What type of PEC hood uses vertical flow and is classified as Class 2?

The correct answer is the biological safety cabinet, which is classified as a Class 2 type of primary engineering control (PEC) hood. Biological safety cabinets are specifically designed to provide a sterile environment for the handling of materials that may cause contamination or pose a hazard to the user or the environment.

Class 2 biological safety cabinets utilize a vertical airflow pattern that draws air into the cabinet from the top and filters it before it is recirculated back into the workspace. This design helps to protect both the user and the materials being handled from potential contamination, making it an essential tool in laboratories where biological agents are manipulated.

In contrast, laminar flow hoods primarily focus on protecting samples from external contaminants rather than providing user protection against biological hazards. CACI, or Compounding Aseptic Containment Isolators, specifically focus on compounding sterile products while providing containment of hazardous drugs, functioning differently from a biological safety cabinet. Isolators, while also providing protection and containment, create a sealed environment for handling items, distinguishing them further from Class 2 biological safety cabinets in terms of design and function.