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> I am attempting to establish a biosafety policy in my flow cytometry
> lab, which includes a FACSTAR Plus cell sorter.
I was hoping that you'd get more of a response to this question. Since you
haven't, I'll throw in my 2-cents worth. At least it may stimulate some
more authoritative responses. A few years ago, we contemplated
sorting some viable human blood cells, so I did a little asking around. We
never did do it, so I have no experience. However, I got the impression
that NOBODY sorts viable patient blood cells in an aerosolizing sorter
unless the donor has been tested (the same day on the same blood
sample) for HIV and hepatitis, and that even then they do it reluctantly,
wear masks and gowns, etc.
For a "normal", local volunteer donor, we decided that we would insist that
the volunteer be tested for HIV but with the results being confidential.
Then we would depend on the judgement of the prospective volunteer as to
whether to donate blood, having informed them that we don't want blood if
there is any doubt about any infectious agent. The volunteer would be
informed that they could decline to donate on any day without prior notice
and with no reason being given. Even with all that, our sorting technician
refused to sort any blood but her own, which makes sense to me.
I'd be interested in policies which are in use elsewhere.
/*- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Eric Martz emartz@microbio.umass.edu
Professor of Immunology Voice: 413-545-2325 FAX: 413-545-1578
Morrill IVN 203, Box 35720, Univ Massachusetts, Amherst MA 01003-5720
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