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LabTrainingVR: Biosafety Cabinet Edition

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Spec score 8.4 #2 of 24 in Virtual Reality Learning Platforms

What it is

LabTrainingVR: Biosafety Cabinet Edition is a free virtual reality course for practicing safe work in a biological safety cabinet (BSC). Its 1.5 hours of training cover identifying Class II BSC parts, maintaining positive airflow, preparing for work, applying safe practices, decontaminating and shutting down, and emergency shutdown procedures. The course is designed for laboratory professionals, including public health and clinical laboratory staff, safety professionals, and others interested in safe BSC use. It supplements CDC’s existing eLearning course on working safely in a BSC. Learners practice in a virtual laboratory without exposure to pathogens or risk of accidental infection or release. The course is headset-only, with versions for HTC Vive and Oculus Quest 2; the equipment guide also identifies Meta Quest 2 and above and OpenXR-compatible headsets. It requires 360° tracking and a play area of at least 3 by 3 feet, with 20 by 20 feet listed as ideal. HTC Vive and tethered-headset setups require Windows 8.1 or later, at least 8 GB RAM, and 20 GB available storage, among other hardware requirements. Quest setup requires Wi-Fi and a mobile device for initial installation.

Spec sheet

What it does
The course lets learners practice setting up and operating a Class II biological safety cabinet in a virtual laboratory.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Purpose
The course lets learners practice setting up and working safely in a biological safety cabinet in a virtual laboratory.Read 8 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Audience
It is designed for laboratory professionals, including public health and clinical laboratory staff, safety professionals, and others interested in safe BSC use.Read 8 Oct 2026 · store.steampowered.com
Privacy
CDC says its VR apps collect aggregate usage and platform information rather than personally identifying information, using Unity, Meta, and Steam data channels.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cdc.gov
Support
CDC directs technical-support requests to [email protected].Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Founded
A CDC overview states that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was founded in 1946 and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.Read 15 Oct 2026 · stacks.cdc.gov
Company identity
LinkedIn identifies the maker as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a U.S. government agency headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company size
LinkedIn lists CDC at more than 10,001 employees and shows about 20,111 employees on its company page.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Course length
The course duration is listed as 1.5 hours.Read 8 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Course level
CDC describes it as a basic-level course for laboratory professionals.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Distribution
The official listing links to Steam and Meta distribution.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Duration
The OneLab REACH listing gives the course a duration of 1.5 hours.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Feature: airflow
Learners practice maintaining positive airflow inside the cabinet.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Feature: cabinet parts
Learners identify the major parts of a Class II biological safety cabinet.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Feature: decontamination
Learners practice decontaminating and shutting down a cabinet.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Feature: emergencies
The course includes emergency shutdown procedures.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Feature: preparation
The course teaches preparation steps before working in a cabinet.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Feature: safe work
The simulation exercises safe-work practices inside a biological safety cabinet.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Government software terms
CDC states that its VR apps are maintained by the U.S. Government and supplied as-is without warranties.Read 15 Oct 2026 · cdc.gov
Headsets and space
The course page lists HTC Vive and Oculus Quest 2 versions and requires 360° tracking, with a minimum 3-by-3-foot play area and an ideal 20-by-20-foot area.Read 8 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Integration
CDC positions the VR course as a supplement to its Fundamentals of Working Safely in a Biological Safety Cabinet eLearning course.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Learning objectives
Learners practice identifying Class II BSC parts, maintaining positive airflow, preparing for work, applying safe practices, decontaminating and shutting down, and performing emergency shutdown procedures.Read 8 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Limit: hardware cost
MERLOT noted that VR hardware can be expensive and impractical for individual students doing homework.Read 15 Oct 2026 · merlot.org
Limit: locomotion
A Steam reviewer reported difficulty with teleport movement, orientation, and adjusting position while working at the cabinet.Read 15 Oct 2026 · steamcommunity.com
Limit: Meta session length
The same Meta reviewer said the 60-to-90-minute course would be better divided into smaller sessions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · meta.com
Limit: Meta usability
A Meta reviewer reported getting stuck after the midpoint, difficulty loading and dispensing pipette liquid, and no in-training help.Read 15 Oct 2026 · meta.com
Limit: onboarding
A Steam reviewer said the application needed more introductory instruction on using VR controls.Read 15 Oct 2026 · steamcommunity.com
Maker history
CDC’s history page says the Communicable Disease Center opened in Atlanta on July 1, 1946, and that the current CDC headquarters is on Clifton Road in Atlanta.Read 8 Oct 2026 · cdc.gov
Meta installation
Meta Quest users install the application through the Meta app, App Lab, a QR code, or the headset store.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Meta Quest setup
CDC’s setup guide says installing the Quest training requires Wi-Fi and a mobile device for initial setup, and directs users to accept an App Lab warning before installation.Read 8 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
PC requirements
For HTC Vive or tethered headsets, the page specifies Windows 8.1 or later, 8 GB minimum RAM, and 20 GB available storage, among other hardware requirements.Read 8 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Pilot evidence
CDC pilot-tested the BSC VR course with 59 staff members and reported improved confidence and laboratory skills.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Practice environment
The course lets learners practice BSC use without exposure to pathogens or risk of accidental infection or release.Read 8 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Praise: educational safety
MERLOT reviewers praised risk-free practice of dangerous or resource-intensive laboratory procedures and alignment with stated learning outcomes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · merlot.org
Praise: immersive training
A Steam reviewer praised the physical, memorable practice compared with ordinary slideshow safety courses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · steamcommunity.com
Praise: interaction
A Steam reviewer highlighted interactive equipment, clear checklists, instructional video, and error detection during cabinet work.Read 15 Oct 2026 · steamcommunity.com
Privacy deletion
Users can request deletion of VR-app user data by contacting [email protected].Read 15 Oct 2026 · cdc.gov
Program deployment
CDC delivered Meta Quest headsets to 31 laboratory sites, where 360 staff completed the course and provided feedback.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Rating on MERLOT
4.8 out of 5 from 1 review.Read 15 Oct 2026 · merlot.org
Rating on Meta Quest
3.7 out of 5 from 7 ratings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · meta.com
Rating on Steam
100 out of 100 positive from 17 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · store.steampowered.com
Room requirements
The official course page requires at least a 3-by-3-foot play area, recommends 20 by 20 feet, and requires 360-degree tracking.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Steam language
The Steam listing shows English as the supported interface, audio, and subtitle language.Read 15 Oct 2026 · store.steampowered.com
Steam requirement discrepancy
The Steam listing states 4 GB disk space, while CDC's current course page states 20 GB available storage for the tethered-PC version.Read 15 Oct 2026 · store.steampowered.com
Steam update
A March 30, 2022 update added snap-turn support and improved Oculus and Index controller support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · steamcommunity.com
Supported headsets
CDC lists HTC Vive and Oculus Quest 2 versions for the course.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Training context
The VR course supplements CDC’s existing eLearning course on working safely in a biological safety cabinet.Read 8 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Windows minimum requirements
The listed minimum tethered-PC configuration is Windows 8.1 or later, an Intel i5-4590 or equivalent, 8 GB RAM, GTX 1060/970 or R9 290-level graphics, DirectX 11, and 20 GB available storage.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov
Windows recommended requirements
The recommended configuration is Windows 8.1 or later, an Intel i5-6600 or better, 16 GB RAM, GTX 1080/980 Ti or Radeon RX Vega 4 GB-level graphics, DirectX 11, and 20 GB storage.Read 15 Oct 2026 · reach.cdc.gov

Plans and prices

Free Free VR headset and compatible computer required · Steam or Meta distribution Read 15 Oct 2026 · store.steampowered.com
LabTrainingVR: Biosafety Cabinet Edition Free Free VR only · HTC Vive or Meta Quest 2 · 1.5 hours · 360° tracking and play area required Read 8 Oct 2026 · store.steampowered.com

Every LabTrainingVR: Biosafety Cabinet Edition plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free 1.5-hour course
  • Covers Class II BSC setup, safe work, and shutdown
  • Practice takes place without pathogen exposure
  • HTC Vive and Oculus Quest 2 versions are listed

Limits

  • VR headset and 360° tracking are required
  • Minimum play area is 3 by 3 feet
  • Tethered setups require Windows 8.1 or later, 8 GB RAM, and 20 GB storage

Who it suits

It suits laboratory professionals and others seeking practice with safe BSC procedures in a virtual setting. Users need a supported headset, 360° tracking, and an appropriate play area.

Verdict

The course provides structured BSC practice in a virtual laboratory and supplements existing eLearning. Its headset, tracking, space, and computer requirements are important prerequisites.

Where Specifiction places it

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