What is this equipment used for?

• There are general Faculty autoclaves that are available for sterilising laboratory media or other associated laboratory materials.
• The general facility autoclaves in the Smith building are not to be used for decontamination of biological waste. All this waste should be processed through the decontamination/media prep room (B3063.)

What equipment do we have?

• Boxer 400/300L Autoclave C.1212

Where do I find this equipment?

• C.1212 Smith Building
• The autoclave in C.1212 is associated with the microbiology group, check with Marie Goldrick for availability. Also all users must be registered so ask for a registration form from Marie Goldrick. It is a Faculty shared facility but it is used mainly by the microbiology group.

Who is responsible for looking after this facility?

• Stephen Whittaker 

How do I arrange training to use this equipment?

• Contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes 

How do I book/reserve time on this equipment?

• Since all users must be registered ask Marie Goldrick for a registration form to fill in for the Autoclav in C.1212. There are booking sheets by the side of the machines; book time as required. 

What do I do if the equipment is broken or left in a poor state?

• In the first instance contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes or report to any TRM. 

What consumables do I need to supply to use this equipment/facility?

• You should provide thermal gloves for removing hot materials from the body of the autoclave. 

What consumables are provided for use with this equipment/facility?

• No consumables are supplied for this autoclave. Do not use Polyethylene containers which melt and stick to the inside of the autoclave and will be very difficult to remove. Stephen Whittaker will advise if you are unsure.
• Melted plastic or spills of agar inside an autoclave can also cause drain blockage. This may be cleared by undertaking a clean empty run, but time and money is lost if the blockage has entered the main drain and estates are required.

What are the consequences of improper use?

• You are unlikely to damage the facility. However, a handle on the side of the autoclave needed replacing in February 2010.
• Incorrect use will result in the machines automatically failing to run their full cycle and consequently your materials will not necessarily be sterile. Service costs can occur if blockages are trapped in the autoclave internal pipe work.

Health and Safety/PPE/Risk Assessments?

• All users of the equipment and subsequent handling of materials in the autoclave are at risk of burns.
• Materials being removed from the autoclave are potentially very hot. Use thermal gloves. Do not tighten caps on Duran or similar glass bottles. There is a risk of bottles imploding and bottle contents spillage.
• Depending on the nature of the materials to be autoclaved there may be risks from chemical contamination, corrosion, autoclave blocking or burns from hot liquids. Treat the autoclave rooms as part of our standard laboratory facilities; wear lab coats at all times.
• Users should have COSHH assessments for their own materials.

What is this equipment used for?

• To evaporate water or solvent from a sample under vacuum and a Relative Centrifugal Field with heating or not in order to concentrate the sample.
• The acceptable solvents are listed in the User Manual kept with the MiVac Modular Concentrator.

What equipment do we have?

The Genevac MiVac Modular Concentrator System consisting of:

• A Centrifugal Concentrator or Speedvac with either a rotor for eppendorfs or a swingout rotor for microtitre plates. The contents can be heated at the temperature selected and preheated.
• This is connected to a Freezer called a Speedtrap (condenser) which operates at a lowest temperature of -50 0C which condenses vapour to a liquid.
• This is connected to a pressure controller which can automatically sense the control pressure for any acceptable solvent you can use with this system, or can provide ramping to reduce the risk of bumping.
• This is connected to a vacuum pump which operates to an ultimate vacuum of 2mbar.
• The vacuum pump must be vented to a fume cupboard.
• This Modular Concentrator system is housed on a movable trolley. 

Where do I find this equipment?

• D1518 Smith Building, or with the person who used it last.
• Contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes before using the Modular Concentrator. 

Who is responsible for looking after this facility?

• Stephen Whittaker 

How do I arrange training to use this equipment?

• Contact either Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes 

How do I book/reserve time on this equipment?

• In the first instance you will need to register with either Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes.
• Part of the registration will include training. 

What do I do if the equipment is broken or left in a poor state?

• In the first instance contact either Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes or report to any TRM. 

What consumables do I need to supply to use this equipment/facility?

• No consumables required to operate the Modular Concentrator except the open tube or microtitre plate your sample is in. 

What consumables are provided for use with this equipment/facility?

• No consumables are provided. 

What are the consequences of improper use?

• You are unlikely to damage the Modular Concentrator system, unless you use an unacceptable solvent.
• Acceptable solvents include Ethanol, Methanol, Isopropanol, and Chloroform. Consult the User manual for acceptable solvents. If in doubt ask either Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes

Health and Safety/PPE/Risk Assessments?

• All users of the equipment need to consider this as part of the Faculty laboratory facilities.
• Good lab practice must be adhered to at all times. Lab coats and gloves to be worn when equipment is in use.

Please visit the online booking system

What is this equipment used for? 

• Long term storage of biological samples (5years) stored from:-
• High temperature alarm point -120 to -196 degrees centigrade.
• Contained in the C2231 and C234 are facilities for the dispensing and collection of small quantities of liquid nitrogen for use in the general multi-user laboratories. No charges levied for use of this facility. 

What equipment do we have? 

• 4 x Thermo Cryoplus II Liquid Nitrogen Vapour Storage units 1-4. Room A2055
• 2 x Statebourne BM24 Liquid Nitrogen Vapour Storage units 5 and 7. Room A2055
• 1 x Cryo 200 Liquid Nitrogen Vapour Storage unit 6. Room A2055
• 1 x 240 Litre pressurised dispensing vessel for use by Media Preparation staff only for filling mobile storage vessels, Room A2055.
• Either 1 x 90L Litre pressurized vessel or 1 x 120L pressurized vessel, either room C2231 or room C4234.
• A 180 Litre pressurised vessel at the rear of A.V. Hill building in a cage for dispensing Liquid Nitrogen. The key to the padlock on the cage is kept at A.V.Hill building reception. 

Where do I find this equipment? 

• A.2055 Smith Building and the rear of A.V.Hill building. You will need to have your ID card activated in order to gain access to A2055 by Stephen Fawkes or Stephen Whittaker.You will need to attend a Liquid Nitrogen Health and Safety Course run by Stephen Fawkes. You can sign out the liquid nitrogen keys to access the rear of A.V.Hill at A.V.Hill reception.
• There is over spill storage in rooms C.4234, C.3235 and C.2231 (Smith) for non pressurized storage Dewars. 

Who is responsible for looking after this facility?

• Stephen Whittaker and Stephen Fawkes 

How do I arrange training to use this equipment?

• Please go to the following link to book a place on the liquid nitrogen facility safety induction: Biomed Corridor Liquid Nitrogen Facility Safety Induction

How do I book/reserve time on this equipment? 

• For Cryostorage contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes
• Space in the storage cryotanks is available on request 

What do I do if the equipment is broken or left in a poor state?

• In the first instance, contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes or report to any TRM. (Technical Resource Manager)

What consumables do I need to supply to use this equipment/facility?

• For storage in the Vapour stage storage tanks all vials can be stored in Nalgene 10x10 100 sample polycarbonate boxes (133mm x 133mm x52mm) obtainable from Stephen Fawkes or Stephen Whittaker.
• For new storage in any of the Liquid Nitrogen Dewars only 133mm x 133mm x 52mm polycarbonate boxes in new 12 slot racks are acceptable because they last a lot longer.
• All other materials provided. 

What consumables are provided for use with this equipment/facility?

• New Polycarbonate cryoboxes and racks can be provided by Stephen Fawkes or Stephen Whittaker for use in any of the Liquid Nitrogen Vapour storage units.
• Otherwise individuals can buy their own. No new cardboard boxes are allowed in any unit.
• Polycarbonate boxes in new Racks are necessary.
• The current old racks/inventories do not allow the storage of polycarbonate boxes in the slots/apertures due to the locating rod that normally inserts through the corners of cardboard boxes. A new rack/inventory can be provided to store polycarbonate boxes where the locating rod inserts at the front of the boxes. These new inventories can replace the old inventories in the Cryoplus II units with polycarbonate boxes in their apertures. Stores do not stock Polycarbonate boxes. Stephen Fawkes or Stephen Whittaker can advise. 

What are the consequences of improper use?

• You are unlikely to damage the facility storage tanks.
• However, this is a shared facility and there is potential to cause damage to other researchers' materials due to inconsiderate use. The position of the racks, most labelled with a capital letter, must remain the same. There should be a map of where the position of the racks should be on the top of each Dewar.

Health and Safety Information

• Cryogenic Liquid and vapour is at very low temperature >196oC, the hazards of improper use include severe burns, damage to lung tissues, asphyxiation and death
• In order to use this facility safely you must have training from Stephen Fawkes or Stephen Whittaker
• Follow the local rules, emergency procedure and evacuation notices that are posted within the room and on the door of the room
• In your lab safety files you must have a copy of the Liquid Nitrogen Procedures and Methods document

You must also have risk assessment that details your handling, storage, transport and use of Liquid Nitrogen that has been validated by the safety and risk team. You can download and modify this example risk assessment - don't forget to include the technique you are using it for!

Personal Protective Equipment – in the Facility this is provided. In the labs you must have your own.

NOTE: It is a disciplinary offence to dispense liquid nitrogen if both user and buddy are not wearing full cryogenic PPE as described here:

Personal protective equipment

Hands

• Insulated gloves conforming to BS EN 511 (protective glove against cold) - gloves must be under the lab coat cuff and no skin should show. Gauntlets must be over the lab coat and be properly fastened so no Liq N2 can be trapped

Eyes and Face Protection

• The visors must be clearly labelled as “suitable for use with cryogenic gases” and have a chin gaurd. Safety spectacles do not give adequate protection against splashes and are NOT suitable
• Goggles protect only the eyes. A visor protects the eyes and the face. However it is still possible for liquid to splash up underneath the visor; the use of a visor with a chin guard should be considered if this is likely.

Body

• Non-absorbent, waterproof, insulated apron which goes below knees
• Fully buttoned Howie neck lab coat
• Trousers (not short or skirts!!)

Feet

• Suitable non- slip, non-absorbent shoes of the type that completely encloses the foot should be worn in such a way that there is no risk of spilled material getting inside the boot (i.e. they must be tucked under trouser legs)
• Note: Jewellery – remove bracelets and watches!! Contact with metal will cause burns

What is this equipment used for?

• There are general dark rooms across the biomedical corridor that can be used by anyone who may require access to undertake scientific tasks in total darkness.
• Two of the dark rooms house the faculty core X-ray or Scientific Imaging film processors. Any one wanting to develop these films are welcome to use the service provided.

What equipment do we have?

• A JP 33 Film Processor in B4069 Smith Building
• A Mini-Med Film Processor in B2069 Smith Building 

Where do I find this equipment?

• Smith Building: B.2069, B.4069 

Who is responsible for looking after this facility?

• Stephen Whittaker 

How do I arrange training to use this equipment?

• Contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes or Adam Stephenson

How do I book/reserve time on this equipment?

• No booking required - the machines are operational all the time 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Turn up with your cassettes of exposed film. Occasionally there may be a small queue; either wait your turn or use one of the other processors.
• NOTE during holiday periods (Christmas closure), we often close down all but one of the processors to save resource. Notification will be given via announcements and posted in the dark rooms. 

What do I do if the equipment is broken or left in a poor state?

• In the first instance, contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes or report to any TRM.

What consumables do I need to supply to use this equipment/facility?

• The only consumable you require is the X-ray or Scientific Imaging film and the film cassette. Film is a stock item in Stopford stores.
• If you are using traditional film and want to load these into developing canisters, it is assumed you will provide these.

What consumables are provided for use with this equipment/facility?

• The dark rooms are simply dark rooms for general use. All chemical consumables for the X-ray film processors are provided. If you require specialist developing chemicals for other types of film you will need to provide these.
• Please store away all trays, film cassettes and bottles of chemicals so that other users do not accidentally spill these in the darkened room. 

What are the consequences of improper use?

• This is a free service provided by the Faculty. There is no charge for any breakages or servicing of the processors. However, the processors are designed to take X-ray or Scientific Imaging film only.
• In the past both paper and cardboard have been put through the rollers. This can cause blockages, floods and most importantly results in mixing of the developer and fixer chemicals which need to be kept in separate tanks. Once these chemicals mix they become inactive. All subsequent film processed will be spoilt.
• Users often run a test strip just before they process their experimental film to be assured there are no issues with the processor. The chemicals are changed on a regular basis.
• Infrastructure Support Staff undertake weekly spot checks / maintenance (cleaning of processors and replenishment of fix and developer fluids) to ensure we have fully operational units.
• Note: each unit costs £4K to replace. 

Health & Safety/PPE/Risk Assessments

• All users should treat the darkroom as part of the Faculty standard laboratory facilities.
• Good lab practice should be adhered to at all times:
  • Wear your lab coat
  • Wear disposable gloves at all times. The processors contain corrosive chemicals. In normal operation you should not come into contact with these
  • Report immediately anything out of the ordinary

What is this equipment used for?

• The Faculty maintains a storage of dry ice (solid CO2 - cardice) for research staff to use in experimentation or available for anyone dispatching biological samples that need to be kept frozen during transit.

What equipment do we have?

• There are two insulated storage boxes which have safety storage catches. These require you to slide your thumb forward as you lift the hasp to free the lid. 

Where do I find this equipment?

• There is one box in the corridor outside B.4064 (Cat 3 lab), near the Hill-Smith bridge link in the Smith Building, and one in the Goods In area of the Stopford Building.

Who is responsible for looking after this facility?

• Media prep room (B3064-1). Ann Moran, John Moran and Stephen Whittaker.

How do I arrange training to use this equipment?

• Contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes 

How do I book/reserve time on this equipment?

• This is a free service on a 'help yourself' basis.
• Dry ice stocks are replenished twice a week on a Monday (130kg) and Wednesday (130kg), usually around or shortly after 12pm. This amount is split between the Michael Smith and Stopford Goods In containers. On bank holiday Mondays the delivery is delayed to a Tuesday.
• If you have an occasional high demand requirement, please provide Paul Curran with 2 working days advance warning so that extra bags can be added to the Monday or Wednesday delivery. This is available at a very affordable price: £3.90/bag of 10kg (price correct November 2016). 

What do I do if the equipment is broken or left in a poor state?

• First instance contact Stephen Whittaker or report to any TOM. 

What consumables do I need to supply to use this equipment/facility?

• You will need to bring a suitable i.e. insulated container to take away the dry ice, as well as cold-proof gloves and a plastic scoop. Polystyrene boxes are plentiful in the faculty and can usually be retrieved from one of the nearby grey skips on the lab corridor, while gloves and scoops should be available in your lab area (each lab's water-ice machine should have a scoop in it, and there should be cold-proof gloves in your -80 room). 

What consumables are provided for use with this equipment/facility?

• No consumables needed other than a box to carry away the dry ice. 

What are the consequences of improper use?

• You are unlikely to damage the facility. If you have difficulty reaching into the container you should get assistance, rather than leaning head-first into it.
• Please ensure you close the lid of the dry ice storage container properly to minimise sublimation. 

Health and Safety/PPE/Risk Assessments

• All users of the facility and subsequent handling of the dry ice are at risk of frost burns. You should have your own risk assessments for handling dry ice and understand associated risks.
• The Smith box is located on a lab corridor. You should treat this facility as though it were in a lab; wear a lab coat and thermal gloves when removing the dry ice. You will have to provide a scoop to remove the dry ice. Although Stopford Goods In is not a lab space, please observe the same precautions.

What is this equipment used for?

• To Freeze dry samples for storage.

What equipment do we have?

• Scanvac CoolSafe Pro55 Freeze Drier (with multiwell plate drying accessory) with Vacuubrand Vacuum pump
• Scanvac CoolSafe Pro55 Freeze Drier with Vacuubrand Vacuum pump
• Scanvac Coolsafe Pro55 (8 flask capacity) with Vacuubrand Vacuum pump

Where do I find this equipment?

• C.3231 Smith Building.

Who is responsible for looking after this facility?

• Stephen Whittaker

How do I arrange training to use this equipment?

• Contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes

How do I book/reserve time on this equipment?

• In the first instance you will need to register with Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes. Part of the registration will include training.

What do I do if the equipment is broken or left in a poor state?

• In the first instance contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes or report to any TRM.

What consumables do I need to supply to use this equipment/facility?

• No consumables required to operate the driers. However you will need to have your samples in suitable containers. Your samples must be frozen (preferably at -80). Please bring your samples on dry ice.

What consumables are provided for use with this equipment/facility?

• The only consumable required is vacuum pump oil. This is provided and technical support is provided when the oil needs changing (see Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes)

What are the consequences of improper use?

You are unlikely to damage the freeze driers.

However you will waste a lot of time if the pumps are not operating efficiently. The pump oil can get contaminated with solvents and water. This needs changing on a regular basis.

The driers are not to be used to evacuate acid samples as this does causes serious damage to the pumps and internal drier components. Clear guidance notices are posted in the room.

All the vessels for vacuum provision are made of polycarbonate. We don’t normally allow the use of glass evacuation vessels. (Safeguards not available.) Please contact either Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes before using any glass vessels or containers on the freeze driers

Health and Safety/PPE/Risk Assessments

• All users of the equipment need to consider this as part of the Faculty laboratory facilities.
• Good lab practice must be adhered to at all times. Lab coats, gloves and eye protection to be worn when equipment is in use.
• Please go to following link for the current Freeze Dryer Facility Users Risk Assessment: Risk Assessment

What is this equipment used for?

• This is an Infrared imaging system for detecting and quantifying signals on western blots without using film. It can image two separate antibodies on the same blot.
• It can also image anything that is flat and blue eg coomassie stained gels.
• For more information, see the Li-Cor Odyssey pages. 

What equipment do we have?

• Li-Cor Odyssey infrared Imager. 

Where do I find this equipment?

• D.1520-2 Smith Building. 

Who is responsible for looking after this facility?

• Stephen Whittaker 

How do I arrange training to use this equipment?

• Contact Stephen Whittaker 

How do I book/reserve time on this equipment?

• Paper booking system with the machine. 

What do I do if the equipment is broken or left in a poor state?

• Report to Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes. 

What consumables do I need to supply to use this equipment/facility?

• You cannot use standard chemiluminescent detection and require specific secondary antibodies available from Li-Cor. You also need tissues and a wash bottle with methanol to wipe clean the glass scanner before and after use. This removes any residues that could ruin your data. 

What consumables are provided for use with this equipment/facility?

• No consumables will be provided. You will need an antibody with an infra red tag at 700,800nm. 

What are the consequences of improper use?

• This imager would cost £20K to replace. It is unlikely you could damage the instrument.
• Training will be required if you are to obtain meaningful results. 

Health and Safety/PPE/Risk Assessments

• The instrument is situated in one of our shared equipment laboratories. Good lab practice is required, and standard PPE is to be worn at all times.
• The instrument is designed so that scanning is only activated once the lid is in place, ensuring protection from any lasers.

What is this equipment used for?

• The FastPrep-24™ 5G instrument is a high-speed benchtop reciprocating homogeniser offering the ultimate in speed and performance for the optimal lysis of biological samples.

What equipment do we have?

• Fast Prep-245G, Ver-6005. 

Where do I find this equipment?

• AV Hill Building 3.019a. 

Who is responsible for looking after this facility?

• Stephen Whittaker and Stephen Fawkes 

How do I arrange training to use this equipment?

• If you are unfamiliar with this equipment please contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes for training. 

How do I book/reserve time on this equipment?

• There are paper booking sheets next to the homogeniser. 

What do I do if the equipment is broken or left in a poor state?

• In the first instance contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes or report to any TRM.
• It is the user’s responsibility to leave the equipment in a clean and decontaminated safe condition. 

What consumables do I need to supply to use this equipment/facility?

• Users will need to supply all consumables. 

What consumables are provided for use with this equipment/facility?

• The facility will provide tip bins. 

Health and Safety/PPE/Risk Assessments

• PPE required – Labcoat, gloves (nitrile / latex), safety glasses.

What is this equipment used for?

• These phosphorimagers are available for digitising/visualising fluorescent images.

What equipment do we have? 

• Fuji FLA 3000, D.1520-2 Smith Building
• Typhoon FLA 7000IP, B4094 Smith Building
• Fuji BAS 1800, B.4094 Smith Building
• Biorad Chemidoc MP Imager D.1518 Smith Building
• Biorad Chemidoc MP Imager, D.1520-2 Smith Building 

Where do I find this equipment?

• B4094 and D1520-2 Smith Building.

Who is responsible for looking after this facility?

• Stephen Whittaker

How do I arrange training to use this equipment?

• Contact Stephen Whittaker

How do I book/reserve time on this equipment?

• There is a diary by the side of the machine: book time as required.

What do I do if the equipment is broken or left in a poor state?

• In the first instance contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes or report to any TRM.

What consumables do I need to supply to use this equipment/facility?

• There are no consumables required with these instruments. However, you will need to provide your own plate holders.

What consumables are provided for use with this equipment/facility?

• No consumables required for this equipment.

What are the consequences of improper use?

• You are unlikely to damage the facility. However incorrect use will result in the spoiling of your data.

Health and Safety/PPE/Risk Assessments

• Consider the facility as part of the general laboratory suite. Good laboratory practice required at all times. Wear a lab coat.
• You may have materials exposed to low level radiation. You must have your particular procedure fully risk assessed.

What is this equipment used for?

• The equipment is used for counting low levels of beta and gamma emissions. 

What equipment do we have?

• Packard TR2100 (Scintillation Counter) - Smith
• 5002 Cobra (Gamma Counter) - Smith
• Packard TR1900 (Scintillation Counter) - CTF

Where do I find this equipment?

• D.1520-2 and D.1518, Smith Building
• G.014, AV Hill Building
• 3.38, CTF Building
• 3.703, Stopford Building

Who is responsible for looking after this facility?

• Stephen Whittaker

How do I arrange training to use this equipment?

• Contact Stephen Whittaker 

How do I book/reserve time on this equipment?

• Against each instrument there is a booking log. Please complete. 

What do I do if the equipment is broken or left in a poor state?

• In the first instance, contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes or report to any TRM. 

What consumables do I need to supply to use this equipment/facility?

• All racks and trays for holding sample vials are provided with each instrument. Users are expected to provide their own disposable vials. All vials must be removed and safely disposed of by individual user. 

What consumables are provided for use with this equipment/facility?

• No consumables are provided. Users are required to provide their own vials. These are a standard Stopford Stores stock item. 

What are the consequences of improper use?

• If you have received instruction and follow all recommendations you are unlikely to cause damage to the instrumentation.
• However, from time to time, vials break or get jammed in the instrument. Report this to Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes so that we can rectify the problem as soon as possible and prevent further damage. 

Health & Safety/PPE/Risk Assessments

• All users of the equipment and subsequent handling of materials should in the first instance be aware of the hazards associated with their own individual samples. Any hazards due to ionising materials must have been identified and form part of the risk assessment and COSHH associated with the individual protocols. Advice can be obtained from Linda Green, Faculty H&S Officer
• Users of the facilities should note that no special PPE is required but the facility should be considered as part of our laboratory infrastructure. Good laboratory practice required at all times.

What is this equipment used for?

• Microvolume spectrophotometers are used for measuring absorbance values of protein, DNA and RNA samples using a maximum volume of 2μl without the need for a cuvette.

What equipment do we have?

• Thermo Scientific Nanodrop ND2000 s/n Q372
• Implens Nanophotometer N60 Touch s/n T60701

Where do I find this equipment?

• D.1520 Smith Building 

Who is responsible for looking after this facility?

• Stephen Whittaker and Stephen Fawkes 

How do I arrange training to use this equipment?

• If you unfamiliar with this equipment please contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes for training. 

How do I book/reserve time on this equipment?

• There are paper booking sheets next to each microvolume spectrophotometers. 

What do I do if the equipment is broken or left in a poor state?

• In the first instance contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes or report to any TRM.
• It is the user’s responsibility to leave the equipment in a clean and decontaminated safe condition. 

What consumables do I need to supply to use this equipment/facility?

• Users will need to supply pipettes and pipette tips. 

What consumables are provided for use with this equipment/facility?

• The facility will provide tip bins, specialist lens cleaning tissues to clean the optical lenses of these specs and gloves (nitrile). 

What are the consequences of improper use?

• None 

Health and Safety/PPE/Risk Assessments

• All users of the equipment need to consider this as part of the Faculty laboratory facilities.
• PPE required – Labcoat, gloves (nitrile / latex), safety specs

What is this equipment used for?

These are general sonication facilities for the disruption of biological materials. There are two different probes associated with the sonicator:

• A Tapered Microtip Probe for sonicating 5 to 25ml batch volumes using a maximum amplitude setting of 4
• A Stepped Microtip Probe for sonicating 200 microlitres to 25ml batch volumes using a maximum amplitude setting of 4 

What equipment do we have?

A High Intensity Ultrasonic processor which connects to one of two sonicator probe options.

This model needs to be tuned to a sonicator probe each time the processor is switched on and each time a probe is changed for a different one. Amplitude setting must not be greater than 4 for the microtip probes ( Tapered and stepped microtip ). 

Where do I find this equipment?

• B.2068 Smith Building. 

Who is responsible for looking after this facility?

• Steve Whittaker is responsible for general service and maintenance. 

How do I arrange training to use this equipment?

• Contact Steve Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes.
• Please ensure you have sufficient training and knowledge to use the equipment as incorrect use causes accelerated wear or breakages. This adds to unnecessary additional costs. It is to your advantage to read the manual provided. 

How do I book/reserve time on this equipment?

• Booking is now required to use the sonicator when trained. Fill in the BOOKING SHEET before usage.
• If you have not booked to use the sonicator and it is available you can stll use it but you must fill in the booking sheet for usage monitoring purposes. 

What do I do if the equipment is broken or left in a poor state?

• In the first instance, contact Steve Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes, or report to any TRM. 

What consumables do I need to supply to use this equipment/facility?

• You will need to have your sample in a suitable container for use with a probe. 

What consumables are provided for use with this equipment/facility?

• Paper towels, gloves, ear defenders are provided for use with the sonicator. RO Water (wash bottle) and Trigene (spray dispensor) are provided for decontaminating the probes. Hot and cold mains water and Building RO water are on tap. 

What are the consequences of improper use?

• It is possible to fracture a microtip if you use it at an Amplitude setting greater than 4. However from time to time we need to replace a probe if it becomes too pitted or fractured due to normal use. These are resourced from the Faculty budget.
• If you find the performance of a probe poor please advise Steve Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes. We may need to buy a replacement. 

Health and Safety/PPE/Risk Assessments

• Please treat the equipment and room as part of any standard laboratory. Good lab practice should be adhered to at all times. Depending on the type of materials being disrupted, ensure you have risk assessments for covering your materials especially GM work.
• Ensure you decontaminate the probes after use with the 2% Trigene that is provided.
• You may want to decontaminate it before use.
• Do not get water on to the converter or power supply.
• The solicitor emits a high pitched whine when in use, ear muffs are provided to protect your hearing.
• Depending on the materials or as a precaution wear disposable gloves.
• In the event of accidental spillage decontaminate the area with 2% Trigene provided and report the incident.
• A Standard Operating Procedure is posted above the equipment.

What is this equipment used for?

• The equipment used for visualising Ethidium Bromide stained gels. 

What equipment do we have?

• UVP Transilluminator. 

Where do I find this equipment?

• Although most labs across the biomedical corridor have dedicated gel doc systems and dedicated rooms there is one core Transilluminator available for communal use in B.4094 Smith Building. 

Who is responsible for looking after this facility?

• Steven Marsden (will advise on potential safety issues when the UV source is in use), Stephen Whittaker and Stephen Fawkes. 

How do I arrange training to use this equipment?

• Contact Stephen Whittaker 

How do I book/reserve time on this equipment?

• No booking required - turn up and use. Please print and sign your name when you have used the equipment on the sheets provided. 

What do I do if the equipment is broken or left in a poor state?

• In the first instance contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes or report to any TRM. 

What consumables do I need to supply to use this equipment/facility?

• The consumables required when using this equipment are paper towels, 70% Ethanol (for decontaminating the equipment and surrounding area after use) and disposable gloves. You will be transporting (in suitable containers) your gels.
• You should be aware of the potential risk if you are using Ethidium bromide (in your COSHH and risk assessments); protect hands by wearing disposable gloves. 

What consumables are provided for use with this equipment/facility?

• Paper towels for cleaning are provided
• Protective face visor (BS EN 170) for use with non ionising radiation (UV). This visor is labelled as suitable for use with UV
• Sharps bin for disposing of blades

What are the consequences of improper use?

• You are unlikely to damage the transilluminator. No charges are imposed for general wear and tear.
• However, the protective visor is vulnerable to scratches. It MUST not be placed face down on the bench and please return it to the hooks provided for hanging up after use.
• If you see that a visor is damaged in any way report this to Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes so that the visor can be replaced. 

Health and Safety/PPE/Risk Assessments

All users of this equipment should in the first instance be aware of the hazards associated with the use of Ethidium Bromide, the usage of sharps and must also be aware of the hazards of UV light. These must have been identified and form part of the risk assessments and COSHH associated with this procedure.

Users must adhere to good laboratory practice; they MUST wear the protective face visor provided as well as gloves, and ensure all skin is covered e.g. wrist areas between gloves and laboratory coat, when using the transilluminator. Even short UV exposure can cause damage to sensitive skin and eyes.

After usage, users must clean the transilluminator with a 70% ethanol solution and swab down any areas potentially contaminated with Ethidium.

What is this equipment used for?

• Synergy™ H1 is a flexible monochromator-based multi-mode microplate reader 

What equipment do we have?

• BioTek Synergy H1 Multi-Mode Reader. 

Where do I find this equipment?

• Smith Building C.4223. 

Who is responsible for looking after this facility?

• Stephen Whittaker and Stephen Fawkes 

How do I arrange training to use this equipment?

• If you are unfamiliar with this equipment please contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes for training. 

How do I book/reserve time on this equipment?

• There are paper booking sheets next to the plate reader. 

What do I do if the equipment is broken or left in a poor state?

• In the first instance contact Stephen Whittaker or Stephen Fawkes or report to any TRM.
• It is the user’s responsibility to leave the equipment in a clean and decontaminated safe condition. 

What consumables do I need to supply to use this equipment/facility?

• Users will need to supply pipettes and multiwell plates. 

What consumables are provided for use with this equipment/facility?

• The facility will provide tip bins. 

Health & Safety/PPE/Risk Assessments?

• PPE required – Labcoat, gloves (nitrile / latex), safety glasses.