Posted by
Anne Vaahtokari on
URL: http://confocal-microscopy-list.275.s1.nabble.com/COVID19-Instrument-cleaning-protocols-tp7590586p7590625.html
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Regarding the eyepieces, I am instructing our users to cover them with Saran wrap which is transparent and does not affect viewing. One user complained that the wrap tickles her eye lashes and makes her want to rub her eyes. If that is an issue, then it is better to wrap each eyepiece individually and use your (clean!) thumb to press the wrap deeper inside the eye caps. After use, the wrap should be immediately discarded, without touching the side that was against the eyepieces.
Anne
From: Dave Johnston<mailto:
[hidden email]>
Sent: 16 March 2020 04:44
To:
[hidden email]<mailto:
[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: COVID19: Instrument cleaning protocols
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I'm with Andreas on this, there may be asymptomatic carriers out there (including unit staff), we just don't know, so have to assume the potential that any part of the scopes that get any human contact could be contaminated, and we consider the scopes and most other ancillary instruments to effectively be impossible to decontaminate without risk of damage, hence fresh gloves on entering the unit, that can be sprayed with 70% ethanol on regular basis, prevents you contaminating or being contaminated. We have confocals, TEMs, SEMs, slide scanners and analysis PCs to name a few and are based in a large teaching hospital site, so are also thinking about trying to encourage remote access to analysis PCs to minimise footfall and movement around the unit and wider site. That being said, have yet to convince the boss to adopt those policies.
On the plus side, given reported viability on surfaces, a first thing in the morning clean and last thing at night clean may be unnecessary as if any virus at end of day lock up, will be inactive by morning? Between user cleaning may be best but we can have several dozen users in at any one time moving between instruments and don't want to give them access to spray bottles!!!!!
Dave Johnston, Biomedical Imaging, Southampton.