decontaminating large incubation chambers on optical microscopes

[Stephen Lockett-2]

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Dear Confocal Microscopists,

I have two Olympus microscope systems, one is a confocal (FV1000) and
the other is a TIRF (TIRF3) and both have large incubation chambers
that surround the stage, objective lenses etc.  The incubation
chambers are from Precision Plastics and provide heat, humidity and
CO2 to the sample and generally work well for long term experiments
lasting several days.  However, occasionally we experience
contamination in the samples and we suspect the contamination resides
in the incubation chamber, in the tubing carrying the warm, moist air
in and out of the chamber or in the humidifier itself.  Do you have
any suggestions about how best to decontaminate the chamber and
associated components.  Many thanks.

Sincerely,


Stephen Lockett, Ph.D.,
Principal Scientist,
Director, Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory,
Rm 104A, Building 538,
P.O. Box B
(For Fedex, use Building 1050, Boyles Street)
National Cancer Institute - Frederick / SAIC - Frederick,
Fort Detrick,
Frederick,
MD 21702, USA
Office: 301 846 5515
Mobile: [phone]

[Craig Brideau]

============================================================ To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy ============================================================ The tricky part is finding a cleaner that won't hurt the chamber or any of its parts.  70% Ethanol is *usually* safe for just about anything.  We use it for our PCR preparation chamber which is made of plexiglass and aluminum.  Basically it is a box with a sash like a fume hood, only it is held internally at positive pressure to keep stray particulate out.  Contamination would be very bad (end up wasting time copying some random piece of DNA instead of the target) so the tech regularly wipes the insides down with 70% Ethanol to good effect.

Craig

On Tue, Sep 21, 2010 at 2:25 PM, Stephen Lockett <[hidden email]> wrote:

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Dear Confocal Microscopists,

I have two Olympus microscope systems, one is a confocal (FV1000) and the other is a TIRF (TIRF3) and both have large incubation chambers that surround the stage, objective lenses etc.  The incubation chambers are from Precision Plastics and provide heat, humidity and CO2 to the sample and generally work well for long term experiments lasting several days.  However, occasionally we experience contamination in the samples and we suspect the contamination resides in the incubation chamber, in the tubing carrying the warm, moist air in and out of the chamber or in the humidifier itself.  Do you have any suggestions about how best to decontaminate the chamber and associated components.  Many thanks.

Sincerely,


Stephen Lockett, Ph.D.,
Principal Scientist,
Director, Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory,
Rm 104A, Building 538,
P.O. Box B
(For Fedex, use Building 1050, Boyles Street)
National Cancer Institute - Frederick / SAIC - Frederick,
Fort Detrick,
Frederick,
MD 21702, USA
Office: 301 846 5515
Mobile: [phone]

[Armstrong, Brian]

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Hello, the use of alcohol is contraindicated on our Pecon incubation
chambers. I think that if I were in your position I would clean the
chamber with mild detergent and water, replace the tubing, and irradiate
with UV.
Cheers,

Brian D Armstrong PhD
Light Microscopy Core Manager
Beckman Research Institute
City of Hope
Dept of Neuroscience
1450 E Duarte Rd
Duarte, CA 91010
626-256-4673 x62872
http://www.cityofhope.org/research/support/Light-Microscopy-Digital-Imag
ing/Pages/default.aspx

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]]
On Behalf Of Stephen Lockett
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 1:26 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: decontaminating large incubation chambers on optical
microscopes

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To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
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Dear Confocal Microscopists,

I have two Olympus microscope systems, one is a confocal (FV1000) and
the other is a TIRF (TIRF3) and both have large incubation chambers
that surround the stage, objective lenses etc.  The incubation
chambers are from Precision Plastics and provide heat, humidity and
CO2 to the sample and generally work well for long term experiments
lasting several days.  However, occasionally we experience
contamination in the samples and we suspect the contamination resides
in the incubation chamber, in the tubing carrying the warm, moist air
in and out of the chamber or in the humidifier itself.  Do you have
any suggestions about how best to decontaminate the chamber and
associated components.  Many thanks.

Sincerely,


Stephen Lockett, Ph.D.,
Principal Scientist,
Director, Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory,
Rm 104A, Building 538,
P.O. Box B
(For Fedex, use Building 1050, Boyles Street)
National Cancer Institute - Frederick / SAIC - Frederick,
Fort Detrick,
Frederick,
MD 21702, USA
Office: 301 846 5515
Mobile: [phone]


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[Achille Dunne]

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Hi,

You could use Trigene wipes on your chamber. However you may need to
supplement this with a foam cleaner as I found that Trigene left our
chambers with streaks.

We regularly replace our gas tubing. We also use a 0.45um syringe filter
in the tubing between the hydration chamber and the sample. To date, we
haven't had a contamination problem with these precautions.

Cheers,

Ash

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]]
On Behalf Of Armstrong, Brian
Sent: 22 September 2010 18:56
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: decontaminating large incubation chambers on optical
microscopes

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Hello, the use of alcohol is contraindicated on our Pecon incubation
chambers. I think that if I were in your position I would clean the
chamber with mild detergent and water, replace the tubing, and irradiate
with UV.
Cheers,

Brian D Armstrong PhD
Light Microscopy Core Manager
Beckman Research Institute
City of Hope
Dept of Neuroscience
1450 E Duarte Rd
Duarte, CA 91010
626-256-4673 x62872
http://www.cityofhope.org/research/support/Light-Microscopy-Digital-Imag
ing/Pages/default.aspx

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]]
On Behalf Of Stephen Lockett
Sent: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 1:26 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: decontaminating large incubation chambers on optical
microscopes

============================================================
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
============================================================

Dear Confocal Microscopists,

I have two Olympus microscope systems, one is a confocal (FV1000) and
the other is a TIRF (TIRF3) and both have large incubation chambers that
surround the stage, objective lenses etc.  The incubation chambers are
from Precision Plastics and provide heat, humidity and
CO2 to the sample and generally work well for long term experiments
lasting several days.  However, occasionally we experience contamination
in the samples and we suspect the contamination resides in the
incubation chamber, in the tubing carrying the warm, moist air in and
out of the chamber or in the humidifier itself.  Do you have any
suggestions about how best to decontaminate the chamber and associated
components.  Many thanks.

Sincerely,


Stephen Lockett, Ph.D.,
Principal Scientist,
Director, Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory, Rm 104A, Building
538, P.O. Box B (For Fedex, use Building 1050, Boyles Street) National
Cancer Institute - Frederick / SAIC - Frederick, Fort Detrick,
Frederick, MD 21702, USA
Office: 301 846 5515
Mobile: [phone]


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SECURITY/CONFIDENTIALITY WARNING:  
This message and any attachments are intended solely for the individual
or entity to which they are addressed. This communication may contain
information that is privileged, confidential, or exempt from disclosure
under applicable law (e.g., personal health information, research data,
financial information). Because this e-mail has been sent without
encryption, individuals other than the intended recipient may be able to
view the information, forward it to others or tamper with the
information without the knowledge or consent of the sender. If you are
not the intended recipient, or the employee or person responsible for
delivering the message to the intended recipient, any dissemination,
distribution or copying of the communication is strictly prohibited. If
you received the communication in error, please notify the sender
immediately by replying to this message and deleting the message and any
accompanying files from your system. If, due to the security risks, you
do not wish to receive further communications via e-mail, please reply
to this message and inform the sender that you do not wish to receive
further e-mail from the sender.

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[Deanne Veronica Catmull]

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Maybe you could you place a sterile 0.22μm filter on the inlets so that the air being carried into the chamber is sterile? Just a thought.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Stephen Lockett
Sent: Wednesday, 22 September 2010 6:26 AM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: decontaminating large incubation chambers on optical microscopes

 

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============================================================

 

Dear Confocal Microscopists,

 

I have two Olympus microscope systems, one is a confocal (FV1000) and

the other is a TIRF (TIRF3) and both have large incubation chambers

that surround the stage, objective lenses etc.  The incubation

chambers are from Precision Plastics and provide heat, humidity and

CO2 to the sample and generally work well for long term experiments

lasting several days.  However, occasionally we experience

contamination in the samples and we suspect the contamination resides

in the incubation chamber, in the tubing carrying the warm, moist air

in and out of the chamber or in the humidifier itself.  Do you have

any suggestions about how best to decontaminate the chamber and

associated components.  Many thanks.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Stephen Lockett, Ph.D.,

Principal Scientist,

Director, Optical Microscopy and Analysis Laboratory,

Rm 104A, Building 538,

P.O. Box B

(For Fedex, use Building 1050, Boyles Street)

National Cancer Institute - Frederick / SAIC - Frederick,

Fort Detrick,

Frederick,

MD 21702, USA

Office: 301 846 5515

Mobile: [phone]