TB Laboratory Design and Facilities as a Biosafety Measure

The basic recommended design features of TB laboratories to ensure appropriate biosafety are:

• Adequate ventilation and directional airflow; 6-12 air exchanges per hour (ACH) is adequate ventilation for TB laboratories.
• Ample space for the safe conduct of laboratory work and for cleaning and maintenance (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Ample and open spacing in an ideal TB lab

• Walls, ceilings and floors should be smooth and easy to clean.
• Floors should be slip-resistant.
• Benchtops should be resistant to the chemicals and disinfectants normally used in the laboratory.
• Proper and adequate illumination: Undesirable reflections and glare should be avoided; curtains must not be used.
• Open spaces between and under benches, cabinets and equipment to allow access for cleaning.
• Storage spaces should have the following features:

1. Adequate to hold supplies for immediate use and prevent clutter on bench tops and in corridors outside the laboratory.
2. Provision of additional space for long-term storage conveniently located outside work areas.

• Well-defined and specific area for safe preparation, handling and storage of acids, stains and solvents.
• Facilities for eating, drinking and resting should be provided outside work areas.
• Provisions for adequate handwashing, which includes:

1. Sink and soap in every room of the laboratory, preferably located near the exit.
2. Automated or hands-free taps are recommended.
3. The dispenser for paper towels should be near the sink.

• Laboratory doors should have vision panels and appropriate fire ratings; they should be self-closing (Figure 2).
• There should be a reliable and adequate electricity supply.

​

Figure 2: Lab doors with fire rating shown

Laboratory furniture should be sturdy and made of impervious materials. It is important that the furniture can be decontaminated easily. Therefore, cloth-covered furniture should never be used in the laboratory (Figure 3)

Figure 3: Furniture, like chairs, must not be covered with cloth

Resources

• GLI LC Training Module on Biosafety

Kindly provide your valuable feedback on the page to the link provided HERE