INCUBATOR n.2 - Binder

1. GENERAL

• Upon completion of the training (mandatory), you will be added to a mailing list for urgent notifications.
• The access to the room is allowed upon reservation only (see “Booking procedures” section above)
• In the room, the use of lab coats and gloves is mandatory. Please tie long hair.
• Eating, drinking and storing food is forbidden inside the room.
• All equipment has to be kept clean and switched off after use.
• In case of problems/instrumentation malfunction, please contact the staff immediately.

2. SPACES AND EQUIPMENTS

1. SPACES
   For the allocation of space (workbenches, fridge/freezer, shelves in the store room), please contact the staff. Assigned space allocation must be respected. Stored materials should be marked with the name of the owner laboratory. DO NOT leave anything in the hood and on the common shelves/working benches at the end of your session, all materials must be returned to their assigned spaces.
   The facility consists also of a small store room where each lab can keep in use consumables/pipettes/pipettors inside a box with the name of the PI, that during your session can be moved on the cart available next to each hood.
2. HOODS
   Hoods are shared, and must be left completely empty at the end of each working session. Pipettes, pipettors and consumables are provided by the users. During your turn, keep minimal equipment under the hood, to avoid laminar airflow block. If leakage occurs, the staff must be informed and the hood work surface MUST BE CLEAN immediately. If the leakage spreads under the inner steel surface of the hood, it must be removed and the surface below cleaned.
   At the end of the working session, each user MUST CLEAN the work surface and glass shield with 70% alcohol, and switch hood UV lamp on for 20 min. Please remember to also consider this final hood UV sterilization time when you book your slot.
3. WATER BATH
   The water bath available in the room is filled with distilled water. Before using it, please CHECK the water level. Remember to SWITCH IT OFF AFTER USE.
4. VACUUM PUMP
   Prior to starting aspiration, each user should attach a sterile pipette tip or pasteur pipette to the end of the aspiration hose. At the end of the work, all users are required to sanitize the aspiration junction by aspirating bleach, followed by H2O and switch off the pump; moreover, the waste collection tank has to be emptied at the end of each turn.
5. INCUBATORS
   The facility is equipped with:
   1. two Department incubators, available for shared use upon booking through the Department website
      • Incubator 1: Binder, DSB 698
      • Incubator 2: Binder, DSB 697
      
      Flasks/plates in these incubators have to be marked with the name of the user and the lab.
   2. private laboratory incubators (up to 2 positions available), accessible upon request

   In both cases, cleaning, management of the incubator and gas tank replacement are charged to the user. Current user contacts (name and phone number) have to be specified on the incubator door.

   If not used, incubators should be turned off and cleaned; a sterilization cycle has to be done once restarted, prior to use (for the first sterilization cycle, please ask to the staff)

6. MICROSCOPE
   At the end of your session, TURN OFF the lamp and leave the microscope objective and plate CLEAN.
7. MYCOPLASMA CONTAMINATION
   Mycoplasma negative cultures only are admitted to the room; a declaration of mycoplasma free status will be required for each cell line used in the facility. Each user is responsible for the cultured cell lines status and possible contamination that could result from their incorrect use.

Inspections of spaces and equipment are regularly carried out by the Facility and the Department Staff or by qualified personnel, but ORDINARY MAINTENANCE MUST BE CARRIED OUT BY ALL USERS.

3. WASTES
Each user is in charge of waste management. During the period of use, one solid biological bin (black; with a lid on it) and one tank for liquid biological wastes per lab can be kept in the room. Both containers must be labelled with the name of the owner laboratory. Once full, or in the event of an extended period of inactivity in the room, containers must be sealed and handed over by the user to the Safety service for proper disposal.

4. IN CASE OF BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATIONS IN THE ROOM
In case of fungal or bacterial contaminations, it is necessary to strictly follow the protocol below:

1. inform the staff immediately
2. decontaminate contaminated plates, flasks, shelves and equipment used. Specifically, add hypochlorite to the plates and flasks, agitate, incubate approximately 10 minutes, then pour the solution into the liquid waste tank.
3. preferentially dispose of, or carefully inspect, all materials used (culture media, trypsin, PBS, plastics, etc.)
4. thoroughly clean the incubator. If the contamination regards several flasks/plates, consult with the staff to initiate a sterilization cycle
5. deeply clean the biosafety hood used, including sterilization for at least 30 minutes.