Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) Practice Exam

Which type of biosafety cabinet is also known as a "glove box"?

1. Class II

2. Class I

3. Class III

4. Class IIA

The correct answer is: Class III

A biosafety cabinet known as a "glove box" refers specifically to a Class III biosafety cabinet. This type of cabinet is designed for work with highly infectious agents and provides the highest level of protection. It is completely sealed and under negative pressure, ensuring that no contaminants can escape into the environment. The design includes gloves that are attached to the cabinet, which allows the technician to perform work inside the cabinet without direct contact with the samples or materials. This feature is crucial for managing high-risk pathogens because it minimizes the risk of exposure to both the technician and the surrounding environment. The Class III biosafety cabinet is integral in research settings that require stringent containment measures, particularly in virology or research involving highly pathogenic microorganisms. In contrast, other cabinet classes serve different purposes and levels of protection. Class I cabinets provide personnel protection with open front but do not protect the samples adequately. Class II cabinets are more common in laboratories and offer a combination of personnel, sample, and environmental protection, but they do not have the complete isolation that a glove box provides. Class IIA is a subtype of Class II with specific airflow designs.