Protection from Hazardous Biological Agents and Infectious Pathogens

The field of biotechnology encompasses the harnessing of cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that improve lives through advancements in areas such as medicine, agriculture, fuel generation, and water conservation. Biotechnology research and development is performed by universities, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, research facilities, and government and military agencies.

Stringent regulatory requirements govern the operation of biosafety labs and are based on a four-tiered risk classification system ranging from no or low individual and community risk, to high individual and community risk. Containment filtration systems are essential to ensuring the safety of biosafety lab personnel, the community, and the environment.

Addressing Risks Associated with Biotechnology Research

• Research with pathogenic agents, such as virus, parasites, bacterial microorganisms, or genetic modified organisms, has potential biological risk – not only for people, but also for the environment due to their unpredictable behavior.
• Concern for biosafety is generated in part by the emergence of new diseases or re-emergence of diseases that were already under control.
• Biotechnology laboratories require biosafety measures designed to protect their staff, the population, and the environment.

Biological risk can be reduced and controlled by the correct application of internationally recognized procedures such as:

• Proper microbiological techniques
• Adequate facilities
• Protective barriers
• Special training
• Education of laboratory workers
• Proper containment apparatus, such as complete containment air filtration systems

Single Source Manufacturing and Expertise in Critical Biosafety

AAF Flanders specializes in the design, manufacturing, and testing of complete, custom containment filtration systems incorporating HEPA filters with maximum filtration efficiency for a virtually particulate-free lab environment to prevent product contamination. The system also filters and contains harmful microbes, eliminating them from the exhausted air.

AAF Flanders’ leading expertise in critical applications and single-source, total system approach ensure compliance with stringent regulatory requirements for biosafety labs and provide fail-safe protection from the significant potential dangers involved in biotechnology research and development.