The terms “clean bench” and “laminar flow hood” are often used interchangeably, and for good reason: they both refer to enclosed workstations designed to prevent contamination of sensitive samples or materials. A clean bench essentially provides a localized clean air environment. The core principle behind these units is delivering highly filtered air in a smooth, non-turbulent stream, known as laminar flow, across a work surface. This controlled airflow sweeps away airborne particles, ensuring the work area remains exceptionally clean. These are distinct from fume hoods, which are designed to protect the user from hazardous vapors by pulling air away from the user and often exhausting it outside, sometimes after filtration.
A flow clean bench is another term you might encounter, further emphasizing the air movement critical to its function. Whether it’s a clean bench or a laminar flow hood, the primary goal is product protection. They are not typically designed for user protection from hazardous biological agents or volatile chemicals, which is the domain of biosafety cabinets or fume hoods. Understanding this distinction is paramount for selecting the correct equipment. The laminar flow hood directs HEPA-filtered air in a specific pattern, either horizontally or vertically, to maintain a sterile field for procedures like tissue culture or preparing media.