Modified Operations

COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Modified Operations

The Flow Cytometry Shared Resource operating under modified operations level 2 include significant changes to facility operation. The changes reflect a focus on enhanced biosafety, while maintaining a highly functional resource for our many users. 

Hours of operation:  The resource will be open 24 hours/day, 7 days each week.

Staff Support:  Resource staff will be available to support investigators from 9AM to 5PM, Monday thru Friday. To ensure support during that time, pre-scheduling of operator support is required.  Support from 5PM to 9PM may be available for work with irreplaceable specimens (please inquire).

Changes to Operations:

For operation during modified operations level 2, a number of changes to our standard work practice will be required. Those changes include: 1) new PPE requirements; 2) maintenance of physical distancing; 3) required cleaning of instrumentation and work areas by all users, and 4) a modification to the manner in which instruments are scheduled.

PPE Requirements:

Many investigators using the shared resource are studying human cells and/or lentivirally transduced cells. As such, the laboratory is considered a BSL2 laboratory (with some sorts considered BSL2 with added precautions/procedures; or BSL2+); requiring PPE to keep staff and users safe from potentially infectious agents within specimens. PPE requirements for the shared resource follow:

  • Masks, gloves, laboratory coats, and eye protection (glasses, goggles, or face shields) are required at all times within the laboratory.
  • Gloves will be provided by the laboratory; additional PPE are the responsibility of user laboratories.
  • The following glove practice must be followed: Upon entering laboratory, gloves should be put on; prior to exiting laboratory, gloves should be removed and hands washed.

Please bring your samples capped and transported within a secondary container.

Physical Distancing Requirements:

Modified operations level 2 requires strict physical distancing to reduce the risk of COVID 19 transmission. To that end:

  • Only one person will be allowed at an instrument at any given time.
  • Only one instrument on each side of the main laboratory will be available for use at any given time.
  • Only one person will be allowed in small laboratory rooms with cell sorters.
  • Instrument scheduling will be managed by resource staff to ensure that room occupancy limits are not exceeded.
  • For operator-assisted applications, specimens (with appropriate documentation/paperwork) will be dropped off by investigators. Operators will communicate with investigator by phone and/or computer to review experimental design, instrument set-up, data, and/or data analyses.
  • Cells sorted by operators will be available, post-sort, for pick-up.
  • Consultations will be conducted remotely, by phone and/or computer.

 

Work Area and Instrument Cleaning:
Modified operations level 2 requires that work areas/surfaces as well as instruments be cleaned/ maintained by resource staff as well as users.  Resource staff will clean at the start of the work day, users will clean both before and after they use the instrumentation.  Please allow for an extra 10 minutes to your appointment for cleaning.  Methods and materials will be provided at each workstation.

Instrument Scheduling:

The process of scheduling time for use of instruments will be modified to enable resource staff to manage instrument use in a manner that ensures physical distancing.  For example, if two instruments are located in close proximity to each other, when one instrument is booked, resource staff will block-off the schedule of the second instrument. In practice, the process will be changed such that resource staff will be directly involved in instrument sign-up. Further, all use of instruments must be scheduled in iLabs.  To inquire about scheduling please email us by clicking on this link: Schedule a cytometer

 

The following activities are modified:

  • Instrument and workspace cleaning requirements. Described above.
  • Instrument scheduling. Described above.
  • Analytical instrument usage:

Requires PPE, one person per instrument, distancing between instruments, and conduct of workspace and instrument cleaning.

Operator Assisted Cell Sorts:

Users will drop-off specimens, documentation, and gating strategy and results will be discussed remotely.

Self-use of Cell sorters:

Minor additional training required for added biosafety practices.  If you are a self-user, please inquire with Flow Core Staff before scheduling your sort. Changes relate to requirements based on the type of specimen to be sorted, and include:  Use of BSC and aerosol management system, PPE requirements, and workspace and instrument cleaning.

  • Resource staff support: Requires advanced scheduling.
  • Consulting: Performed remotely.
  • Letters of support and grant proposal input: Performed remotely.
  • General Questions/Instrument Concerns or Issues: Communicated remotely.
  • Training: Postponed until the shared resource develops remote training capabilities and/or face-to-face training capabilities where practices reduce risk of SARS-CoV-2

 

The following activities are not being modified:

  • Daily instrument QA/QC: This will be conducted by resource operators.
  • Daily cleaning and sanitization of laboratory work areas: Work areas, including: benches; instruments; and keyboards will be cleaned and sanitized daily. This activity will be conducted by resource operators and by users.

Contact Information

Please contact a flow core operator if you have any questions.