Final answer:
A HEPA vacuum is equipped with a filter that can remove dust, debris, bacteria, and viruses. HEPA filters are commonly used in hospitals and biological safety cabinets to prevent the spread of airborne microbes.
Step-by-step explanation:
A HEPA vacuum is one that is equipped with a filter capable of filtering out dust, small debris, large particles, bacteria, and viruses. HEPA filters have effective pore sizes that can capture bacterial cells, endospores, and many viruses, nearly sterilizing the air on the other side of the filter. HEPA filters are used in various settings, including hospitals and surgical suites, where they help prevent the spread of airborne microbes.
Two common uses of HEPA filtration in clinical or laboratory settings are in hospital ventilation systems and biological safety cabinets. In hospitals, HEPA filters are used in ventilation systems to prevent the transmission of airborne microbes. In biological safety cabinets, HEPA filters are used to create a clean area for handling biological materials and to maintain a safe work area for laboratory personnel.