Do I need a flow hood or is a still-air box enough?
For basic inoculations (spore to grain, LC to grain), a well-built still-air box (SAB) and calm aseptic technique are sufficient. Use 70% IPA, flame-sterilise needles/scalpels (at your own risk), and minimise arm movement. A HEPA flow hood shines for agar work, cloning, grain-to-grain, and higher throughput, meaning fewer stalls/contams and faster workflows. If budget-limited: start SAB, and upgrade to true H14 HEPA (≥99.995% @0.3 µm) when you begin plates/G2G. Whichever you use, ensure a clean room, no drafts, mask/hair cover, and staged tools ready before starting.
