsealed rotors poses a significant risk, as it can lead to leaks and spills. Thus, the requirement to handle these materials within a biosafety cabinet is a critical safety measure in biosafety protocols.