Confocal Confidence for BSL-3

The BC43 is a compact high performance spinning disk confocal system, tested to withstand extreme fumigation protocols, with a dedicated BSL service solution that ensures you never have to worry about service support, the perfect imaging solution for BSL laboratories.

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Download the BC43 brochure

The brochure contains more information on the BC43 Benchtop Confocal Microscope.

Download the Method Paper

Learn how routine QC metrics help to improve data confidence in BSL-3 studies.

BC43 is a Confocal Designed for Restricted Spaces and Validated Fumigation Protocols Without Voiding Warranty

Built for restricted rooms

A compact, light-tight benchtop design fits into tight BSL spaces and removes the need for darkrooms or additional infrastructure.

Validated fumigation workflows

BC43 supports defined fumigation procedures without voiding warranty, ensuring safe decontamination and uninterrupted operation.

Data you can defend
Stable illumination, automated focus and QC-aligned workflows support reproducible imaging suitable for audits and regulated studies.

Easy to learn, consistent to use

Fusion software and guided protocols enable rotating teams to acquire reliable data with minimal training under PPE constraints.

Download our Method Paper for Full QC and Analysis Guidance

Our method paper outlines how routine QC metrics can correct bias in common fluorescence measurements, improving data confidence in BSL-3 studies.

Download Method Paper

Imaging in Containment Demands More Than Performance

Containment constraints shape workflows
BSL labs operate with strict airflow, limited space, and defined fumigation routes, so imaging systems must fit without room modifications and tolerate routine decontamination procedures.

PPE limits complexity
Gloves, masks, and time pressure make long setup and recovery routines impractical, requiring imaging workflows that are fast, teachable, and robust even after disinfection cycles.

Performance is non-negotiable
Containment facilities require traceable Quality Control, IQ/OQ, and reproducible calibration data to satisfy audits and support long-term studies without repeated access or revalidation.

Low maintenance is essential
Due to access constraints, reliable systems with minimal maintenance requirements are essential in BSL environments. A dedicated BSL service solution is therefore required to support stable performance and minimise downtime.

Experience Confocal Confidence in Action

See for yourself how the BC43 supports confocal imaging in BSL laboratories. Schedule a live session with our specialists to discuss your containment setup and imaging needs.

Validated protocols for whole-room gas decontamination

Designed for containment. Built for decontamination.
BC43 supports imaging workflows inside BSL-3 and BSL-4 environments where whole-room fumigation is part of routine biosafety operations.

Engineered to tolerate validated whole-room gas decontamination cycles used in high-containment labs
Defined procedures for system preparation, sealing and documentation of gas exposure
Modular architecture allows selected components to be removed for service after decontamination
Fumigation workflows supported without compromising system integrity or warranty coverage

Reliable imaging under BSL-3 constraints

Performance that holds when access is restricted.
BC43 delivers stable, reproducible imaging when manual intervention during experiments is limited.

Instant spinning-disk confocal enables fast optical sectioning with reduced light dose
Uniform illumination and automated focus stabilisation support long Z-stacks and time-series
Reliable imaging of thick samples, including infected organoids and tissue sections

Installation, Service & Operational Qualification

Service designed for containment.
Oxford Instruments’ BSL service offering is designed to keep systems operational inside containment while minimising downtime.

Lab personnel are equipped with the required training, tooling, materials, and support to carry out defined service actions themselves
Spare parts are supplied without the need for return, allowing decontamination and disposal to take place within the customer’s laboratory
If a repair cannot be completed in the lab, a replacement system can be provided to maintain operational continuity

System performance is verified and guaranteed through IQ/OQ protocols, including validation after exposure to fumigation processes, ensuring continued compliance and reproducible imaging results.

Lateral and axial resolutions of different types of fluorescent microscopes as a ratio of the theoretical full width half-maximum (FWHM).
Acceptable normalized resolution, within green square. Orange square shows that all measured BC43 (BC43 GFP) results are significantly better that the proposed spec of QUAREP-LIMi (green square). Note the variation observed on competing widefield (WF-GFP), laser scanning ( LSCM GFP) and spinning disk (SDCM GFP) competitors products. Figure adapted from data and specifications included in Faklaris et al.

Powerful Software for Restricted Environments

Explore volumes and time-series, generate isosurfaces and export publication-ready views
Segment and quantify structures using intensity-based or AI-assisted tools.
Apply QC-aware metrics from the method paper to ensure consistent measurements across instruments and time.

Imaris
Fusion Benchtop

Imaris for BC43: Quantitative analysis outside containment

Imaris 11 enables advanced 2D/3D/4D visualisation and analysis outside the BSL-3 lab, with automated workflows that streamline batch processing and ensure reproducible analysis

Explore volumes and time-series, generate isosurfaces and export publication-ready views.
Segment and quantify structures using intensity-based or AI-assisted tools.
Apply QC-aware metrics from the method paper to ensure consistent measurements across instruments and time.

Fusion for BC43: Acquisition in containment

All Andor benchtop microscopes ship with Fusion for BC43, optimised for fast setup and robust acquisition in restricted-access labs.

Define multidimensional experiments (time, Z, tile, multi-position, multi-well) with guided protocols and reusable templates, reducing setup time in PPE.
Use real-time GPU-accelerated deconvolution and in-line 3D stitching to monitor experiment quality as data are acquired.
Capture overview montages at low magnification and then return to the same fields for high-resolution imaging without complex navigation.

Try Imaris free for 10 days

Analyse BC43 datasets with advanced 2D/3D visualisation and quantitative tools, and evaluate how Imaris supports reproducible imaging workflows for BSL-3 environments.

Proven Imaging Across the Full Spectrum of BSL-3

Lateral resolution (confocal)	Avg FWHM₍xy₎ ≤ 280 nm (Full FOV)	Ensures quantitatively reliable imaging with defined performance limits, supporting reproducibility across long-term and multi-user studies.
Axial (Z) resolution	Avg FWHM₍z₎ ≤ 725 nm (Full FOV)	Provides dependable optical sectioning in thick samples such as infected organoids and tissue sections.
Illumination uniformity	U ≥ 65% (488 / 561 / 638 nm) U ≥ 20% (405 nm)	Reduces intensity bias across the field of view, supporting quantitative comparisons with minimal intervention.
Illumination centering	C ≥ 65%	Confirms correct beam alignment for stable, repeatable illumination over time and across users.
Chromatic co-registration (lateral)	Max	r₍xy₎

View Specs

Meet Us at Analytica 2026

Oxford Instruments will be exhibiting at Analytica 2026 in Munich (24–27 March). If you’d like to discuss BSL-3 imaging, fumigation workflows, and IQ/OQ validation in detail, book a one-to-one meeting with our specialists at Analytica 2026 and get a free entrance voucher.

Claim Voucher

What BSL-3 Teams Ask Before They Decide

Can the BC43 be safely used and permanently installed inside a BSL-3 laboratory?

Yes. BC43 is a compact, fully enclosed benchtop confocal system designed to operate inside BSL-3 laboratories, fitting standard containment, airflow, and infrastructure constraints without requiring darkrooms or optical tables.

How does BC43 support whole-room fumigation and decontamination procedures without voiding warranty or validation status?

BC43 supports defined, validated fumigation workflows that allow the system to remain in place during whole-room decontamination, with documented procedures that preserve warranty coverage when followed correctly.

What IQ/OQ documentation and quality assurance support is available for regulated or audited BSL-3 environments?

BC43 is supported by Installation Qualification (IQ) and Operational Qualification (OQ) documentation with measured performance metrics, enabling traceable quality control aligned with audit and institutional requirements.

Is BC43 suitable for long-term, quantitative studies where data must be comparable across time and users?

Yes. Stable illumination, automated focus control, and QC-tracked performance metrics support reproducible imaging and data comparability across users, time points, and extended infectious-disease studies.

How are service, maintenance, and repairs handled when access to the laboratory is restricted?

BC43’s modular design, remote support options, and defined service procedures minimise the need for on-site intervention, allowing maintenance or component replacement without frequent external access to containment labs.

Working in Restricted Access Labs?

Tell us about your containment setup and imaging challenges, and we’ll help you assess whether BC43 and our IQ/OQ and fumigation workflows are a good fit.

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