Which of the following best describes a biosafety cabinet?

A biosafety cabinet is specifically designed as a containment facility for infectious agents, providing a controlled environment to safely handle biological materials that may pose a risk of exposure to pathogens. It is engineered to protect the user, the laboratory environment, and the samples being manipulated from contamination. This is done through HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtration, which traps airborne particles, and by maintaining a balanced air pressure system that prevents hazardous aerosols from escaping into the surrounding area.

By ensuring that the cabinet contains and limits exposure to potentially infectious materials, it plays a critical role in reducing the risk of laboratory-acquired infections and maintaining safety protocols during research or clinical work with pathogens. This is why the description identifying it as a containment facility for infectious agents is the most accurate. The other options either describe functions that do not pertain to the primary purpose of a biosafety cabinet or could lead to misunderstandings about its role in a laboratory setting.