Abstract
A newly developed test of operator manual dexterity in containment equipment more closely replicates standard laboratory techniques than previously used commercial pegboard dexterity tests. The test measures pipetting accuracy and has been developed and fully validated to assess the effect of containment equipment on laboratory techniques. Intra-assay variation had a mean of 1.4%; inter-assay variation had a mean of 3% within day and 3.6% between days. The test retest coefficient, using Pearson's correlation, was 0.898, (p=0.001). The test was then used to measure pipetting accuracy in class II and III biological safety cabinets (BSCs). When experienced users took the tests in the two types of BSCs, their accuracy did not differ significantly. External factors (age, experience, glove size, gender) did not influence technical accuracy within the BSCs. The participants' level of pipetting accuracy is an inherent ability not influenced significantly by the factors measured, including the type of BSC used. Operators did; however, take significantly longer to complete tasks in the class III BSC.