Procedures for Biohazardous Samples
Users of the WEHI cytometry facilities must not run any sample containing a known or potential biohazard without first making application to the WEHI Biosafety Committee. In particular, all unfixed material of human origin (including cell lines) is considered potentially hazardous and may not be run on the open frame Cytometry Lab cell sorters. Human material may be sorted on the enclosed Aria sorters and approval may be given to run it on the analytical cytometers.
Applications may be forwarded to the safety officer, or to the biosafety committee chair, Dr. Jane Visvader, and should address the following points:
- What is the aim of the project?
- What is the nature of the cells in question (species, tissue source, etc.)?
- From what source were they obtained by the WEHI (or extra-WEHI) user?
- How have the cells been treated or processed by the user?
- For cells of human origin, has the sample been screened for HIV and HepB (both mandatory) or for other infectious agents?
- What is the nature of all biohazards associated with the sample?
If biosafety committee approval is obtained, the user must notify the cell sorter operator on every occasion well in advance of a hazardous sample being run.
If the sample is to be analysed on an analytical cytometer (FACSCalibur, LSR or similar), the operator must first be registered as approved to run biohazardous samples. See FACS lab staff for registration. When running, appropriate containment procedures must be followed, the biohazard sign must be displayed during the operation and the cytometer must be decontaminated afterwards. Note that WEHI's FACScan instruments are unsuitable for running potentially hazardous material.