Standard Operating Procedures  for Biotechnology Labs

The Behvioural Neuroscience Research facilities in the Biotechnology Building consist of a mixture of assigned laboratories and shared space.  This document applies principally to the shared space.  Investigators may have their own rules which apply to their assigned space. The rules concerning WHMIS and First Aid apply everywhere.

General Safety

If you are going to be doing any work with chemicals or are working in an area where chemicals are being used, you must complete appropriate Safety training. Students must register and complete the Safety 1000/Science 1807 course on Memorials's self-serve.  Staff must complete a Lab Safety awareness course &  a WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) training course. This training can be arranged through the Environmental Health & Safety. It is only necessary to complete the training once, so if you have completed the training as a requirement for a lab course, you need not take the training again.   Further training may be necessary if you will be working with  radiation, compressed gases,  bio-hazards, or if you require a respirator.

First Aid training can also be arranged through Environmental Health and Safety.   Whenever you are performing a procedure where there is an elevated risk of accident or injury, there should be someone in the lab who is trained in First Aid.  If you are working alone, during the evening or on weekends, this person will probably have to be you.

It is also good practice when working alone in the evenings or on weekends to have someone check up on you.  Check in regularly with a friend or co-worker by telephone or arrange to have Campus Enforcement and Patrol call or drop by when they patrol.

Reporting of Injuries

All lab accidents requiring first aid or other medical attention must be reported.  Enter appropriate information in the log book located in the First Aid Kit and see that the appropriate form (Accident/Incident Report form   available from Safety and Environmental Services ext 4393) is filled out.  The form is available in PDF format at the following url:  Accident report form link.

Chemistry Lab BT2012

SDS (Safety Data Sheets) are on file in the filing cabinet across from room BT2008. A PDF version should be available on this web site (click on the MSDS view & download link). If you are not completely familiar with the chemical that you are using, you should consult the appropriate MSDS.  If there is not an MSDS on file, which happens when people introduce new chemicals into the lab without the appropriate documentation, the MSDS can usually be obtained on-line. The Sigma-Aldrich  link is:

When you order a chemical, it will  come with MSDS.  Please give the MSDS to Steve Milway.  If a MSDS is missing, inform Steve Milway.

There is no one hired to clean up after you. It is your responsibility to clean up after yourself.  Glassware is shared. Clean up as quickly as possible.

Do not leave bottles or beakers of unlabelled chemicals or solutions around the lab. Clearly label the container with appropriate safety cautions, even if it is just water. If it is a buffer, specify the pH.

Clean the analytical balance and vicinity. There should be no evidence of mystery powders on the balance, counter or anywhere else.  Similarly, wipe up spills immediately.

All counters and materials involved in staining with DAB (diaminobenzidine) must be cleaned with bleach.

Wear the appropriate clothing when dealing with chemicals. You should wear proper footwear (no sandals) and a labcoat.  With some chemicals you may need gloves, masks, or eye/face protection (consult Material Safety Data Sheets).

No one is doing a regular inventory, it is everyone’s responsibility to see that we don’t run out of essential chemicals. When you see that something is getting low bring it to the attention of your supervisor or Steve Milway.  

Some supplies are obtained on campus ( Science Stores C1016). Distilled water is obtained from the Biochemistry Dept.     The responsibility of replenishing stock is shared.  Many chemicals and supplies must be ordered.  Delivery times vary.  It is best to reorder weeks rather than days before we run out.

The water room is located in room SN3014 of the Science Building.  The Biochemistry Dept has graciously allowed us access to the distilled water facility. Do not abuse the privilege. Limit the amount of water that you take at one time and clean up after yourself. The key to the water facility resides with Steve Milway.

Ethanol Use

All ethanol use must be recorded.  There is a record book kept in the cupboard in BT-1024.  Whenever you use alcohol, record the type (Absolute or 95%), the volume used, and the purpose.  Sign your name.   Record actual usage only.   If you use 95% alcohol to prepare a stock solution of 40% alcohol, record the use of the 95%, but not the 40%.

Fume Hood

All staining involving acetone and/or xylenes is done in the fume hood.  For any chemistry requiring a fume hood, the fume hood is located downstairs in room BT1024.  This room has an electronic lock requiring an access card. Card access can be arranged through the Administrative Assistant, Scott Young. Use a cart to carry things downstairs.  Animal Care is very fussy about cleanliness. Be sure to clean up after yourself.  If you are unsure of how to operate a fume hood get help (in addition to turning the hood on, the vents at the back of the hood should be adjusted to match the volatility of the vapours).  There is a container for organic waste located next to the fume hood.  Do not overfill it.  If it is near full, report it to Steve Milway.

Cryostat-Microtome

This is an expensive piece of equipment.  You are not to use it until you have been properly instructed. This instruction does not qualify you to instruct others.

This is the busiest of the shared equipment in the lab. There is a sign-up sheet posted near the machine.  If you have signed up to section and are unable to make your scheduled time, you should cancel with as much notice as possible so that the time is available to someone else.  Please clean up after yourself.  Wipe off the Knife and anti-roll plate.  Brush out the brain slices that have fallen to the bottom of the cryostat.  If you are the last person of the day to be sectioning, bring the knife to room temperature, oil it and store it properly in its box.

Sections will dry on slides in a couple of hours. You can leave them on slide trays for a day or so, but get them out of the way as quickly as possible.  There have been times when every conceivable surface has been cluttered with slides.  Store them in slide boxes or temporarily on one of the trays in the wooden box located on the shelf above the cryostat.  Make sure that your slides are well labeled (in pencil).

Microscopes & Cameras 

There are a number of different cameras and microscopes located in BT2012 and in the  Image Analysis Lab  located in Room SN3097 of the Science Building.  For the more complicated devices, seek out instruction rather than risk damaging equipment.  Try to keep cameras and microscopes covered when they are not being used. A good image depends on clean lenses. Coverslips are affixed to microscope slides using resin.  Please allow this resin to dry completely before putting the slide on the microscope stage.  Microscope controls should move easily.  If they do not, don’t force them. This rule can be applied to most equipment.  The more expensive the equipment, the more stringently the rule should be applied.

Computer Use

Don’t do anything illegal or offensive.

Don’t install software without approval.

Play is fine, but work has priority.

Shared tools, equipment, carts

There are a number of items that are shared. There are hand tools like hammers and screw drivers, surgical tools, small equipment like pH meters, hot plates, multi-tester and wave form generators and carts which we share. Usually they can be used in or near the location they are kept.  It may sometimes be necessary to move them to another location (especially the carts).  Please return them when you are through.  If you need an item for a prolonged period, leave a note indicating where the item is.

 Food & Drink

There should be no eating or drinking in the labs.  Food must not not be stored in any refrigerator other than the small one in BT2008. This refrigerator is for food only.   The refrigerator is used to store food temporarily.  Please do not abandon food here.

Rats & Mice

Many people (>50%) are allergic to rats and/or mice.  In some cases, the allergies are severe. It may be convenient to bring up a rack of rats and leave it in the hall while you are running an experiment, but you will be making life miserable for others.  It is probably not good for the experiment either. The rats are likely to be exposed to more stress in the hallways than in the animal rooms.

All shaving of rats should be done in room BT2007.  Clean up the loose hair from the counters and clippers immediately. Don’t leave dirty cages lying around.  Return them to animal care

Rats bite.  There are many gloves around the lab for rat handling.  Rats which are handled frequently are much friendlier than rats that are not handled.  Similarly, rats housed in twos or threes are usually gentler. If your experiment permits, house them in small groups and handle them regularly.  Even a couple of minutes two or three times a week will make a big difference.  Also as you gain confidence handling rats, you are less likely to startle them.

Some experiments involve stereotaxic surgery. In some of these experiments, the procedure can take several hours. Even though the rat is under anaesthesia, don’t leave the rat alone for more than a few minutes.   If you need a longer break, make sure that there is someone will monitor the rat while you are away.

Needles and Syringes

Many experiments require that rats be injected.  Do not leave used needles and syringes lying around.  There are several sharps containers around for needle disposal.  It is not necessary to recap syringes before relegating them to the sharps container.  Do not attempt to retrieve items from the sharps container.  If you will be reusing a syringe put it somewhere safe and label it. It is costly to dispose of sharps, so don’t fill the containers with trash.