Click here to see used and refurbished biosafety cabinets from American Instrument Exchange.

At any given time we have dozens of biosafety cabinets in stock from a variety of manufacturers. For example, as of this writing we have over 80 individual BSCs out in the warehouse, with more than a dozen that just arrived from lab cleanouts and four that are sitting in the shipping area, fully refurbished with new HEPA filters and awaiting shipment to customers.

Class II, Type A2 bio safety cabinets are the most common designation and require two HEPA filters. During operation air-flow is drawn into the work chamber via the front aperture and continues under the worktop and up the back plenum, where 70 % is recirculated through the main supply HEPA filter to provide down flow and 30 % exits out through the exhaust HEPA filter and out of the chamber. The vertical laminar flow biological safety cabinet provides operator protection by means of inflow, product protection by means of down flow and environmental protection by means of the filtered exhaust. This is the most common type of bio safety cabinet that you’ll typically find in a tissue culture lab.

Why do we install new HEPA filters prior to shipment? In short: because it’s better for our customers. Purchasing a bio safety cabinet without HEPA filters is like buying a car without tires: you can do it, but you’d better know what you’re doing and have plan in place before you hand over a check and get the keys.  

To change the filters in these hoods the front cover has to be removed and many manufacturer’s include an interior cover that has to be removed as well. After that, depending on the make and model of the unit the motor may have to be loosened, a HEPEX bag needs to be removed/replaced, and brackets removed or loosened, among other small steps. Then the gaskets on the new filters must be coated with grease to help insure a seal and the processed reversed. And here’s the kicker: the media in these filters CANNOT BE TOUCHED AT ALL OR ELSE THEY WILL BE DAMAGED AND UNUSABLE. Tightening the brackets with a wrench and graze the filters with an elbow? Forget it – you’re not going to pass certification, so you’d better order a new filter, which typically costs around $1,000.

But here at American Instrument Exchange we work with bio safety cabinets extensively. On average we’re installing three or four sets of filters a week and collectively our team here has over 75 years’ experience working with BSCs and installing filters as of the time of this writing. We know that we can install filters quickly and correctly.

Baker SG403 and Baker SG603 SterilGARD III biosafety cabinets

The Baker company has been introducing consistently excellent products to market for over three decades. The original SterilGARD models were built like tanks, with a great mix of durability and precision. The SG403 and SG603 SterilGARD III models featured some nice improvements, like a tilted sash for better viewing of the interior work surface and ergonomics, as well as a more energy efficient motor. HEPA filters for these units are available with aluminum frames, which makes them lighter and easier to change with a reduced risk of damage.

We’re big fans of the Baker SG604 and SG404 biosafety cabinets as well. These have only been on the market for a few years though, so we’re withholding opinion until we have a chance to determine the longevity. All indications are that Baker put out another stellar product, but only time will tell. Stay tuned….

Labconco Logic Series biosafety cabinets

The Labconco Purifier Delta series biosafety cabinets were very decent and certainly cost-effective, but did have some quirks that knocked them out of contention as a top tier product, in our humble opinion. The Labconco Logic Series units, however, are great. Good design, with a useful but unobtrusive LCD screen that shows safety status, remaining filter life and other information, an angled sash, and touchpad controls located to the sides of the sash. The one design flaw on these models is the lack of support along the bottom panel which can cause some bending during installation and transportation if not properly handled. This is hardly a deal breaker, however. And it is important to remember that the Labconco customer support team is one of best in the business. We’ve had consistently good experiences them, whether calling about a BSC, freeze dryer, or any other product. Way to go, Labconco. We love you guys.

Thermo Scientific biosafety cabinets

Up until recently we weren’t huge fans of Thermos biosafety cabinets, particularly the models with the motorized sash. In our opinion, this was a solution to a problem that never existed – the sashes on BSCs are generally not particularly difficult to raise or lower and don’t really need to be motorized. In addition to being unnecessary, these sashes also didn’t work all that great. 

But with the new 1300 series Thermo has cut out many bells and whistles and put forward a sleek, simple product that seems both durable and aesthetically pleasing. Thermo does have a habit of obsoleting products almost as quickly as they’re introduced to market though, so let’s keep our fingers crossed that they keep producing/supporting these models, because we really like them.

Nuaire biosafety cabinets

Nuaire often doesn’t get the credit it deserves. We were first introduced to Nuaire as a less-expensive alternative to Baker products, but Nuaire should be recognized as a solid, dependable manufacturer, without qualification. Like Labconco the customer service representatives at Nuaire are consistently knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful. The Nuaire LabGard units mounted on hydraulic stands are excellent products, as are the newer CellGard series. And for a combination of quality and low price it’s hard to beat some of the older Nuaire NU 425-400 units.

The Nuaire 540 series models also continue to impress. Nuaire NU-540 bio cabs are much more energy efficient than previous models. The DC ECM motor is economical and relatively quiet during operation. The Aeromax control system continually monitors motor performance (among other metrics) and displays the pressure in the cabinet’s internal airflow plenum. The ‘nitecare’ mode which allows the blower to operate at a lower rate when the sash is closed, saving energy and extending the HEPA filter life. The base stands have also been redesigned and are much more solid than some of the older iterations.

So if you’re looking to purchase a bio safety cabinet, let us remove some of the stress and aggravation from the process for you. Call us today for a quote on a refurbished unit from Baker, Nuaire, Labconco, Thermo, or any other manufacturer. We’ll install the HEPA filters here and put the unit through certification to make sure that it works properly and to manufacturer’s specifications. When it arrives in your lab it will be ready to go, hassle-free!

American Instrument Exchange has been a reliable source for used laboratory and scientific equipment for over 50 years, buying and selling equipment since 1969. Our surplus lab equipment is reconditioned for many types of laboratories, including biotech, biomedical, medical research, chemical, pharmaceutical, and university and hospital research laboratories. All lab equipment listed on our website is in stock and ships from our 30,000 square foot warehouse in Massachusetts. Our facilities include a fully equipped shop with highly trained technicians who thoroughly test each instrument before it reaches your laboratory. Please visit our website at https://www.americaninstrument.com/.