1. Cleaning Glassware
1. REMEMBER TO USE GLOVES AT ALL TIMES. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU’LL COME INTO CONTACT WITH.
2. Glassware should be cleaned using a dishwashing detergent (preferred) or a dilute Alconox solution.
3. Rinse with distilled water very thoroughly (especially if you’re using the Alconox solution) to get rid of any residue as it may contaminate experiments.
4. You may obtain cleaning supplies at your own discretion from the ESB stockroom (refer to OBTAINING LAB SUPPLIES)
5. When drying beakers, tip them upwards once to remove any water that may have collected.
6. When reshelving lab equipment, do so in an organized manner. Keep graduated cylinders on the drying rack as they are used often.
2. Acid Washing
1. All items to be acid-washed are to be placed in the properly labeled bin. The acid wash recipe is as follows:
1. Soak in Alconox solution >6 hours
2. Rinse 7 times with deionized water.
3. Soak 2 hours in 20% nitric acid.
4. Rinse 7 times with deionized water.
5. Soak 30 minutes in 10% HCL.
6. Rinse 7 times with deionized water.
2. When soaking in Alconox, it is ok to leave them in the solution overnight or for an extra day if you don’t have time to do the other steps. However, it is important to soak the dishes in nitric acid and HCl ONLY DURING THE TIME SPECIFIED, NO MORE, NO LESS.
3. After the final rinse, DO NOT DRY ON DRYING RACK. Instead find a clean, empty bin. Lay the dishes on their side to dry and cover the entire bin with saran wrap and masking tape. Place in cart.
4. Place all dry acid-washed items in cabinet.
5. The acid solutions must be change every once in a while. Ask advice on haw to make the proper concentrations.
6. Whenever pouring acid, use the hood, and always pour acid into water, never vice-versa. Always use the green industrial gloves when acid washing, as well as protective eye goggles and protective apron.
3. Cleaning sinks
1. Remove rust off sink and counters by scrubbing with steel wool. Store steel wool away from flammables, as it will catch fire.
2. Use Ajax to clean sink area.
4. Cleaning Glass Pipettes
1. Add eater to empty, cylindrical bin with handle.
2. When the bin is full of pipettes, add an Alconox tablet (under the sink). Let soak for 20-30 minutes. Then, place this bin inside the green-based cylindrical bin. This will be used to rinse out the pipettes.
3. Hook up the green-base bin to the deionized water. Run the water to medium-flow.
4. Allow the apparatus to flush several times. Then remove the inner bin and let strand to dry.

5. "Dusting"
1. Dust with disinfectant as needed, especially the shelves above the lab benches, as they tend to collect dust quite readily: this should probably be done at least once a week.. This is important because dust is a lab contaminant. Use disinfectant and a sponge to clean lab your lab benches every day before your leave the lab.

 

6. Purchase of Lab Supplies
1. Stockroom
1. When purchasing from the Biology stockroom, be sure you ask everyone if they need anything before you go down (or you can start a list of supplies needed).
2. Items most needed are gloves of all sizes, pipette tips, and microfuge tubes.
3. Fill out form downstairs including professor name, department (MGM), your name, and the grant account number.
2. Office supplies)
1. Purchase Office supplies from Office Depot. When you do an order be sure you ask if they need anything too before you take the order to Helen Wormington in the Section Office (NMS2.104)  for her approval.
2. In general, because we have an NIH grant, office supplies will be paid for by the Section, but if she does not approve then use the NIH account number.
3. Place receipt in Dr. Szaniszlo’s letter tray.
4. Returns must be accompanied by receipt.

II. Autoclaving

1. Dry (Gravity) Autoclaving
1. STERILIZATION: pipet tips, microfuge tubes, and pipets must be autoclaved before use. The sterilization time is 15 minutes, and another 10 minutes to dry.

*After these items are autoclaved, they must be placed in the 80 degree oven in the lab to remove condensation.

2. BIOLOGICAL WASTE: bags must first be tied and placed in metal trashcan before being autoclaved. The autoclave time is 45 minutes, the drying time is 25 minutes. After dry waste has been autoclaved, place bag in another biohazard waste bag and tie it up. Place the treatment sticker provided by OEHS on the bag(s). Leave treated bags in the trash bins and place near the trashcans in the lab.

NOTE: All biological waste (dry & liquid) that is autoclaved must be recorded in the Treated Waste log adjacent to the autoclaves on the wall. Treated waste also must be recorded in the Safety Log in room 107.

2. Liquid Autoclaving
1. STERILIZATION: media preparation only. The sterilization time is 15 minutes.
2. BIOLOGICAL WASTE: all flasks, etc. to be autoclaved must be either covered with aluminum foil or screw caps (loosened). The autoclave time is 30 minutes.
3. Procedure
1. For dry autoclaving of tips, etc, place autoclave tape on them so that everyone will that they are autoclave. The autoclave tape will show black strips after autoclaving is completed. For pipette tip boxes and metal pipette cylinders, use autoclave tape to tape them shut.
2. Place all items to be autoclaved in metal trays.
3. After securing the door to autoclave, press menu bottom once to select, twice to activate and start autoclave. If you mess up, press reset.
4. After autoclave is finished, you don’t need to wait 10 minutes as indicated on autoclave. You can remove the trays (use orange autoclave gloves) from the autoclave and press reset to abort the waiting time. BE CAREFUL! THE INSIDE OF THE AUTOCLAVE REACHES TEMPERATURES OF 250 DEGREES!
5. Flasks that are liquid autoclaved can be washed immediately or soaked in a mild Alconox solution. Contents may be poured down the drain.
4. Autoclave Testing

The autoclaves in NMS must be tested twice a month. OEHS provides us with autoclave test packs consisting of two test vials per autoclaved.

1. When going to treat biological waste, place the test vial near the front of the door and set the autoclave to run. It doesn’t matter if it is dry or liquid waste.
2. After the autoclave is done running its cycle, remove the Verify indicator from the red vial container. Push down on the blue cap of the Verify indicator until you hear it snap.
3. Mark the date that it was tested on the Verify indicator and fill out the Autoclave Testing Information slip provided by OEHS.
4. All four test packs must be tested by the end of the month.
5. Contact Lee Balandran at 475-9722 when all test packs have been completed.

III. Waste Disposal

1. Sharps
1. All slides and other infectious waste on sharps must be soaked in iodine for several minutes before being deposited in the sharps container.
2. Do not fill above line specified.
3. Once sharps container is full, contact OEHS for pickup.

Obtain sharps container pickup request sheet from file cabinet labeled "Various Forms and Directions" which are filed under Disposal of Solid and Liquid Waste. Fill out the complete form and fax to OEHS at 471-6918. They will replace the containers with empty ones.

 

2. Large Chemical Bottles
1. These chemical bottles must be flushed with distilled water for at least 5 minutes. They must then be placed (without caps) in glass disposal box.
2. When the glass disposal box is filled, fill out the information on the top of the box, and follow the directions for pick up.