From: Eric Martz (emartz@microbio.umass.edu)
Date: Thu Sep 09 1993 - 18:24:39 EST
In message Wed, 08 Sep 1993 10:48:08 -0400 (EDT), Neal Benson <neal@cell.path.med.ufl.edu> writes: > 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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