Biosafety in flow cytometry

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NEW updated ISAC guidelines

This section was kindly provided by Maris Handley

Before you start room renovations, or even deciding which sorter to use, read these!!!

      Schmid, I, Nicholson JKA, Giorgi JV, Janossy G. Kunkl A, Lopez
P, Perfetto S, Seamer LC, Dean P, Biosafety Guidelines for Sorting of Unfixed
Cells, Cytometry 28:99-117(1997)

      Perfetto S, Ambrozak
  DR, Koup RA, Roederer M, Measuring Containment of
Viable Infectious Cell Sorting in High -Velocity Cell Sorters, Cytometry Part A
52A:122-130(2003)

      
      Oberyszyn AS, Robertson FM, Novel Rapid Method for Visualization
of Extent and Location of Aerosol Contamination During High-Speed Sorting of
Potentially Biohazardous Samples, Cytometry 43:217-222 (2001)

       
Everything else on this page flows from the guidelines
presented in Biosafety Guidelines for Sorting of Unfixed Cells Schmid, et.
Al ... and from CDC BL guidelines

      Sample Handling

Before (hopefully. a long time before) your sort:

Collect information on the pathogen(s) through web sites, your biosafety officer (get them involved right at the start!!), researchers, and other flow cytometrists…

The Center for Disease Control (under conditions and diseases), the Big
Picture Book of Viruses and the American Biological Safety Association are good websites to find out what level of protection will be
necessary.

bugs

When it comes time for the sort:

Communication with Researchers is critical. Get all the sample details and help them with Preparation to avoid clogging. Small Parts, Inc and BD BioScience offer a wide range of helpful products.

      Have Standard Operating Procedures and emergency
procedures in place. SOPs should include cleaning procedures!!

      Operator training and protection

All operators should be trained on instrumentation, including all “safety options” purchased with the machine

Institute or company safety departments should provide safety training

Protection (For operator)

Examples:

    Face shield
    Respirator
    Gown/Suit
    Sleeve protectors
    Gloves x2
    Foot coverings

more info from the Occupational Safety & Health Administration.

For products, start at SafetyPlus and Fisher Scientific.

labcoat

For others in room...or a lock on the door (keep them away)!!

    Control Room access
    Be cautious about items that might come out of laboratory
    Keep a set of Basic tools for service providers (easier for you to clean and autoclave than it is for them)

      Create SOPs/Emergency Procedures!!! (Do this in
conjunction with your safety officer/department)

SOPs might address:

          Room access

    Disinfecting

    Disposal

Adhere to Instrument guidelines and BL guidelines

      EPs might address:

          When is it an emergency?

    Who to call

          Chain of events

    Paperwork

    Medical Care

      Laboratory facility design

      
Follow recommendations in Biosafety Level guidelines

      See Appendix 1, Table 2 in BGSUC or CDC

Make sure your instrument and your facility will/can meet your containment requirements

Instrument setup and maintenance

Maintenance and Periodic testing are crucial for protection

      Regular PMs on instrument and “options” - Check/Replace
Tubing and Valves often

Regular testing of hoods, room pressure/ventillation

      Periodic Testing of instrument containment with glogerms.

      Containment tested using slides placed in various
locations also good for tracking operator movements to help create SOPs.

- Maris Handley