Evolution of microbiological safety cabinets

Microbiological safety cabinets have had a chequered history, often being c onfused with chemical fume cupboards and cabinets intended to protect cultu res from contamination rather than workers from infection. They have suffer ed from incorrect and inapt names. Much work has been required to determine the levels of air flow necessary to contain infectious particles and to pr event the exhaust of those particles to the environment, and this is consid ered in historical sequence. Warnings are given about the shortcomings of p ortable and home-made cabinets. This review traces the evolution of these c abinets, from the time of Robert Koch to the development of good national s tandards.