Nobody wants to talk about it

A brief chronicle of feces fumes in labs.

#OSMT

Every day fecal matter goes under the microscope.

There, medical technologists and lab techs examine it for evidence of disease and parasites. Despite our squeamish reactions to this topic, fecal matter deserves respect – after all, it can force an airliner to go off course. www.philly.com

Why lab personnel need protection from feces fumes

mercaptan any of a class of thiol compounds analogous to the alcohols, characterized by the substitution of sulfur for oxygen in the OH radical and by strong, unpleasant odors

skatole strong-smelling crystalline amine from human feces, produced by protein decomposition in the intestine and directly from tryptophan by decarboxylation

indole crystalline organic compound with an unpleasant odor, present in coal tar and in feces

Table lists main compounds found in human fecal matter. [ ]

Well, then. How does this work get done?

Labs that handle fecal samples typically choose ductless containment hoods configured with filters that trap both odors and particles. HEPA filters are up to 99.97% efficient for particles 0.3 microns and larger. As shown on the particle size chart, bacteria fall within that size range.

Smelly airborne molecules captured by activated carbon filters We made a little video about how carbon filtration works.

Custom Ductless Containment Hood

• Custom cut-outs in the transparent lid of a ductless containment hood accommodate specific instruments.

• The drawing (left) shows cut-outs for the eye pieces of two microscopes located inside a 50” wide hood.

• Lab personnel reach through the Clear Anti-Static Vinyl Strip Curtains to perform required tasks and do not have to lift the hood’s lid any more often than is necessary.

Looking for fecal fume solution for your lab?

Give Sentry Air a call at 800.799.4609.

You can also email us at sales@sentryair.com, visit our website, our blog,

or fill out the feedback form.

www.sentryair.com