大象传媒

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Biosafety

This facility operates as a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL2) area. The use of analytic flow cytometers and aerosol-generating sorters with samples containing viable infectious organisms presents significant infectious risks to both users and staff. Special precautions are required to ensure the safety of all individuals working within the Facility.

General Requirements

  • A copy of your Schedule F is required for any biohazardous materials brought into the core.

Analyzers

All areas housing analytic flow cytometers are designated as BSL2 zones, and all samples must be handled and treated as BSL2 at all times.

Investigator Responsibilities:

  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Latex/nitrile gloves, lab coats, and closed-toe shoes are required at all times.
  • Sample Transport: Use approved biosafety transport containers (details below) to move samples to and from analyzer rooms.
  • Spills: Report all spills to Facility staff immediately and clean up spills using bleach.
  • Disposal: Dispose of contaminated materials in the red biosafety bag provided. Leftover samples must be returned to the user’s lab in approved transport containers.
  • Cleaning: Follow the posted cleaning procedure on the instrument after completing your work.

Sorters

The use of biohazardous samples on sorters requires additional precautions due to intentional aerosol generation during sorting.

  • The FACSMelody sorter is a user-operated instrument approved for BSL1 materials only. The sorting of viable biohazardous materials, including primary human cells, is strictly prohibited.
  • BSL2-designated samples may only be sorted on the FACSAria II or FACSymphony S6 by trained Facility staff.

Transporting Samples to the Flow Facility

  • All materials entering common corridors must be double-packaged, with at least one layer being leak-proof for liquid samples.
  • Include absorbent material sufficient to contain the entire volume of liquid in the primary container in case of a spill.
  • Disinfect the outer surface of the carrier with a disinfectant effective against the material(s) being transported prior to leaving the lab.
  • A biohazard warning label shall be applied when applicable聽to the carrier to communicate the potential hazard of its contents. Any potentially infectious material (e.g., human blood, unfixed human tissue, bacterial culture) would require the biohazard label.
  • Lab coats and gloves should not be worn during transport outside the laboratory.

Acceptable Alternative for Sample Transport:

  • Samples in capped 5 mL FACS tubes on ice inside a small lidded styrofoam container. This container must then be placed inside a closable carrier (e.g., Igloo cooler) with absorbent material.