Our group handles white blood cells for the purpose of SERS imaging. The lab I work at is however very cramped and not at all equipped for handling cells in a sterile environment. Since the purpose of our research does not focus on cultivating the cells and their lifespan is not crucial, the sterility of the laboratory environment is not a top priority, but I personally find it highly annoying to see bacteria and dust dash about under the microscope. Dust is hard to get rid off due to many electronic devices present in the same room.
The little that is done is that the incubator is cleaned once a month with bacterial disinfectant, cells and related chemicals are always handled with gloves and a clean labcoat on, head wear, windows are never opened. Cleaners clean it once a week "normally" - swipe the floor, mop the floor with a bit of disinfectant, empty trash bins.
I attach a sketch over the laboratory. What can be done to improve the laboratory environment at least a bit? I wasn't given a permission to buy e.g. LAF-bench, so special equipement is out of question.
Hello Alexandra, One always have a lot of things to do in order to improve the cleanliness. I wish to see some pictures before tell you anything in particular.
One important thing you could do is stablish some maintenance protocols, a cleaning schedule and define how you do order the stuff. I mean improve the organization in the lab. For example, is it addecuate to store bottles in the fumehood?
This leads to the second strategy: Safety and health improvements
I am not familiar with SERS imaging. Do your cells need to be alive when stained? Otherwise you could consider switching to a methanol soluble stain such as wright-giemsa which would inhibit bacterial growth. Also, what are you using to view the cells under the microscope? I find disposable hemacytometer chambers are much better at minimizing debris than slide and coverslip or reusable glass hemacytometers. What solution do you have in your ultrasonic bath? You could use a bacterial inhibiting solution if you do not already. I would suggest you try to identify the source of the bacterial and dust contamination and start there.
I agree with both Fernando and Konra. Since cleanliness is very subjective, I would also like to see pictures in order to better identify issues.
In my opinion, it is always good to adopt an ISO, NATA, ICH GCP/GLP type protocol when operating a laboratory, regardless of actual accreditation or not. This will help mitigate a lot of "problems" within a lab as far as cleanliness.
I think one obvious answer is that there is an entry point for the dust to enter and concomitant contamination and/or bacterial growth. Like Konra suggested, I would first try and identify this source, as hard as it may be.
Again, actual pictures of the establishment would be beneficial. Sorry if this was a bit too vague.
I would also look into the air circulation of the room Maybe some filtration ?
In my opinion based on experience, there are general guidelines to setup basic or special laboratory. Please refer to the standard laboratory setup requirement for your country.
The safe and healthy laboratory condition is depend on the basic lab requirement:
1. Comfort lab space. 2. Wall and ceiling paints (anti fungi/bacterial paint). 3. Workbench, cupboard, sink with tap water. 4. Exhaust fan. 5. Air-conditioner with ionizer. 6. Ergonomic equipment (chair, table). 7. Lighting (>200 Lux). 8. Smoke detector. 9. Fire distiguisher. 10. Eye washer & first aid. 11. Biosafety cabinet class II (for handling high risk infection sample). 12. Special floor for lab. 13. Safety label (Exit, Dangerous, etc). 14. Dustbin (domestic use, clinical use). 15. Special lab device and analyzer. 16. Waste treatment and disposal area.
All those things up there, are depend on your lab arrangement, position and system. You can divide lab and office space to minimize the risk of infection with individual airflow.