Laminar Flow Cabinet

A laminar flow cabinet or laminar flow closet or tissue culture hood is a carefully enclosed bench designed to prevent contamination of semiconductor wafers, biological samples, or any particle sensitive materials. Air is drawn through a HEPA filter and blown in a very smooth, laminar air flow towards the user. The cabinet is usually made of stainless steel with no gaps or joints where spores might collect.

Such hoods exist in both horizontal and vertical configurations, and there are many different types of cabinets with a variety of airflow patterns and acceptable uses. Laminar flow cabinets may have a UV-C germicidal lamp to sterilize the interior and contents when not in use. (It is important to switch this light off during use, to limit exposure to skin and eyes as stray ultraviolet light emissions can cause cancer and cataracts)