Due to our activity in the production of monoclonal antibodies , at Abyntek we routinely work in laminar flow booths for the cell culture of our hybridomas.
In addition to cell culture, these booths are used for a multitude of applications in research laboratories. For this reason, today we want to share with you some basic tips for working in cell culture booths or laminar flow booths, which will allow you to keep the work area organized and avoid contamination.
BEFORE STARTING WORK IN CELL CULTURE BOOTHS
- Always turn on the UV lamp for several minutes (minimum 15) before starting, in order to sterilize the work area.
- Once the laminar flow is turned on, clean the work area with ethanol .
- Spray any material to be introduced into the cabin with ethanol.
- Plan and plan the way in which waste will be managed, organizing the corresponding containers, among others:
- A beaker to discard the leftover culture medium.
- A container to collect the used pipette tips
- A container near the booth to dispose of pipettes and larger material
DURING WORK WITH CELLS, TISSUES, ETC. IN THE CELL CULTURE BOOTH
- Strategically organize your work area to avoid cross contamination:
- Sterile pipettes and tips aside
- Cell cultures, tissues or any material that is being worked on in the central zone
- Containers to dispose of media and material on the opposite side
- Take extreme care with movements to avoid altering the flow and for the laboratory air to mix with the cabin air and vice versa.
- Keep the bottles and plates always covered while they are not being used to avoid contamination of the same.
- Pipette in an oblique position, slightly tilting the pipette with respect to the tube, bottle, plate, etc. to reduce the risk of contamination by exposing the sample to air.
- In case of spills :
- Spills of buffers, media, reagents, etc., clean with water and ethanol immediately, without waiting to finish the job.
- Media spills with cells, clean with diluted bleach, leaving to act for a few minutes, and then clean with water and ethanol.
AFTER FINISHING THE WORK IN LAMINAR FLOW CABINETS
- Thoroughly clean with distilled water and ethanol
- Put the cap on, turn off the flow and turn on the UV lamp for several minutes.