Which statement is a correct step in cleaning a laminar airflow hood?

Which statement is a correct step in cleaning a laminar airflow hood?

• A. Clean with lint-free cloth and plain water
• B. Clean with lint-free absorbent cloth using sterile water, then 70% isopropyl alcohol, wiping from inside out
• C. Wipe from outside to inside with water
• D. Do not wait after cleaning

Answer: (B)

Cleaning a laminar airflow hood requires removing any contaminants with a sterile starting point and then disinfecting, using materials that won’t shed fibers, and moving from the clean interior toward the exterior to prevent recontamination. The best approach uses a lint-free absorbent cloth with sterile water to first wipe the interior surfaces. Sterile water helps lift away soils without introducing microbes, and a lint-free cloth minimizes fiber shedding that could contaminate the sterile area. After that initial cleaning, you apply 70% isopropyl alcohol to disinfect. The 70% IPA combination is effective for rapid disinfection because the water content aids microbial killing and it dries relatively quickly, leaving minimal residue. Wiping from inside out ensures that any contaminants are not carried from the outer surfaces toward the sterile work zone, reducing the chance of recontaminating the interior. Why the other options aren’t appropriate: plain water alone doesn’t address disinfection and may leave residues; wiping from outside to inside can push contaminants toward the sterile area; and not waiting after cleaning would prevent proper contact time for the disinfectant, reducing effectiveness.

Cleaning a laminar airflow hood requires removing any contaminants with a sterile starting point and then disinfecting, using materials that won’t shed fibers, and moving from the clean interior toward the exterior to prevent recontamination.

The best approach uses a lint-free absorbent cloth with sterile water to first wipe the interior surfaces. Sterile water helps lift away soils without introducing microbes, and a lint-free cloth minimizes fiber shedding that could contaminate the sterile area. After that initial cleaning, you apply 70% isopropyl alcohol to disinfect. The 70% IPA combination is effective for rapid disinfection because the water content aids microbial killing and it dries relatively quickly, leaving minimal residue. Wiping from inside out ensures that any contaminants are not carried from the outer surfaces toward the sterile work zone, reducing the chance of recontaminating the interior.

Why the other options aren’t appropriate: plain water alone doesn’t address disinfection and may leave residues; wiping from outside to inside can push contaminants toward the sterile area; and not waiting after cleaning would prevent proper contact time for the disinfectant, reducing effectiveness.