Laminar Air Flow Chamber
Nuaire, Minnesota, USA
Clean Air, Chennai India

Laminar Air Flow is commonly used for recombinant DNA and plant tissue culture works under sterile conditions. Laminar air flow (LAF) was developed by Whitfield for the prevention of microbial contamination. A variety of horizontal (cross flow) and vertical (down flow) laminar airflow cabinets are commercially available. Laminar air flow consists of units of ultra-high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. HEPA filters are composed of a mat of randomly arranged fibres. The fibres are composed of fiberglass and possess diameters between 0.5 and 2.0 micrometers. Room air is taken into the unit and passed through a pre-filter to remove contaminants. The air is then compressed, and sent at approximately 90ft/min through the HEPA filter. The purified air flows out over the entire work surface in parallel lines at a uniform velocity. Thus the filter prevents the entry of contaminated air into the chamber. LAF also contains UV lamps for surface sterilization by UV irradiation.