Horizontal Laminar Flow Hood

Image Source: Clean Air System(2010) Laminar Air Flow. Retrieved on August 9, 2018 from
http://www.cleanairindia.com/prod_laminar-airflow.htm

Description
Laminar Air Flow provides a work area with aseptic/sterile conditions for
the tissue culture. Laminar Air Flow has continuous displacement of air (it
provides streamline flow of air) that passes through HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate
Air) filter that removes the particulates from the air.

It is equipped with a UV lamp that should be turned on about 10-20 minutes

before being used to sterilize the shell or cabinet or the surface of the Laminar Air
Flow to avoid any kind of contaminations. Wipe down the surface with ethanol before
and after each use.

Laminar Air Flow can be vertical and horizontal. In the Vertical Laminar Air
Flow the air blows down from the top of the cabinet. Vertical Laminar Air Flow is best for
working with hazardous specimens since the aerosols that are generated in the cabinet
are filtered out before they are released into the surrounding environments.
Horizontal Laminar Air Flow are designed such that the air flows directly at the operator
hence they are not useful for working with hazardous specimens but are best protection
for Tissue/cell culture.

Laminar Air Flow provides aseptic/sterile conditions for the preparation of Culture
Media. Culture Media cannot be prepared outside the Laminar Air Flow because it can
get contaminated and there would not be any result.
Components of the Laminar Hood are
 A Blower
 High Efficiency performance Air filter
 A Plenum Chamber (Pressurized housing containing air at positive pressure)

How it Work?

In a laminar flow hood the air is passed through a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulates
Air) filter which removes all airborne contamination to maintain sterile conditions.

A laminar flow hood consists of a filter pad, a fan and a HEPA (High Efficiency
Particulates Air) filter. The fan sucks the air through the filter pad where dust is trapped.
After that the prefiltered air has to pass the HEPA filter where contaminating fungi,
bacteria, dust etc are removed. Now the sterile air flows into the working (flasking) area
where you can do all your flasking work without risk of contamination.

Purpose
 It provides clean air to the working area.
 It provides a constant flow of air out of the work area to prevent room air from
entering.
 The air that flows out from the Hood, removes contaminants introduced into the
work area by personnel.

How to use?
1. switch on the main switch.
2. switch on the hepa filter by pressing ‘laf on’ button on the control panel.
3. press ‘enter’ button two times and then press the ‘start’ button on the basic
controlling panel before 30 minutes of use.
4. observe the magnehelic gauge readings and it should be in between 10 to 20
mm of psi. if magnehelic gauge not showing in between 10 to 20 mm of psi
adjust the gauge by pressing ?(up) or ?(down) arrow key on the basic controlling
panel.
5. record the magnehelic gauge readings of laminar air flow bench daily
 6. switch ‘on” the uv lamp by pressing the ‘uv on’ button on the control panel before
30 minutes of use.
7. switch off the uv light before starting the analysis by pressing the ‘uv off’ button
on the control panel.
8. switch on the light by pressing the ‘lux on’ button on the control panel before
starting analysis.
9. clean the laf bench with 70% ipa after completion of the work.
70% ipa solution preparation: take 350 ml of isopropyl alcohol and mix with
150ml of purified water. filter the prepared 70% ipa solution through sterile 0.22
membrane filter (47mm diameter)
10. You are now ready to use it.
11. switch off the light by pressing the ‘lux off’ button on the control panel.
12. after completion of analysis close the laf door and switch ‘on” the uv lamp by
pressing the ‘uv on’ button on the control panel for 30 minutes.
13. press ‘stop’ button on the basic controlling panel and switch off the hepa filter
bypressing ‘laf off’ button on the control panel.

What Safety Precautions should be taken while using the Laminar

Flow Hood?
 Large objects should never be placed near the back of the hood. These objects
contaminate everything downstream and disrupt the laminar flow pattern of air
too, which normally suspends the contaminants and removes them from the
area.
 Waste and other items should never enter the hood. All calculations should be
done before entering the hood. And clutter should be less.
 Hands should be cleaned by ethanol.Do not touch your hair, face or clothing
while working.
 Excess dust should be removed from items before introducing them into the
hood.

Sources
 Acmas ( May 17, 2014) Laminar Air Flow and Plant Tissue Culture.
Retrieved on August 9, 2018 from
http://www.acmasindia.com/blog/tag/laminar-air-flow/
 Ichapps (2018)Procedure on the operation of horizontal laminar flow. Retrieved
on August 9, 2018 from.https://ichapps.com/qms/view/procedure-for-
operation-of-horizontal-laminar-air-flow-bench
 Thomas Ederer( n.d) Orchideenvermehrung. How a laminar flow hood functions.
Retrieved on August 9, 2018 from
http://www.orchideenvermehrung.at/English/lfh/ function.htm