pathogens in a common use confocal core facility

[Phillips, Thomas E.]

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I fully understand that use of pathogens requires approval of an institutional biosafety committee and that each circumstance is unique. Having said that, I am wondering if any of those of you who run a confocal core (or use pathogens in a core), have successfully implemented a biosafety plan which allows a client whose pathogens has "modest" risks could sporadically use an instrument that is widely used by other labs for no-risk, fixed samples or non-hazardous live samples. Is it crazy to try to accommodate this type of project or is it easier than it sounds? If you have experience where you got biosafety committee approval to bring a live pathogen into a core facility for imaging, I would be interested in knowing the type of agent was allowed and what you had to do to clean the room and instrument before it could be used by other clients.  Thanks and Happy New Year. Tom




Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D
Professor of Biological Sciences
Director, Molecular Cytology Core
2 Tucker Hall
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-7400
573-882-4712 (office)
573-882-0123 (fax)
[hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>

http://www.biology.missouri.edu/faculty/phillips.html
http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/mcc/

[Craig Brideau]

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It really depends on your institution's rules.  For instance, our facility
requires full biohazard approval levels for whatever is being used, even if
it is being used infrequently.  Mostly we just work with regular cells,
which are level one.  We have some cell lines transfected with lentivirus
though, which is level 2.  We don't use them very often, but we were
required to get L2 certification to be allowed to use them at all.  This
was non-negotiable at our institute.

Craig


On Wed, Jan 4, 2012 at 1:11 PM, Phillips, Thomas E.
<[hidden email]>wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> I fully understand that use of pathogens requires approval of an
> institutional biosafety committee and that each circumstance is unique.
> Having said that, I am wondering if any of those of you who run a confocal
> core (or use pathogens in a core), have successfully implemented a
> biosafety plan which allows a client whose pathogens has "modest" risks
> could sporadically use an instrument that is widely used by other labs for
> no-risk, fixed samples or non-hazardous live samples. Is it crazy to try to
> accommodate this type of project or is it easier than it sounds? If you
> have experience where you got biosafety committee approval to bring a live
> pathogen into a core facility for imaging, I would be interested in knowing
> the type of agent was allowed and what you had to do to clean the room and
> instrument before it could be used by other clients.  Thanks and Happy New
> Year. Tom
>
>
>
>
> Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D
> Professor of Biological Sciences
> Director, Molecular Cytology Core
> 2 Tucker Hall
> University of Missouri
> Columbia, MO 65211-7400
> 573-882-4712 (office)
> 573-882-0123 (fax)
> [hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>
>
> http://www.biology.missouri.edu/faculty/phillips.html
> http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/mcc/
>

[mcammer]

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At two institutions I've been at it has been simple to accommodate BSL2 but nothing higher.  The protocols call for containment of material and have an etoh and/or bleach clean-up procedures if the containment is broken.  This works well.  

Personally, I wouldn't want potentially more dangerous material in a standard core situation.  But there may be BSL3 and BSL4 facilities that have available microscopes (a few years ago I was invited to work on a TB project in one such facility, but declined).
________________________________________________________
Michael Cammer, Assistant Research Scientist
Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine
Lab: [phone]  Cell: [phone]


-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Phillips, Thomas E.
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2012 3:12 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: pathogens in a common use confocal core facility

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
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*****

I fully understand that use of pathogens requires approval of an institutional biosafety committee and that each circumstance is unique. Having said that, I am wondering if any of those of you who run a confocal core (or use pathogens in a core), have successfully implemented a biosafety plan which allows a client whose pathogens has "modest" risks could sporadically use an instrument that is widely used by other labs for no-risk, fixed samples or non-hazardous live samples. Is it crazy to try to accommodate this type of project or is it easier than it sounds? If you have experience where you got biosafety committee approval to bring a live pathogen into a core facility for imaging, I would be interested in knowing the type of agent was allowed and what you had to do to clean the room and instrument before it could be used by other clients.  Thanks and Happy New Year. Tom




Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D
Professor of Biological Sciences
Director, Molecular Cytology Core
2 Tucker Hall
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-7400
573-882-4712 (office)
573-882-0123 (fax)
[hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>

http://www.biology.missouri.edu/faculty/phillips.html
http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/mcc/

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

[Terri Bruce]

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That's basically our policy at Clemson. We require the group to file a copy of their containment/clean-up protocol with me for review prior to using the facility. If I have questions and concerns regarding anything, I consult our campus IBS committee. I generally accept BSL2 but nothing higher in the core.

Terri F. Bruce, Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Manager, Jordan Hall Imaging Facility
Department of Biological Sciences
Clemson University
132 Long Hall
Clemson, SC 29634
Phone: [phone], FAX: [phone]
E-mail: [hidden email]


-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Cammer, Michael
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2012 3:36 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: pathogens in a common use confocal core facility

*****
To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
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*****

At two institutions I've been at it has been simple to accommodate BSL2 but nothing higher.  The protocols call for containment of material and have an etoh and/or bleach clean-up procedures if the containment is broken.  This works well.  

Personally, I wouldn't want potentially more dangerous material in a standard core situation.  But there may be BSL3 and BSL4 facilities that have available microscopes (a few years ago I was invited to work on a TB project in one such facility, but declined).
________________________________________________________
Michael Cammer, Assistant Research Scientist
Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine
Lab: [phone]  Cell: [phone]


-----Original Message-----
From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Phillips, Thomas E.
Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2012 3:12 PM
To: [hidden email]
Subject: pathogens in a common use confocal core facility

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

I fully understand that use of pathogens requires approval of an institutional biosafety committee and that each circumstance is unique. Having said that, I am wondering if any of those of you who run a confocal core (or use pathogens in a core), have successfully implemented a biosafety plan which allows a client whose pathogens has "modest" risks could sporadically use an instrument that is widely used by other labs for no-risk, fixed samples or non-hazardous live samples. Is it crazy to try to accommodate this type of project or is it easier than it sounds? If you have experience where you got biosafety committee approval to bring a live pathogen into a core facility for imaging, I would be interested in knowing the type of agent was allowed and what you had to do to clean the room and instrument before it could be used by other clients.  Thanks and Happy New Year. Tom




Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D
Professor of Biological Sciences
Director, Molecular Cytology Core
2 Tucker Hall
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-7400
573-882-4712 (office)
573-882-0123 (fax)
[hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>

http://www.biology.missouri.edu/faculty/phillips.html
http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/mcc/

------------------------------------------------------------
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=================================

[EricMarino]

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To obtain BL2 approval from the university we had to submit a comprehensive clean-up and training protocol. We had to build a fully contained specimen stage insert that  allows the user to perfuse virus into a petri dish inside the stage insert without the risk of air-born contamination. We have to notify the other users of the core the type of pathogen that's being imaged that day.

Eric Marino
Senior Imaging Specialist
Harvard Medical School / IDI
200 Longwood Ave
WAB Room 133D
Boston, MA 02115
[hidden email]. edu

On Jan 4, 2012, at 3:59 PM, Terri Bruce wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> That's basically our policy at Clemson. We require the group to file a copy of their containment/clean-up protocol with me for review prior to using the facility. If I have questions and concerns regarding anything, I consult our campus IBS committee. I generally accept BSL2 but nothing higher in the core.
>
> Terri F. Bruce, Ph.D.
> Research Assistant Professor
> Manager, Jordan Hall Imaging Facility
> Department of Biological Sciences
> Clemson University
> 132 Long Hall
> Clemson, SC 29634
> Phone: [phone], FAX: [phone]
> E-mail: [hidden email]
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Cammer, Michael
> Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2012 3:36 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: Re: pathogens in a common use confocal core facility
>
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> At two institutions I've been at it has been simple to accommodate BSL2 but nothing higher.  The protocols call for containment of material and have an etoh and/or bleach clean-up procedures if the containment is broken.  This works well.  
>
> Personally, I wouldn't want potentially more dangerous material in a standard core situation.  But there may be BSL3 and BSL4 facilities that have available microscopes (a few years ago I was invited to work on a TB project in one such facility, but declined).
> ________________________________________________________
> Michael Cammer, Assistant Research Scientist
> Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine
> Lab: [phone]  Cell: [phone]
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Phillips, Thomas E.
> Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2012 3:12 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: pathogens in a common use confocal core facility
>
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> I fully understand that use of pathogens requires approval of an institutional biosafety committee and that each circumstance is unique. Having said that, I am wondering if any of those of you who run a confocal core (or use pathogens in a core), have successfully implemented a biosafety plan which allows a client whose pathogens has "modest" risks could sporadically use an instrument that is widely used by other labs for no-risk, fixed samples or non-hazardous live samples. Is it crazy to try to accommodate this type of project or is it easier than it sounds? If you have experience where you got biosafety committee approval to bring a live pathogen into a core facility for imaging, I would be interested in knowing the type of agent was allowed and what you had to do to clean the room and instrument before it could be used by other clients.  Thanks and Happy New Year. Tom
>
>
>
>
> Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D
> Professor of Biological Sciences
> Director, Molecular Cytology Core
> 2 Tucker Hall
> University of Missouri
> Columbia, MO 65211-7400
> 573-882-4712 (office)
> 573-882-0123 (fax)
> [hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>
>
> http://www.biology.missouri.edu/faculty/phillips.html
> http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/mcc/
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain information that is proprietary, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender by return email and delete the original message. Please note, the recipient should check this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The organization accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email.
> =================================
>

[Craig Brideau]

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*****

This is what I meant when I said the regulations differ: for us, we just
need to have a sealed carrying container when we transfer our
virus-infected samples from the incubator room to our imaging room, and a
cleanup protocol.  We didn't need to have a sealed stage insert like Eric's
group.  Of course I'm not sure that Canada's L2 is treated the same as L2
in the US.

Craig


On Wed, Jan 4, 2012 at 3:07 PM, Eric Marino <[hidden email]> wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> To obtain BL2 approval from the university we had to submit a
> comprehensive clean-up and training protocol. We had to build a fully
> contained specimen stage insert that  allows the user to perfuse virus into
> a petri dish inside the stage insert without the risk of air-born
> contamination. We have to notify the other users of the core the type of
> pathogen that's being imaged that day.
>
> Eric Marino
> Senior Imaging Specialist
> Harvard Medical School / IDI
> 200 Longwood Ave
> WAB Room 133D
> Boston, MA 02115
> [hidden email]. edu
>
> On Jan 4, 2012, at 3:59 PM, Terri Bruce wrote:
>
> > *****
> > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> > *****
> >
> > That's basically our policy at Clemson. We require the group to file a
> copy of their containment/clean-up protocol with me for review prior to
> using the facility. If I have questions and concerns regarding anything, I
> consult our campus IBS committee. I generally accept BSL2 but nothing
> higher in the core.
> >
> > Terri F. Bruce, Ph.D.
> > Research Assistant Professor
> > Manager, Jordan Hall Imaging Facility
> > Department of Biological Sciences
> > Clemson University
> > 132 Long Hall
> > Clemson, SC 29634
> > Phone: [phone], FAX: [phone]
> > E-mail: [hidden email]
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]]
> On Behalf Of Cammer, Michael
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2012 3:36 PM
> > To: [hidden email]
> > Subject: Re: pathogens in a common use confocal core facility
> >
> > *****
> > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> > *****
> >
> > At two institutions I've been at it has been simple to accommodate BSL2
> but nothing higher.  The protocols call for containment of material and
> have an etoh and/or bleach clean-up procedures if the containment is
> broken.  This works well.
> >
> > Personally, I wouldn't want potentially more dangerous material in a
> standard core situation.  But there may be BSL3 and BSL4 facilities that
> have available microscopes (a few years ago I was invited to work on a TB
> project in one such facility, but declined).
> > ________________________________________________________
> > Michael Cammer, Assistant Research Scientist
> > Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine
> > Lab: [phone]  Cell: [phone]
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[hidden email]]
> On Behalf Of Phillips, Thomas E.
> > Sent: Wednesday, January 04, 2012 3:12 PM
> > To: [hidden email]
> > Subject: pathogens in a common use confocal core facility
> >
> > *****
> > To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> > http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> > *****
> >
> > I fully understand that use of pathogens requires approval of an
> institutional biosafety committee and that each circumstance is unique.
> Having said that, I am wondering if any of those of you who run a confocal
> core (or use pathogens in a core), have successfully implemented a
> biosafety plan which allows a client whose pathogens has "modest" risks
> could sporadically use an instrument that is widely used by other labs for
> no-risk, fixed samples or non-hazardous live samples. Is it crazy to try to
> accommodate this type of project or is it easier than it sounds? If you
> have experience where you got biosafety committee approval to bring a live
> pathogen into a core facility for imaging, I would be interested in knowing
> the type of agent was allowed and what you had to do to clean the room and
> instrument before it could be used by other clients.  Thanks and Happy New
> Year. Tom
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D
> > Professor of Biological Sciences
> > Director, Molecular Cytology Core
> > 2 Tucker Hall
> > University of Missouri
> > Columbia, MO 65211-7400
> > 573-882-4712 (office)
> > 573-882-0123 (fax)
> > [hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>
> >
> > http://www.biology.missouri.edu/faculty/phillips.html
> > http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/mcc/
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------
> > This email message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of
> the intended recipient(s) and may contain information that is proprietary,
> confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. Any
> unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you
> have received this email in error please notify the sender by return email
> and delete the original message. Please note, the recipient should check
> this email and any attachments for the presence of viruses. The
> organization accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus
> transmitted by this email.
> > =================================
> >
>

[George McNamara]

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Hi Tom and listserv,

There is no reason to think that our users and faculty are any more
competent at pathogen or any other lab safety than the 5th year graduate
student and their PI whose lab bench is featured on page 1 of this report:

http://www.csb.gov/assets/document/CSB_Study_TTU_FINAL.pdf
(3.3 Mb file)

My thanks to Science magazine (whose Dec 2 issue on Data R&R had an
entry about this) and this web page for linking to the Texas Tech report

http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/career_magazine/previous_issues/articles/2011_12_02/caredit.a1100134


My image core's policy for pathogens: fixed specimens only.

George

On 1/4/2012 3:11 PM, Phillips, Thomas E. wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> I fully understand that use of pathogens requires approval of an institutional biosafety committee and that each circumstance is unique. Having said that, I am wondering if any of those of you who run a confocal core (or use pathogens in a core), have successfully implemented a biosafety plan which allows a client whose pathogens has "modest" risks could sporadically use an instrument that is widely used by other labs for no-risk, fixed samples or non-hazardous live samples. Is it crazy to try to accommodate this type of project or is it easier than it sounds? If you have experience where you got biosafety committee approval to bring a live pathogen into a core facility for imaging, I would be interested in knowing the type of agent was allowed and what you had to do to clean the room and instrument before it could be used by other clients.  Thanks and Happy New Year. Tom
>
>
>
>
> Thomas E. Phillips, Ph.D
> Professor of Biological Sciences
> Director, Molecular Cytology Core
> 2 Tucker Hall
> University of Missouri
> Columbia, MO 65211-7400
> 573-882-4712 (office)
> 573-882-0123 (fax)
> [hidden email]<mailto:[hidden email]>
>
> http://www.biology.missouri.edu/faculty/phillips.html
> http://www.biotech.missouri.edu/mcc/
>
>    

--


George McNamara, PhD
Analytical Imaging Core Facility
University of Miami