School of Biology Sciences
The University of EdinburghSchool of Biology Sciences Institute of Immunology & Infection Research

Flow Cytometry Core Facility

SAFTEY GUIDELINES FOR FLOW CYTOMETRY ANALYSES AND SORTING OF SAMPLES


General Guidelines   (Top)
  •  Work can only proceed if the Biosafety Questionnaire detailing the work is filled in by the Principal Investigator and accepted by the Facility Manager. 
  •  Eating, chewing, drinking, smoking, applying cosmetics, storing of food and outdoor clothing in the Facility is banned.
  • Mouth pipetting is banned.
  •  All workers in the laboratory must cover cuts and abrasions with a waterproof dressing before entering the Facility.
  • Laboratory coats must be worn at all times whilst in the Facility.
  • Door handles must not be touched with gloved hands.
  • Always wash hands before leaving the Facility.

Class II Materials   (Top)
  • Samples have to be transported to and from the facility in a secondary container with a secure lid. 
  • Gloves must be worn for all manipulations of the sample tubes containing potentially infective material. 
  • Gloves must not be worn when operating computers or control panels. (i.e. the hand changing samples on the sample bay is gloved; the hand operating computers is not).
  • Dedicated waste fluid tanks designated for hazardous waste fluids have to be fitted before commencing analysis/sorting. 
  • Follow start up and closing down procedures as indicated for the machines used (see User manuals and machine operating procedures). In particular, the cleansing routine with FACSclean or  hypochlorite solution has to be observed.
  • Remove dedicated waste fluid tank, add disinfection to 2,500ppm available chlorine, close tank with lid, disinfect surface of waste fluid tanks and leave waste overnight for disinfection. 
  • Attach waste sample label detailing - date, user, sample description and contact details. 
  • After overnight neutralisation waste fluid should be emptied, draining the fluids down the sink with copious amounts of water.
  • All waste material (tubes from the samples and from machine cleaning routine at end, gloves worn when manipulating sample tubes, wipe down paper) must be RETURNED to the home laboratory observing contained transport rules and disposed of as defined under the local waste disposal rules.
  • On completion of their work each user must leave the area they have used clean and tidy. All waste and samples etc should be removed and surfaces and work place must be disinfected with 1% Virkon or 1% Stock Bleach (in particular area of the sampler bays).

Biosafety Form  (Top)
Requirements Biosafety Forms must be submitted and accepted BEFORE preceeding with Flow Cytometry studies
Contact Information  (Top)
Contact Details Principal Investigator and Researcher for study
Project Information Include a brief summary of the research project with particular attention to flow cytotmetry requirements.
Include information about fluorophores, labelling strategies and aquisition or sorting requirements
Safety Information  (Top)
 Nature of Infectious agent State nature of material and hazard classification.
Include COSHH BA1 number for your risk assessment form for work invloving biological agents and/or materials that may contain these.
Genetically modified agents State the nature of the modified agent and the GMO Risk Assement number - required for any activity involving genetically modified organisms, including storage, irrespective of the origin of the GMO.
Billing Information  (Top)
Invoice Details State Institute, group and funding grant to which the study is associated - include grant number and cost centre for invoicing
Authorisation Signature of Principal Investigator or E_mail authorisation
Download  (Top)
Download Biosafety Form


 
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