Introduction to Core Services

Services from 5.34We collect from labs and TC suites:

• Sealed waste boxes.• Rinsed items for washing up in blue “rinsed glass” box.

We provide:• Sterilisation runs at set times.• Glass and plastic for lab and TC use.• Sterile media.• Sterile mcc tubes.• Lab coat cleaning. • Cold room and -20oC room boxes.• First aid boxes for use here and overseas.

Re-usable glass and plastic

• Non-contaminated glass or non contaminated reusable plastic:-

Remove labels, rinse and place in blue “rinsed glass” box.

Waste for autoclaving must go in to autoclave boxes.• Contaminated Plastic disposables into a

“BioHazard” bag in a large GREY box.• Contaminated glass into small GREY box.• For tall glass use a large GREY box (no bag) and

seal immediately.• Plastic pipettes go into small blue box.• Centrifuge bottles and tubes into the green box.

Waste for autoclaving

Extra-large waste box Large & small waste boxes

Pipette box Centrifuge box

Types of Waste Box

Waste boxesWaste boxes are to be sealed as follows:

• Seal box when three quarters full.• Boxes with bags – loosely fold bag over to

allow steam to penetrate.• Ensure lids are on properly – not balancing on

waste and right way up, bobbles on top!• If boxes are overfull they won’t be collected.• Put autoclave tape on the opposite corner’s

covering the slot in the lid down to the box.• Write lab number on tape.

Sealed waste box

Waste box for centrifuge bottles and tubes

Making media

• Do not prepare media at the end of the day for autoclaving the following morning. 

• Prepare your medium an hour or two before the planned sterilisation runs at 11am and 3pm.

Maximum level of fill for autoclaving

Flask Max. Fill (70%)

100ml 70ml

250ml 175ml

500ml 350ml

1 litre 700ml

2 litre 1400ml

Bottle Max. Fill (80%)

100ml 80ml

250ml 200ml

500ml 400ml

1 litre 800ml

2 litre 1600ml

Core Services Sterilising Times

11am Medium, Glass and Plastics

3pm Medium

Items for sterilising

• Capacity is limited.

• For large items e.g. 2L conical flask or large numbers of smaller items, you MUST consult Core Services staff in advance.

• Tip boxes must have tape on the front.• Bottle’s should have the lid loosened a quarter turn.• Conical flasks should prepared as shown.• Always put on your name and lab number and identify the contents.

How to prepare items for autoclaving

Autoclave tape

Labelling tapeExamples of labelling

Tapes and their uses

Collecting sterilised items

• In room 5.35 each lab has an area for items to collect (including labs own glass and lab coats).

• Please collect items promptly.

• Do not take other labs’ items.

In the Lab and TC - disinfection

• Virkon has a three day working life.• It is provided in pots with scoops.• It is used at a final concentration of 1%

What is in room 5.35?• A selection of glass and plastic.• Foam bungs for conical flasks.• Bench top autoclave.• Drying cabinet.• Forms for ordering Luria Broth and Luria Agar.• TC items, pre-sterilised and kept in a separate

cupboard.• Sterilised 2ml and 1.5ml MCC Tubes.• Collection bin for Dirty Lab Coats going to laundry.• Collection point for sterilised media and plastics.

Be courteous to other users

• Please don’t write on, or put labels on, lids.Writing doesn’t come off lids!

• Do not “hoard” items from 5.35.

• TC glass labelled with red crosses.• Lab glass labelled with yellow crosses.• Items from particular labs are yellow labelled with their lab number or academics initials.• Do not use other labs’ items.

Glassware in 5.35

Universals Conical Flask

Volumetric Bottle

Different types of glassware in 5.35

Measuring cylinder Beaker

Different types of glassware and plastic

Funnel

Sterilised MCC tubes

• Sterile 2ml and 1.5ml mcc tubes are available in 5.35.

•MEDIA AUTOCLAVING ONLY• Can only be used by postgraduates.• Can only be used outside normal hours (before 9am and after 5pm).• Training can be given if required.

Bench-top autoclave in room 5.35

The drying cabinet in room 5.35

Other services available

You can order Luria Broth and Luria Agar.• Plan ahead.• Make sure you fill in the form completely.• You are charged per litre.

Lab coat washing.• There are two bins for dirty lab coats.

First aid boxes.• Are provided for fieldwork here and overseas.

Media request forms in 5.35

Cold room 5.02 [+4ºC]• +4ºC cold room boxes are orange.• Each lab has it’s own designated area.• Any experiments to take place in cold room, please notify Core Services.• No cardboard, even in orange box, where possible.

• -20ºC room has blue boxes.• Each lab has it’s own designated area.• Area very limited.• Do not block access to other users work.

Cold room 5.02 [-20°C]

Hints and tips

• Please plan sterilising a few days in advance as things do go wrong!!

• Any questions, please either come to see us in 5.34 or Phill Reed in 6.03a or email “core” (core@essex.ac.uk)