Key Objective

As the COVID-19 pandemic spread and the UK’s Mass Testing Capacity increased, Open Cell developed a low-cost rapidly deployable COVID testing lab inside a shipping container. As part of the all-in-one diagnostic solution, a Class 2 Biological Safety Cabinet was required to carry out testing.

The entire testing process inside the Labs can be run by a single operator and deliver 92 tests every 45 minutes, meaning more than 2,400 tests can be processed every 24 hours.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommend that a Class 2 Cabinet BSC should be used any time a procedure has the potential to generate aerosols or droplets as a result of pipetting or centrifugation, making our Guardian^® units the perfect choice for handling COVID-19 samples.

Our Solution

• 2 x 1200mm Guardian Class 2 Biological Safety Cabinets.

This specific Mobile Lab was located on the island of Jersey. The converted 40ft high-cube container is set up to BSL2+ laboratory to ISO15189 standards, while still allowing for quick and easy transportation when and where required.

The 2 Class 2 Biological Safety Cabinet installations were commissioned by our team of experienced installation engineers utilises a specially ventilated enclosure, developed for sterile material handling to guarantee operator and working material protection from potential biohazard infections and performing a vital role within the Mobile Lab.

COVID-19 infections can be diagnosed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR testing detects very small amounts of viral genetic material or RNA, even as small as one particle, in a swap sample from the nose or throat.

When the test sample is processed, a solution known as a ‘reagent’ is added to it. If virus present this reagent starts a chain reaction, creating billions of copies of the genetic material in the virus allowing it to be detected and analysed by scientists to provide a positive result.

Inside the Type A2 cabinets installed in the Mobile Testing Lab, air is drawn in through the front aperture, mixing with the downflow air as it enters the front intake grille and is split with 70% of the air recycled and pushed back into the Work Area through the downflow HEPA Filtration. The remaining 30% is sent through the exhaust air HEPA filter back into the laboratory environment.

Fitted with H14 HEPA Filters to create an ISO Class 4 Clean Environment, the unit’s Air Diffuser and Sloped Intake guarantees efficient and smooth airflow. Inside the cabinet, UV Lighting Strip ensures complete VHP & Formalin Sterilisation, keeping the biosafety cabinet’s interior clean when not in use and ensure efficient and complete disinfection.

The Guardian Micro-Biological Safety Cabinet has been independently type tested and approved to BSEN 12469:2000 by the UK’s leading authority on Biological Safety Cabinets, the Health Protection Agency at Porton Down.