Wash-Up Facility Services and Procedures

Wash-Up Facility Services and Procedures

Services of the wash-up facility are available to support MCB research programs in the SSC. However, the following rules and limitations apply:

The following departmental policies apply to the wash-up area:

Autoclaving Sharps Containers

Sharps containers may be dropped off in wash-up before noon to be autoclaved prior to disposal. Containers must be clearly labeled with lab name and phone number.

IMPORTANT: A COMPLETED "EHS SHARPS DISPOSAL REQUEST" FORM AND A YELLOW EHS HAZARD TAG MUST ACCOMPANY EVERY CONTAINER.

Departmental Glassware 

Glassware Pick Up 

A limited amount of departmental glassware is available for use by the research labs. The available items are:

• 13 x 100 mm test tubes
• 16 x 150 mm test tubes
• 16 x 100 mm screw cap test tubes
• 16 x 125 mm screw cap test tubes
• 2 oz bottles (approx. 60 mL)
• 6 oz bottles (approx. 180 mL)
• bijou bottles (approx. 5 mL)
• caps/lids for the above items

A number of items belonging to the teaching labs are stored in wash-up and are clearly marked as "teaching only". Please do not remove these items from wash-up.  

Glassware Drop Off 

Borrowed glassware must be decontaminated, emptied, and well rinsed before being returned to wash-up. All labels, parafilm, tape, and caps must be removed. Glassware may be returned to the designated area in wash up anytime during normal working hours.

Research Glassware Cleaning

If you have items that you would like to have washed in MCB dishwashers, please speak to the wash-up technician to make specific arrangements
(x 53365). The turnaround time for this service is 1-2 workdays.

Solid Biohazard Waste Disposal

Properly-labelled biohazard waste can be delivered to 4104B during scheduled drop off times.

Prior to dropping off your orange biohazard bags containing solid waste (ex. Petri plates, ELISA plates, API strips, disposable tissue culture flasks, pipettes and centrifuge tubes, etc.), you must sign up on autoclave schedule to receive your designated run time. A schedule is located in the wash-up room on the metal shelves. Drop off waste in wash-up 5-10 minutes before the two scheduled autoclave run times.

Bags must be labeled with lab name and room number, sealed with autoclave tape and placed in the appropriate container in wash-up. (We keep a number of Nalgene bins for this purpose. Please do not remove these from wash-up). Due to increased user volume, only two bags per lab will be accepted daily.

Please note: MCB department safety procedures dictate that contaminated materials must be sealed and transported to wash-up in durable, leak-proof containers and wiped on the outside with disinfectant before leaving the lab. (Refer to "Transporting Biohazards" and "Biosafety" in the MCB Health and Safety Manual.)  

Wash-Up Autoclaves

If you need to sterilize larger items (ex. carboys, fermenters, 4L flasks), one of our larger autoclaves may be booked. Contact the wash-up technician at least 2 days in advance to make arrangements (x53365).   Users must be trained on the wash-up autoclaves prior to the booking.

Failure to follow the standard operating and safety procedures while using our autoclaves may result in loss of autoclave privileges for your lab.