I should not need to send out e-mails like this:

Several issues have come up in the cell culture room lately that need to be addressed:

• Dirty hoods: The working surface inside of the hood must be sprayed down with 70% ethanol and wiped both *BEFORE* and *AFTER* use.
  • I have noticed that the working surface of one of the hoods has consistently been left dirty with dried media spots and the UV light turned on.  The UV light alone is not sufficient the decontaminate the hood.  Most recently, the surface of the hood actually looked even worse under normal fluorescent light.
  • Bleach left on the metal surfaces of the hood will lead to corrosion.  This is not a reversible process, and the parts are expensive to replace.  Clean spills immediately.
• Open hoods: The sash on the hoods need to be fully closed for our safety once the UV light has been turned on.
  • I want to preserve my vision and also not grow tumors.
• Vacuum traps/waste flasks: Bleach must be added to these flasks to neutralize any organisms within, *especially* before being emptied (down the drain with copious amounts of water).
• Unlabeled PBS & media bottles: If you open a bottle, you are responsible for it.  Unlabeled bottles are effectively a waste of valuable and expensive lab supplies.
  • I do not have confidence in any bottle that has been opened but was not labeled with someone’s initials and dated, and therefore will not use them.  I also cannot tell if anything has been added to the media or not, and again, will not use it.
• Empty serological pipet holders: It is everyone’s responsibility to refill these when the pipets are running low.
  • With the exception of the 1mL and 2mL pipets, an entire bag of pipets will fit in each compartment.  Please don’t just refill with only enough for you to continue working.
• Empty 70% ethanol spray bottles: It is also everyone’s responsibility to refill these.
  • Matt and I have made up many bottles of 70% ethanol, ready to be used to refill the spray bottles.  Please use them.

The cell culture room should be kept as clean and orderly as possible in order to minimize the risk of contamination, and to make cell culture work as fast and efficient as possible.  It is therefore the responsibility of every member of the lab who uses the culture rooms to maintain the space, regardless of rank and position in the lab.

- Daniel