A biosafety cabinet for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) work is laboratory equipment that confers a work area enclosed on three sides, and that provides the controlled space necessary to perform DNA and RNA amplification. These work cabinets, used in molecular biology laboratories, avoid cross contamination between samples, as well as damage to the operator and the laboratory environment.
More specifically, we could say that PCR biosafety cabinets provide a contamination-free environment for the detection of more sensitive DNA / RNA segments.
Regarding its structure, it can be said that the safety glass sheet provides maximum optical capacity to manipulators when amplifying cellular components. The quality of the air inside the cabin is sustained (like free air or with circulators and filters) to guarantee that there are no particles that could impact against the samples and experiments. They also have cabinets that emit intense ultraviolet light in timed increments, thus facilitating the sterilization of the environment.
Let us remember that PCR is a laboratory technique used to amplify DNA sequences and due to the Covid 19 pandemic worldwide caused by SARS-CoV-2, this molecular biology technique has acquired vital importance in the timely diagnosis and truthful of this disease, through the application of one of its modalities such as the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), through which it is possible to detect the virus RNA.
In RT-PCR, this detection procedure has a test time of around 3 to 4 hours and works by taking samples of secretions from the respiratory system, samples that go through a process in which genetic material is extracted. to recover the RNA of the virus, to later be converted into DNA by an enzyme called reverse transcriptase. After this, a PCR is applied, in which a DNA polymerase replicates a piece in a reaction controlled by temperature cycles, thus producing a large number of DNA copies and each time a copy is generated, it emits a fluorescence that is detected Real time.
The CDC and WHO currently recommend the use of class II biosafety cabinets, either type A2 or C1, including type B2.
Features and Benefits of a PCR Biosafety Cabinet
- Provides a sterile work area for aseptic techniques.
- They have a high efficiency blower.
- Low consumption LED lighting.
- Vertical laminar airflow with HEPA filtration.
- Equipped with a germicidal UV lamp for decontamination.
- 360 degree visibility with UV absorbing polycarbonate construction.
At Kalstein we are MANUFACTURERS of laboratory equipment of the highest quality and at the best PRICES, and we have an excellent range of biosafety cabinets, which perfectly comply with the technical specifications necessary to provide a quality analysis.
Our biosafety cabinets provide HEPA filtered vertical laminar flow to purge the work area of contaminants between amplifications and during preparatory procedures. This is complemented by a UV decontamination technology, which provides superior protection against cross contamination within the main chamber, thus making it a contamination free zone suitable for RT-PCR. So we invite you to take a look at the Products menu. HERE
