Biological Programs
Biological Laboratory Closure
Principal Investigators/Supervisors where biohazardous materials for rDNA or Biosafety Level 2 or 3 research activities are used, must complete a proper Biohazardous Material Laboratory Closure prior to terminating biohazardous material use. This will ensure proper transfer or disposal of all biohazardous materials, decontamination of any remaining contaminated items, accurate MU inventory records, and removal of biohazard signs/labels. EHS approval is required prior to release of laboratories for unrestricted use.
The following procedure provides steps for proper Biohazardous Material Laboratory Closure. Contact the EHS Biosafety Officer to discuss plans for changes or termination of activity (provide as much advanced notice as possible).
- Properly sterilize, dispose or transfer all remaining biohazardous material when all biohazardous material work has been completed in your approved area. Shared storage areas must be carefully reviewed by departing and sharing researchers to identify biohazardous material ownership.
- Decontaminate, clean and sanitize all potentially contaminated laboratory surfaces, equipment and fixtures (after a thorough survey to identify all rooms and equipment). Once equipment has been decontaminated, remove biohazard sticker.
- Remove all materials from Biological Safety Cabinet(s) and thoroughly decontaminate with 10% bleach solution. Remove any residual sodium hypochlorite from the bleach solution by wiping down with 70% ethanol solution or water to help prevent corrosion of the stainless steel surfaces.
- All biological materials are removed from refrigerators, freezers, incubators and are decontaminated with a 10% bleach/water solution.
- All solid biohazardous materials and contaminated used supplies are disposed of in a rigid BioBox or BioBin or autoclaved. All stocks and media solutions are decontaminated by autoclaving or a 10% bleach/water solution. If decontaminated with 10% bleach/water solution, it may be disposed of down the sink with copious amounts of water.
- Contact EHS to arrange for pick-up and disposal of Biohazardous Unwanted Materials that have not been sterilized.
- All sharps must be placed into an approved sharps container. Sharps containers are closed up and placed into BioBox or BioBin for disposal.
- All unused supplies need to be relocated to a new laboratory, sent to surplus or transferred to another investigator.
