Laboratory Safety Monograph 
A Supplement To The NIH Guidelines For Recombinant DNA Research 
I. Introduction 1 
II. Laboratory Practices 3 
A. Laboratory Techniques for Biohazard Control 3 
1. Pipetting 5 
2. Syringes and Needles 13 
3. Freeze-Drying Specimens 15 
4. Opening Culture Plates, Tubes, Bottles, 
and Ampoules, Inoculating and Harvesting 
Cultures 17 
5. Centrifuging 20 
6. Blenders, Mixers, Sonicators and Cell 
Disruption Equipment 32 
7. Miscellaneous Precautions and Recommendations . . 37 
References 39 
B. Personal Hygiene Habits and Practices 43 
References 45 
C. Protective Clothing and Equipment 46 
1. Laboratory Clothing 49 
2. Gloves, Shoes and Aprons 54 
3. Face and Eye Protection 61 
4. Respiratory Protective Equipment 65 
5. Positive Pressure Suits 71 
D. Housekeeping 73 
1 . Floor Care 76 
2. Dry Sweeping 77 
3. Vacuum Cleaning 78 
4. Selection of a Cleaning Solution 80 
5. Wet Mopping--Two-Bucket Method 81 
6. Alternative Floor Cleaning Method for Animal 
Care Areas and Areas with Monolithic Floors. . . 82 
E. Decontamination and Disposal 83 
1. Disinfectant Methods 84 
2. Characteristics of Chemical Disinfectants in 
Cormion Use in Laboratory Operations 87 
3. Properties of Some Common Disinfectants 89 
4. Vapors and Gases for Space Decontamination. ... 92 
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