[RASMB] Biohazard Level 2

[John Philo]

John,
 
The short answer is that you operate the AUC very very carefully! ☺
 
But seriously, to my knowledge the only lab that puts BSL2 material into their XL-I had a special fume hood built that encloses the entire instrument to deal with issues of sucking sample into the vacuum pump and out into the room.
 
I have no knowledge of whether it is possible to filter the output of the turbomolecular pump. But even if you solve that, another non-trivial issue can sometimes be how to clean up and detoxify the centrifuge cells? Remember that the cell housings inevitably get exposed to sample (at the fill holes), and they will not stand up to bleach, which is the only approved approach for detoxifying some biohazards.
 
Clearly the risk and safety issues depend on the particulars of the sample, but if the sample in question is highly toxic or infectious IMHO you should not put yourself, your co-workers, or the operations of your core facility at risk.
 
FYI at APL our approach to BSL2 is just say no! 
 
John
  _____  

From: rasmb-bounces at rasmb.bbri.org [mailto:rasmb-bounces at rasmb.bbri.org] On Behalf Of jpsumida
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 4:28 PM
To: rasmb at rasmb.bbri.org
Subject: [RASMB] Biohazard Level 2


Dear RASMB,
 
would like to ask about how one operates an AUC in a Biohazard Level 2 environment.  We have a Proteome XLI equipped with a turbomolecular pump.  According to the manufacturer, installing a hepa filtration device in-line with the exhaust manifold could generate a sufficiently high back-pressure that could very well destroy the pump.  According to the manufacturer, this has not been done  previously with an XLI equipped with a turbomolecular pump.
 
Any advice and pointers are appreciated and my thanks to all for your time in advance.
 
John Sumida
Core Manager
University of Washington

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