Re: Microfuge contamination

[Ron_Dobey_at_MU-EHS-PO1@ext.missouri.edu]

        Here in the Great State of Missouri, we allow fairly liberal amounts of 
contamination inside the centrifuges (<20,000 dpm/wipe) provided however that 
the contamination stays confined to the centrifuge and that the user labels the 
centrifuge as having potential or actual internal contamination.  We also try to
remind the users of the possibility of cross contamination of samples if they 
allow the contamination to become to high and also that they increase the 
likelihood of spreading it the higher the level gets.  You could have them clean
the units each time it gets contaminated, however this can be time consuming and
the centrifuges may not be the source of the contamination.  Generally, if the 
users lab stays relatively clean, they're doing a good job of contamination 
control and visa versa.   Hope this helps.

Ron Dobey, CHP
University of Missouri-Columbia
EHSRON@MUCCMAIL.MISSOURI.EDU

Standard disclaimers...yak, yak, yak!      

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Microfuge contamination
Author:  radsafe@romulus.ehs.uiuc.edu at internet-ext
Date:    11/22/96 3:06 PM


Hello,
     
I have a question for you academic/univesity/medical type radsafe 
people about microfuge contamination.  The question is this......
     
Labs that spin eppendorf tubes in a microfuge containing P-32 and/or 
S-35 seem to get contaminate frequently.  (approximately 1000 - 
3000 dpm).  It's low level contamination but still contamination.  
Has any one had any experience with this and were you able to make 
some modification to eliminate this contamination?  Or, how much 
contamination will you allow in microfuges that continually get 
contaminated?
     
Thanks for any help.
     
Tom
     
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Thomas L. Kellogg                   Phone :  (802) 656-2570 
Radiation Safety Office               FAX :  (802) 656-8876 
University of Vermont              E-mail :  tkellogg@cosmos.uvm.edu
     
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