1. 2012 Annual Biosafety & Chemical Safety Training

2. Topics Emergency Response in Laboratories Chemical /General Lab Safety
Biosafety and Bloodborne Pathogens
Working with the IBC

3. Emergency Response in Laboratories
Regardless of the workplace, emergencies will occur. Laboratories, even well controlled, are not immune to accidents and emergencies.

4. Lab Accidents Happen Chemical splash to eyes Chemical burns to skin
Thermal burns
Infectious exposures
Needle punctures
Lacerations
Trip/slips/falls
Whether by carelessness or naivety, or by way of “unforeseen circumstances” such as a loss of electrical power, it is a good bet that every researcher will eventually experience an emergency sometime during his or her career. Whatever the reason is, we have to understand that working in a laboratory comes with some inherent risks and that safety to personnel should be our number one concern. The severity of the outcome depends on what’s involved and how effective we are at responding to it.

5. Chemical Splash to Eyes
Immediately flush with water for at least 15 minutes (remove contacts)
Report to the Emergency Room or call 3333
Keep all eye wash stations free of obstructions
Depending on the chemical and degree of exposure, the potential for injury due to chemical splash to the eyes ranges from temporary redness and irritation to blindness. So what should you do if there is a chemical splash to the eyes?

6. Chemical Exposure to Skin
Immediately drench with water for at least 15 minutes
Remove affected clothing
Report to Emergency Room or call 3333
Always keep shower stations free of obstructions
Skin exposure to chemicals in the workplace is a significant problem in the US.  Most chemicals are readily absorbed through the skin and can cause mild to serious health effects. Absorption of chemicals through the skin can occur without being noticed by the worker. So what should if there is a chemical exposure to the skin?

7. General Chemical Spill Procedure
Remember…..
S. P. I . L . L
S top & evaluate size & severity of spill
P rotect any coworkers at risk
I solate the spill by closing doors
L aunch response action (call x4220)
L ocate MSDS

8. General Chemical Spill Procedure
CALL x4220
Large Spills (greater than 1 liter)
Any spilled quantity of
Highly Hazardous Materials
Acutely Toxic Materials
Any spill you cannot clean up yourself
Report all incidents to:
PI/Lab Supervisor
AO/R&D; R&D Safety Officer
Employee Health/ER if injured

9. Natural Gas Leak Emergencies
If you smell or suspect it…
If minor, try to shut off valve(s).
If strong or cannot shut off valve(s), cease all operations immediately and DO NOT operate electrical devices (DO NOT unplug/ plug or turn on/ off anything)
Evacuate the area (DO NOT use elevators)
From a safe location, contact Police Service at (305)
Natural gas in the laboratory is used mainly with Bunsen burner to produce a single open gas flame which is used often for heating and sterilization. A gas leak refers to the seeping of natural gas, frequently through a pipe, which can endanger the lives of those in the area. While the fumes may cause health problems, the larger problem is the potential for an explosion because natural gas is highly flammable. 

10. Chemical /General Lab Safety
By the very nature of laboratory work , it can be a place of danger if proper common-sense precautions aren’t taken. Knowing the types of chemicals that you will be working with, what general safety guidelines to follow and what safety precautions to take will ensure a safe laboratory environment for both yourself and the people you may be working near.

11. OSHA’s Lab Standard Chemical Hygiene Plan:
Provides policies and procedures for working safely in labs
Outlines the proper use of engineering controls (e.g. fume hoods) and personal protective equipment
Lab-specific SOPs to minimize chemical exposures
The Chemical Hygiene Plan is in each laboratory
The Miami VAHS Chemical Hygiene Officer is the R&D Safety Officer.

12. Material Safety Data Sheets
Allow employees to better understand how to safely work with hazardous chemicals.
Contains key information for a specific chemical, including health hazard information and control measures such as proper personal protective equipment, physical hazards and properties, handling and storage requirements, and emergency procedures.
All lab personnel should know how to read a MSDS and should review the MSDS’s for chemicals used or stored in their work area. This will help prevent accidents and increase safety awareness.
1st: Material Safety Data Sheet or MSDS.
2nd: MSDS are intended to give end users a general understanding on how to safely use the material.
3rd:Each MSDS contains health hazards, physical properties, fire fighting, and PPE recommendations.
4th: All lab personnel are required to have a general understanding of what recommendations are included in the MSDS for each hazardous material he/she uses in the lab. Doing so will help prevent accidents and increase safety awareness.

13. Material Safety Data Sheets
Information includes:
Chemical Name/ Synonym
Manufacturer/Distributor
Ingredients
Chemical Characteristics
Flammability/Reactivity
Exposure Limit /Controls
Health Hazard Info
Signs & Symptoms of Exposure
Disposal Guidelines
1st: MSDSs include:
Chemical name, manufacturer, ingredients, chemical characteristics, flammability/reactivity, exposure limits/controls, health hazard info, signs & symptoms of exposure, disposal guidelines.

14. Material Safety Data Sheets
Each lab must maintain its own chemical inventory, and MSDSs (paper). You can access electronically via manufacturer’s website or via
1st: Each lab must maintain hard copies of each MSDS. MSDS is obtain at time of delivery or you can access the manufacturer’s website or via the following site:

15. Chemical Inventory Per VA’s regulation, must be updated twice a year.
All acronyms must be defined
Health; Flammable; Reactive;
Contact; Radioactive; None

16. Basic Chemical Hazard Classes
flammable
oxidizer
gas
corrosive
poison
There are many types of chemical hazards. In this training, we will cover five basic chemical hazard classes, which are Flammable, Oxidizer, gas, corrosive, and poison (toxic).

17. Oxidizer - Hydrogen peroxide (concentrated)
Agents that react with reducible material to initiate or promote combustion
Must not be stored with flammable solvents or other organic chemicals
Common oxidizers:
- Hydrogen peroxide (concentrated)
- Many nitrates and nitrites
- Sulfuric, nitric, and chromic acids
1st: The first class we are to review is Oxidizers
2nd: Oxidizers are materials that Supply oxygen to fuel a fire
3rd: The primary concern is that oxidizers must not be stored with flammable solvents or other organic chemicals.

18. Corrosives Acids & Bases Tissue damage
React violently with water and each other
Do not store acids & bases together
Separate oxidizing acids (nitric, sulfuric) from organic acids (acetic acid, phenol)
1st: A corrosive substance is one that will destroy or damage another substance with which it comes in contact.
The main hazards to people include damage to eyes, skin and tissue under the skin, but inhalation or ingestion of a corrosive substance can damage the respiratory tracts. Exposure results in chemical burn.

19. Flammable Liquids Liquid with a Flashpoint < 100oF
Volatile, evaporate quickly, may lead to explosive concentration in air
Always store large quantities in rated flammable storage cabinets
Only keep small amounts out on benchtops and shelves
Do not store in refrigerators or freezers not specifically designed for flammable chemical storage
1st: Generally, a flammable liquid means a liquid which may easily catch fire (flash point of less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit). The flash point of a liquid is the lowest temperature at where the liquid will ignite.

20. Gas Flammable gas (CO, H2)
Flashpoint < 140oF
Ignites easily, burns rapidly
Non-flammable gas (including compressed gas) (N2, CO2)
Purified gas in pressurized tank
Tank rupture, toxic atmosphere, oxygen displacement
Store upright, secure with a double chain to prevent falling

21. Explosive/Shock Sensitive
Thermodynamically unstable material
Explosion caused by shock or chemical reaction
Picric acid, 2,4-dinitro-phenol, organic azides
Store minimum quantities; discard before expiration date

22. Toxics/Poisons/Carcinogens
Harmful or fatal if inhaled, ingested, absorbed (Nicotine, Pesticides, Osmium Tetroxide)
Carcinogen refers to any substance
that is an agent directly involved in the promotion of cancer or in the increase of its propagation. (Dimethyl sulfate, Chloroform, Formaldehyde/ Formalin/Paraformaldehyde)
1st: In the context of biology, toxic/poison substances are substances that can cause disturbances to organism and can be harmful or fatal if inhaled, ingested or absorbed.

23. Chemical Exposure Pathways
Inhalation – Chemical vapors or dust
Ingestion – Hand hygiene is important!
Injection – Needlesticks or broken glass
Absorption – Direct skin contact due to not wearing gloves, or wearing inappropriate gloves
1st: Chemical exposure pathways include inhalation, ingestion, injection, and absorption.
2nd: The most common routes of exposures are inhalation and absorption, which is why proper skin protection by using appropriate gloves and using toxic chemicals inside of your chemical fume hood.
Inhalation and absorption are most common

24. Chemical Fume Hoods Primary control for inhalation protection
Must limit storage & clutter for proper functioning
Keep sash at or below recommended level
Perform all work 6” inside the hood
Keep lab doors closed to ensure negative room pressure to the corridor and proper air flow into the hood.
1st: Chemical fume hoods are the primary control for inhalation protection and designated area for chemical use.

25. Chemical Resistant Gloves
Glove selection is important:
Variety of glove materials are available
No universal glove that is appropriate for all chemicals
All chemicals eventually penetrate all common glove materials
Gloves may appear to be intact even when they are not
Since you may have potential direct skin contact with several hazardous materials, wearing skin protection is mandatory when using any hazardous material.
Remember that:
1- no one glove protects against all chemicals.
2- chemicals will eventually penetrate all common gloves

26. Chemical Resistant Gloves
Latex Gloves are strongly discouraged
Poor protection against many non-aqueous hazardous chemicals
Many people have allergies to latex
Latex is a sensitizer, meaning that repeated contact may cause you to develop an allergy
Latex powder can trigger allergic reactions in your fellow employees
Later gloves provide poor to no protection against many non-aqueous hazardous chemicals, the powder in latex gloves can cause allergic reaction. Therefore, latex gloves are strongly discouraged. It is recommended that lab personnel should use nitrile rubber gloves.

27. Chemical Resistant Gloves
Nitrile gloves most commonly used in research labs
Pros:
Low cost, good dexterity, resistance to
wide range of chemicals (acids, bases,
aliphatic solvents), resistant to abrasion
and puncture
Cons:
Poor protection against acetone,
acetonitrile, tetrahydrofuran, halogens,
phenol (seek alternative gloves, such as butyl rubber)

28. ONE GLOVE REMINDER If transporting any hazardous
materials outside the lab:
HazMat = Glove
Common Surfaces = No Glove
Gloves should never touch door knobs, elevator buttons, etc.
One Glove Reminder: If you’re transporting any hazardous material outside of your lab, you should never touch door knobs, elevators buttons, or other common surface with your gloved hand.

29. Eye & Face Protection Types of protection: Safety Glasses
Safety Goggles – better protection
Face Shield – for splash hazards
Prescription glasses do not qualify!
Glass lenses, no side shields
Contact Lenses are discouraged in labs
Can react to chemical exposure and can interfere with eye washing
1st: Due to the potential splash hazard to your eyes and face, eye and face protection is required when working with any hazardous material where the process puts you or someone else at risk of a splash.
2nd: Some common types of eye and face protection are:
1-Safety glasses- which are normally used for impact hazards, such as flying objects.
2- Safety or chemical goggles- these provide better protection for chemical splash hazards to your eye, not your face!
3- Faceshields- provides protection for splash hazards to face.
3rd: Remember that prescription glasses do not qualify as safety glasses!
4th: Also, the use of contact lenses in laboratories is discourage!

30. No sandals or open-toed shoes in the laboratory

31. No food or beverages in the lab!
Imminent health hazard
OSHA regulation
COMMON SENSE!
1st: Although you may see it as a common sense, ingestion incidents from personnel eating inside of laboratory is still an issue.
2nd: OSHA’s lab standard prohibits it.
3rd: Remember to throw food and their wrappers before you enter a lab.
Throw food wrappers away before you enter the lab.

32. Chemical & Hazardous Material Storage
Keep volumes to a minimum
Avoid ordering more than a few weeks’ supply at a time
Do not store chemicals on high shelves, under sinks, or anywhere else awkward to reach
Use carts or bottle carriers to transport bottles between labs

33. Flammable & Combustible Chemicals
Never order in bulk containers
Prefer 1 gallon size limit.
Labs with 10+ gallons need flammable storage cabinet

34. Segregate Incompatibles
Separate Acids and Caustics
Separate Organic and Mineral acids
Separate Oxidizers from all Organics
Keep flammables in rated cabinets and away from any ignition sources
No combustibles (cardboard, paper) in or on your flammable storage cabinets
To prevent chemical hazard incidents, lab personnel should be vigilante on how and where the chemicals are stored. Chemicals should be stored according to their compatibility. Segregating incompatible chemicals will go a long way in providing lab personnel a safe environment to work in.

35. Peroxide-Forming Chemicals
Repeated exposure to air causes peroxide buildup
Unstable, potentially explosive
VERY dangerous, very expensive ($5-10k) to dispose
Monitor expiration dates, order in small quantities
ethyl ether
picric acid
1,4-dioxane
isopropyl ether
Certain chemicals can form peroxide either upon aging, or upon contact with air or other substances. Some of the peroxides are shock sensitive and can explode if handled less than gingerly, or upon heating. 

36. Biosafety and Bloodborne Pathogens
Biohazard Symbol:
Developed as “universal symbol” to warn of dangers from infectious or potentially infectious agents
Unique and unambiguous
Quickly recognized
Easily recalled

37. Biosafety in the Laboratory
Primary goal of biosafety is to reduce or eliminate exposures to potentially hazardous biological agents through the use of containment.
Biosafety guidelines are designed to protect both laboratory personnel and the community and environment outside of the laboratory.

38. Risk Groups
Biological agents are categorized in Risk Groups (RG) based on their relative risk
Four RGs - RG1 to RG4

39. Biosafety Level (BSL)
Prescribe procedures and levels of containments for the particular agent used
Four BSLs - BSL-1 to BSL-4 based on risk assessment

40. BSL-1 containment is typically required for lab work involving:
Biological agents that meet the definition of RG1 (i.e. not associated with disease in healthy adult humans);
Biological materials not suspected of containing RG2 or higher in a quantity or form that may cause human disease (e.g., many soils and nonprimate animal cells);
Biological agents or materials not characterized by the supplier as RG2 or higher;
Transgenic or wild-type lab animals (e.g., rodents) that can be contained and are:
Free of zoonotic disease
Not infected with, implanted with, or containing RG2 or higher agents or materials
The Biosafety level will be determined as part of the risk assessment.

41. BSL-2 containment is typically required for lab work involving:
Biological agents/materials categorized as RG2 or may contain RG2 agents;
Bloodborne pathogen materials (e.g., human blood, tissues or cells)
Nonhuman primate tissues or cells;
Lab animals (e.g., rodents) infected with, implanted with, or containing RG2 agents or materials (e.g., infected with a human pathogen or containing a xenotransplant of human cells)
Tissues or cells potentially containing an RG2 agent
For BSL2+: Adenoviral vectors, Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV), Lentiviral vectors, and Retroviral vectors

42. Three Components of Biosafety
Laboratory practices and techniques
Primary goal is to minimize exposures to biological agents from inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact
Standard microbiological techniques applied
Safety equipment
Primary barriers act as a first line of defense against exposures to hazardous agents (BSCs, PPE)
Facility design
Secondary barriers protect laboratory workers inside the laboratory and the community outside of the laboratory and varies depending on the biosafety level (limiting access, autoclaves for decontamination, handwashing facilities)

43. Biosafety Level 1 Practices
Access does not have to be restricted; however, doors cannot be propped open
Handwashing after glove removal and prior to leaving laboratory
Eating, drinking, smoking and applying cosmetics prohibited
Mouth pipetting prohibited
Sharps handled safely
Work surfaces decontaminated
Decontamination of biological waste

44. Biosafety Level 1: Safety Equipment
Laboratory coats
Gloves
Eyewear protection for splashes and spills
Closed-toe shoes
Special containment equipment or facility design is not required, but may be used as determined by a risk assessment. 

45. Biosafety Level 2 Practices (BSL-1 Practices Plus):
Personnel have specific training in handling pathogenic agents
Access to the laboratory is restricted when work is being conducted.
Biohazard signs must be posted.
Laboratory personnel must be provided with medical surveillance and offered appropriate immunization.

46. Biosafety Level 2: Safety Equipment
Biological safety cabinet (BSC) needed when aerosols and splashes will be generated
Centrifuge safety cups
Face protection worn to minimize exposures to splashes and aerosols outside BSC
Protective clothing worn only in laboratory
Gloves worn when handling infectious materials or contaminated equipment
Decontamination procedures

47. Biological Safety Cabinets
Class II Type A2 is the most common type
Optimal performance:
grills free of clutter
sash as low as possible
no open flame allowed inside BSC
Not designed to work with volatile
chemicals
Annual certification is mandatory
The primary purpose of a BSC is to serve as the primary means to protect the laboratory worker and the surrounding environment from pathogens. There are several classes of BSC, but the most common type is Class II Type A2. Class II cabinets are ventilated cabinets that use HEPA filtration, laminar air flow, and containment to protect the operator, the product, and the environment from aerosols generated from microbiological or pharmaceutical procedures performed within the lab.

48. Biological Safety Cabinets
Clean
Dirty
Equipment is laid out to not restrict airflow in the cabinet
A typical layout for working “clean to dirty” within a Class II BSC. Clean cultures (left) can be inoculated (center); contaminated pipettes can be discarded in the shallow pan and other contaminated materials can be placed in the biohazard bag (right).  48

49. Ultraviolet Lamps in BSCs
UV lamps are not required or recommended in BSCs. If operated properly, BSCs do not need UV lights.
If installed UV lamps must be:
Cleaned weekly to remove dirt and dust (they block germicidal effectiveness of UV light)
Checked periodically to ensure the appropriate intensity of UV light is being emitted
Turned off when the room is occupied to protect eyes and skin from UV exposure
**can burn the cornea and cause skin cancer

50. Ideal Vacuum Line Protection

51. Biohazardous Waste Containers
In the research lab or field environment, biohazard non-sharp waste includes any non-sharp item that is contaminated with human or animal diagnostic specimen material (i.e., body fluids, tissue debris), any microbiological culture material (including recombinant DNA).
This type of waste must be collected for final treatment and disposal in a leak-proof container lined with a bag of moderate thickness to
prevent punctures. The collection container must have a lid or other means of closure and the container must be labeled with the
biohazard symbol regardless of the lab’s operating biosafety level.

52. Sharps Precautions Never break, bend, resheath or
reuse syringes or needles
Always dispose of sharps in
approved sharps containers
Sharps are objects that can cause skin punctures or cuts (percutaneous exposures)
Examples include :
hypodermic needles and syringes
Pasteur pipettes (made of glass)
scalpel blades and razor blades
glass microscope slides
microtome knives
suture needles
broken glass

53. Bloodborne Pathogens (BBPs)
OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard (29 CFR )
Standard is designed to protect workers from health hazards associated with occupational exposures to blood and other potentially infectious material (OPIM)
HIV, HBV, HCV, and SIV
Biological agents that cause:
syphilis
malaria
viral hemorrhagic fever
Bloodborne pathogens require implementation of biosafety level 2 (BL2) practices and containment

54. Blood is a Potentially Infectious Material (PIM)
OSHA’s definition of blood includes:
Human and nonhuman primate blood
Human and nonhuman primate blood products
Human and nonhuman primate blood components such as plasma and platelets

55. Other Potentially Infectious Material (OPIM)
Human body fluids including:
semen
vaginal secretions
breast milk
cerebrospinal, pleural, synovial, pericardial, peritoneal, and amniotic fluids
any body fluid visibly contaminated with blood
Unfixed human and nonhuman primate tissues or organs
Human and nonhuman primate cells or cell lines

56. Other Potentially Infectious Material Is Not:
Tears
Sweat
Saliva
Urine
Unless visibly contaminated with blood

57. OSHA BBP Standard Written Exposure Control Plan
Identification of all job titles with potential exposures to PIM
Control of exposures to PIM
Hepatitis B vaccination offered
Communication of potential hazards to workers
Records maintained

58. Required Labeling containers of regulated waste Refrigerators/freezers
OSHA Standard requires that the biohazard symbol be affixed to any equipment that comes into contact with biohazard agents:
containers of regulated waste
Refrigerators/freezers
incubators
containers used to ship, store, or transport blood and OPIM

59. Bloodborne Pathogen Spills
Alert people in immediate area of spill and post signs to keep people out of the area to prevent spread of the contamination.
Wear the appropriate PPE to clean up spill: disposable gloves, lab coat, fluid resistant surgical mask, and safety glasses or goggles.
Pick up sharps with tongs/forceps and discard into sharps container.
Cover spill with wipes or paper towel.
Spray spill with a freshly prepared 1:10 dilution of bleach and allow it to stand for at least 20 minutes.
Wipe up the spill with paper towels, working from the edge toward the center.
Wipe the area again with fresh paper towels soaked in disinfectant.
Place towels in a double-lined biological waste box.

60. Disinfection and Decontamination Methods
Alcohols (70 % isopropyl or ethyl alcohol solution) are effective for routine disinfection of surfaces
Sodium hypochlorite (Bleach), 1:10 bleach dilution should be used for liquid biological waste decontamination
Autoclaves

61. What If A BBP Exposure Occurs?
Immediately treat the exposure site
Needlesticks and cuts should be washed with soap and water, apply direct pressure if needed
Splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin require flushing with water or saline for 3-5 minutes
Splashes to eyes: remove contact lens immediately if worn, go to eyewash station and immediately rinse eye(s) and inner surface(s) of eyelid(s) with water continuously for 15 minutes
Go to the Emergency Room
Notify your Supervisor
Notify the Research Safety Officer and Research Administration (Required by ORO)

62. Working with the IBC
NIH requires all labs working with recombinant DNA to register with their local IBC
Recombinant DNA (rDNA)
DNA constructed in vitro from separate DNA segments that can replicate and/or express a biologically active polynucleotide or polypeptide in vivo
Synthetic DNA that has the potential of generating a hazardous product in vivo
UM’s IBC policy requires that any recombinant work, exempt or non-exempt, be registered with the IBC. (
Due to ORO site visit back in January of this year, some protocols were cited as not having gone through the proper IBC approval process. Since then, we have developed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Miami to utilize their IBC. Some of you have already been contacted by Katrina or Dr. Kapsalis regarding this.
All forms required for IBC review are posted on the UM website: (

63. Working with the IBC
When filling out the IBC forms make sure you pay special attention to:
What section of the NIH Guideline applies to you
Risk Groups and Biosafety Levels
Be as specific as possible in regards to your procedures, hosts, vectors, and genes
Always include the vector maps of your viral constructs
What to include in these forms is the most common question. Since the reviewer will not have your entire protocol packet, it is important to include as much information as possible so that the reviewer knows what you proposed to do. As always, it is important to include maps of any vectors that you will be using.
Call:

64. Working with the IBC
When completing IBC forms always include the vector maps
A vector, or a specific plasmid that is used for generating recombinant DNA. IBC requires the vector maps to check to see if you are using the correct ones.
Vectors come in a variety of forms, but they must have three sequences.
1.They need an origin of replication (oriR) site, which is a sequence that signals bacteria to replicate this plasmid whenever the bacteria replicate.  
2.There must be an antibiotic resistance gene, which is important for selecting bacteria that have therecombinant plasmid. When a scientist grows the bacteria, he will add an antibiotic to kill all bacteria that do not have the plasmid. The antibiotic resistance gene will allow the bacteria that have the plasmid to stay alive. Score.  
3.A multiple cloning site (MCS) is important for facilitating insertion of the target gene into the vector. Putting the MCS into a lacZ or ccdB gene allows selection for bacteria that have the target gene inserted into the vector. This is because the target gene will disrupt the lacZ or ccdB gene, and one can easily test the activity of either of these genes by looking for colonies on a plate that lack the relevant gene activity.
Plasmid cloning vector in E. Coli
Lentiviral vector
Adeno-asssociated viral vector

65. Summary of NIH Guidelines
Section III-C: Experiments that require IBC, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approvals, and Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RAC) review before initiation.
Experiments involving the transfer of rDNA into human subjects.
Section III-D: Experiments that require IBC approval before initiation.
Experiments involving the introduction of recombinant DNA into RG2, RG3 or RG4 agents for use in animal experiments.
Using adenovirus, adenovirus-luciferase or adeno-associated virus to transfect cells
Cloning a pathogen into a lower eukaryotic or prokarytoic cell
Insertion of KSHV (Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus) or RRV (Rhesus Rhadinovirus) genes into defective lentiviral vectors
Creation of transgenic animals or knockout animals that leave genetic material in the animal as part of the silencing of gene. (purchase or transfer of previously created transgenic rodents is exempt)
The NIH Guidelines has six sections (Sections IIIA-F) that covers a myriad of rDNA experiments. Most labs at the VA will be dealing with Sections IIIC-F.

66. Summary of NIH Guidelines
Section III-E: Experiments that require IBC notice simultaneously with initiation.
Experiments in which all components are derived from non-pathogenic prokaryotes or non-pathogenic lower eukaryotes
rDNA with less than 2/3 of a eukaryotic viral genome (and no helper virus) used exclusively in tissue culture (inserting DNA sequence that encode reporters that are measured (lacZ, luciferase, eGFP, etc))
Section III-F: Experiments that are exempt from NIH Guidelines. However, registration with the UM IBC is required .
rDNA molecules not in organisms or viruses
rDNA that cannot replicate or express in vivo
rDNA molecules that consist entirely of DNA segments from a single nonchromosomal or viral DNA source
A helper virus is a virus used when producing copies of a helper dependent viral vector which does not have the ability to replicate on its own. The helper virus is used to coinfect cells alongside the viral vector and provides the necessary enzymes for replication of the genome of the viral vector.

67. More Questions... Reference materials (BMBL, NIH Guidelines)
H&S Office x4220
Research Safety Officer x4436
Research Office x3179
Lab specific information should be obtained from lab supervisor or Principal Investigator

68. Things to Note
No one should enter the lab areas without authorization. Need a VA Badge.
Visitors must be accompanied by a VA employee at all times.
Contractors must sign in with the Main Research Office prior to working.
All unknown personnel entering a research area must be challenged
Example – lost patients, visitors without escorts
Can I help you?
What are you doing here?
Can’t access this area without  authorization
 All lab door should be closed and locked at all times.
Closed for negative pressure
Locked for security – theft is a big issue/concern
Computer must be locked when you are not at them.
Remove all copies from printers immediately regardless of whether you consider it to be sensitive information
Heads up – unannounced fire and safety drills will be conducted soon.