TB Laboratory Design and Facilities as a Biosafety Measure

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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:

Adequate to hold supplies for immediate use and prevent clutter on bench tops and in corridors outside the laboratory.
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:

Sink and soap in every room of the laboratory, preferably located near the exit.
Automated or hands-free taps are recommended.
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)