M3500 Issue 2 - Feb 2006
Last reviewed: Oct 2010 / Next review Oct 2013
28
DECONTAMINATION PROCEDURES
Cryostats & Ultra Low Temperature Freezing Units
If decontamination is required carry out the standard procedures as practised in your
laboratory. It is the responsibility of the customer to use a decontamination procedure
appropriate to his/her work. The following decontamination method is as recommended in the
‘Code of Practise for the Prevention of Infection in Clinical Laboratories and Post-mortem
Rooms’, ISBN 0 11 320464 7.
1
Bring the cryostat to room temperature.
2
Place 50-100ml of formalin BP in a flat dish inside the chamber. Close the window.
3
Leave for at least 24 hours, preferably 48 hours.
4
Open the window and place a beaker containing 10ml of ammonia SG.880 in the chamber. Close
the window.
5
Leave for one hour. The cryostat is now decontaminated.
Microtomes
If decontamination is required carry out the standard procedures as practised in your
laboratory. It is the responsibility of the customer to use a decontamination procedure
appropriate to his/her work.
Microtome Knives
If decontamination is required carry out the standard procedures as practised in your laboratory. It is
the responsibility of the customer to use a decontamination procedure appropriate to his/her work.
For further information regarding alternative decontamination procedures please refer to ‘Safe
Working and the Prevention of Infection in Clinical Laboratories’, ISBN 0 11 885446 1.
