Biosafety during a pandemic: shared resource laboratories rise to the challenge.

Biosafety has always been an important aspect of daily work in any research institution, particularly for cytometry Shared Resources Laboratories (SRLs). SRLs are common-use spaces that facilitate the sharing of knowledge, expertise, and ideas. This sharing inescapably involves contact and interacti...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Aspland, Avrill M, Douagi, Iyadh, Filby, Andrew, Jellison, Evan R, Martinez Garcia, Maria Dolores, Shinko, Diana, Smith, Adrian L, Tang, Vera A, Thornton, Sherry
Format: article
Publication Date:2021
Country:España
Institution:Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)
Repository:Repisalud
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:repisalud.isciii.es:20.500.12105/17426
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12105/17426
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:COVID-19
Containment of Biohazards
Flow Cytometry
Humans
Laboratories
Risk Assessment
Description
Summary:Biosafety has always been an important aspect of daily work in any research institution, particularly for cytometry Shared Resources Laboratories (SRLs). SRLs are common-use spaces that facilitate the sharing of knowledge, expertise, and ideas. This sharing inescapably involves contact and interaction of all those within this working environment on a daily basis. The current pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has prompted the re-evaluation of many policies governing the operations of SRLs. Here we identify and review the unique challenges SRLs face in maintaining biosafety standards, highlighting the potential risks associated with not only cytometry instrumentation and samples, but also the people working with them. We propose possible solutions to safety issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic and provide tools for facilities to adapt to evolving guidelines and future challenges.