Ducted PCR Cabinet

What is the Ducted PCR Cabinet?

A ducted PCR cabinet exhausts its air to atmosphere through a duct, removing airborne contamination and odour. It is chosen where recirculation is not permitted or vapours must leave the room entirely.

Overview

This cabinet adds a duct connection so that air leaving the work zone is carried outdoors rather than recirculated. If HEPA filtration is fitted, the exhaust is filtered before discharge; if the cabinet is a dead-air type, the duct provides a controlled exhaust to keep the enclosure under slight negative pressure relative to the room. Supply, where fitted, is HEPA filtered and descends at 0.3–0.5 m/s. A 254 nm UV lamp with timer and interlock decontaminates surfaces, and the interior is stainless steel. The duct must be sized for the cabinet airflow, and building exhaust changes must not reduce downflow velocity. The design suits laboratories with central exhaust, work involving odorous reagents, or where local rules prohibit returning air to the room.

How does it work?

A PCR cabinet reduces the chance that stray DNA or RNA contaminates a reaction or that amplified product carries over into the next sample. Two mechanisms are used. A laminar flow PCR cabinet passes HEPA-filtered air across the work surface at 0.3–0.5 m/s, sweeping particles and aerosols away, and gives ISO 5 cleanliness at the work point. A dead-air or still-air workstation instead encloses the work but does not supply filtered air, relying on limited air exchange, UV irradiation and careful technique to reduce contamination. Both types usually include a 254 nm UV lamp for surface decontamination between sessions, and many include a timer and an interlock so that UV cannot run while the sash is open. Some models are ducted for vapour removal. Regular cleaning, separate pre- and post-PCR areas and dedicated equipment remain essential.

What are the key features?

• Ducted exhaust to atmosphere
• HEPA filtration where fitted
• Controlled negative pressure for dead-air type
• 254 nm UV lamp with timer and interlock
• Stainless steel interior
• Airflow sized for downflow velocity

What are the technical specifications?

A typical ducted pcr cabinet configuration offers type of Ducted PCR cabinet, exhaust of Ducted to atmosphere, filter class of HEPA H14 where fitted, downflow velocity of 0.3–0.5 m/s, duct diameter of 100–200 mm and UV lamp of 254 nm, timed and interlocked. Values are indicative of the product class; the exact figures for each configuration are confirmed on the quotation and the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.

Which applications is it used for?

The Ducted PCR Cabinet is used in odorous reagent handling, central-exhaust laboratories, rooms where recirculation is prohibited and high-sensitivity molecular work. Across the wider PCR Cabinets class, laboratories also deploy it for PCR reaction set-up, nucleic acid extraction and handling and molecular diagnostics.

Which standards and certifications apply?

Relevant standards and methods include ISO 14644-1 (cleanroom classification), ISO 14644-3 (test methods), EN 1822 (HEPA and ULPA filters), IEST-RP-CC002 (unidirectional flow clean-air devices), ISO 15190 (medical laboratories, safety requirements) and IEC 61010-1. Certification candidates for this model are CE and ISO 9001 manufacturing; each is to be confirmed for the specific configuration before shipment, and certificates are supplied only where they have been issued.

Place the cabinet in the pre-PCR area for reaction set-up and keep a separate area for post-PCR work, using dedicated pipettes and consumables. Clean the work surface with a validated decontaminant before and after each session, and run the UV lamp for the set period, ensuring the sash interlock prevents exposure. Replace the UV lamp at the end of its rated life, since output falls before total failure, and check lamps with a meter if available. For HEPA models, verify filter integrity and face velocity at installation and at least annually, and change prefilters as specified. Do not use the cabinet for hazardous aerosols or chemical vapour, and keep airflow free of draughts by siting it away from doors.

How do I select the right Ducted PCR Cabinet?

Choose the ducted model where recirculation is not allowed or odorous reagents are used. Confirm duct sizing and that building exhaust does not reduce downflow velocity. RFQ: airflow, duct route and diameter, filter class, UV timer and width.

How does it compare with other PCR Cabinets variants?

Choose a HEPA laminar flow PCR cabinet when the work needs a clean air zone over the samples, for example when preparing reactions from low-copy templates. Choose a dead-air or still-air workstation when the priority is physical isolation and UV decontamination rather than particle removal. Confirm that the UV lamp, timer and sash interlock suit the decontamination procedure, and that the internal height and footprint fit pipettes, racks and a small centrifuge. Decide whether the cabinet recirculates or is ducted, and whether a white light or blue light option is needed. For regulated diagnostics, check that the cabinet supports the workflow and cleaning validation, and verify filter performance where HEPA is fitted. Good laboratory layout with separate pre- and post-PCR zones matters as much as the cabinet itself.