A Biological Safety Cabinet Certification Program

Whistler, Toni; Kaewpan, Anek; Blacksell, Stuart D.

doi:10.1177/1535676016661769

Cited by 10 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…For the first year, we used the mobile application offered by the Controlled Environment Testing Association Spec Guide which includes certification specifications for all major manufacturers of BSCs ($119.99 per year). 10 Additionally, we created an in-house application to do the data analysis of collected tests in an attempt to save the cost associated with software purchase, which can range from $4500 to $6000. 10…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10 Additionally, we created an in-house application to do the data analysis of collected tests in an attempt to save the cost associated with software purchase, which can range from $4500 to $6000. 10…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…7,8 However, there are very few programs and organizations across the globe that provide expertise in the field of biological safety to future safety professionals and researchers. 9,10…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developing an In-House Biological Safety Cabinet Certification Program at the University of North Dakota

et al. 2019

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Introduction: Biological safety cabinets (BSCs) are the primary means of containment used in laboratories worldwide. To ensure the proper functioning of BSCs, they need to be certified annually, at a minimum, per National Sanitation Foundation (NSF)/American National Standards Institute Standard 49. Objectives: A common problem most organizations face is that in many instances, the technicians who certify the cabinets are not accredited by the NSF. Additionally, in states or regions that do not have local NSF accredited field certifiers, it takes weeks to get a service request completed, thereby delaying the research work of the laboratory. Moreover, in such instances, the cost associated with cabinet certification and repair can be very high. Materials and Methods: This led the Office of Safety at the University of North Dakota to do a thorough cost-benefit analysis of developing an in-house BSC certification program. After completing the training and testing requirements for the NSF’s advanced accreditation program, the BSC certification program was initiated on campus. Results: The identified benefits led to the initiation of a program in both local and regional capacity for repair, maintenance, and certification of BSCs, and the university’s experiences were shared with other universities. Conclusions: By developing an in-house BSC certification program, the University of North Dakota was able to reduce wait times associated with service repairs, reduce costs, and generate revenue for the department. Furthermore, this led to improved hands-on training programs related to BSC use in laboratories working with biohazardous agents.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developing an In-House Biological Safety Cabinet Certification Program at the University of North Dakota

et al. 2019

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“…BSC certification provided by a service professional must be secured before use and continually re-certified once a year. (Whistler et al ,2016).…”

Section: Testing Proceduresmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biosafety in laboratories: History, Application and Expected community outcomes

2021

Egyptian Journal of Animal Health

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“…BSCs provide primary containment and have stringent testing and certification requirements that can be challenging to meet even under ideal conditions such as domestic homeland response missions. One training model implemented in Southeast Asia involved a qualified certifier providing initial training to staff who were accredited following completion and then provided close mentoring to new trainees (Whistler, Kaewpan, & Blacksell, 2016). There is no singular approach towards solving the BSC certification challenge but it is one that must be addressed for CWMD and infectious disease outbreak and public health preparedness response assets alike.…”

Section: Stand-up Costs For a Cst Alsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the utility and readiness of mobile and field transportable laboratories for biodefence and global health security-related purposes

Parsons¹,

Matero²,

Adams

et al. 2018

Global Security: Health, Science and Policy

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Mobile and field transportable laboratories have long been used by military and defence, intergovernmental inspections, health, and environmental monitoring agencies. Among the purposes of deploying such laboratories are early warning, forward reconnaissance, on-site investigation, verification, and response. With the advent of technology that has enabled the use of diagnostic equipment in the field and extended transportation capabilities to rapidly deliver these assets and services, mobile and field units have served to further extend networks of existing, fixed laboratories. Case histories of example mobile and field transportable laboratories are compared and discussed including those used by the United States military, Finnish Defence Forces, United Nations, and several mobile and transportable diagnostics laboratories used in response to the 2014 outbreak of Ebola virus in West Africa. Given the often-remote locations to which these laboratories are deployed, they must incorporate a high degree of self-sufficiency, particularly with regard to utilities, and integral biosafety and biosecurity measures. Experienced scientists performing similar technical tasks in fixed laboratories can be employed to support and refine the mobile and field laboratory operations. Mobile and field transportable laboratories are usually national-level assets that require ongoing funding for maintenance, equipping, resupply, and training of personnel in order to maintain a readiness posture for their intended missions. We also examine the cost estimates and sustainment challenges of operating and maintaining these laboratories to provide recommendations and lessons learnt for their practical use and deployment.

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A Biological Safety Cabinet Certification Program

Cited by 10 publications

References 3 publications

Developing an In-House Biological Safety Cabinet Certification Program at the University of North Dakota

Developing an In-House Biological Safety Cabinet Certification Program at the University of North Dakota

Biosafety in laboratories: History, Application and Expected community outcomes

Examining the utility and readiness of mobile and field transportable laboratories for biodefence and global health security-related purposes

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