!UNDER CONSTRUCTION! - 06/12/24

This page contains information about rules, regulations, HSE, lab fees and related costs, list of lab equipment, overview of project types ongoing in our labs, and key contact information.

Key contacts for INH Molecular Labs:

Lab manager: Sarah Martin

HSE-coordinator / Kontosjef: Renate Kvernberg

Project types at INH Molecular Labs

• Loci-specific PCR and sequencing (e.g. DNA barcoding for species identification)
• Meta-barcoding from environmental samples (e.g. water, soil, sediment)
• Paleogenomics (ancient DNA) from plants, animals, microbes and humans
• Museomics (DNA from museum specimens)
• Sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) from archaeological sites
• Transcriptomics

Overview of INH Molecular Labs:

We have five molecular labs at INH:

A. Pre-PCR lab (A105)

B. Post-PCR lab (A111)

C. Environmental DNA (eDNA) lab (A106)

D. Ancient DNA (aDNA) lab (Snekkerverksted)

E. DNA shearing room

The contact person for the DNA shearing room, Pre- and Post-PCR labs is Sarah Martin.

The contact person for the eDNA lab is Glenn Dunshea.

The contact person for the aDNA lab is Mike Martin.

Lab Rules:

Before you start lab work you must always book equipment and bench space before you begin your lab work:

• Bookings are made using the BookIt Lab system
• Please contact Renate Kvernberg to have your project code added to the system before starting lab work
• You must update your booking if you finish your lab work sooner or wish to cancel your booking
• Please ensure you have all the reagents and consumables you need BEFORE starting experiments
• If you need supplies ordered, please contact Sarah Martin

General Rules

• You must always book equipment and bench space before you begin your lab work, as mentioned above
• No food or drinks are permitted in any of the labs
• The labs work in a one-directional flow:
  • You are only permitted to move between the labs in one direction, i.e. Ancient DNA lab -> Pre-PCR Lab -> Post-PCR Lab OR Environmental DNA lab/ Pre-PCR Lab -> Post-PCR Lab
  • Note: You cannot go eDNA lab -> aDNA lab
• NEVER go in the opposite direction (i.e. you are not permitted in the Pre-PCR lab if you have already entered the Post-PCR lab that same day).
• You are not permitted in any of the labs until you have had safety training from Sarah Martin, you/your PI has submitted a risk assessment, and signed an agreement that you agree to all of the rules of the labs.
• Never leave the doors to the labs open.
• Close all cupboard doors when not in use.
• Tell your PI and lab manager when a reagent/consumable is running low so it can be reordered BEFORE running out.
• Label all communal reagents with your initials and date it was opened. If reagent volumes permit, please take an aliquot rather pipette into the stock solution.
• Label all personal reagents/aliquots with what the reagent is, your name and date it was opened.
• Do not use reagents or supplies that do not belong to you, unless you have requested permission.
• Do not use equipment you have not had training on.
• Do not use chemicals until you have read the MSDS safety sheets
  • e.g. There are kits, e.g. Qiagen, that contain reagents that react with bleach
  • Certain chemicals require special disposal - it is up to you and your PI to know how to do this.
• Gloves are required in all labs
• Clean up after yourself!! - take out recycling and trash when full, put away clean, dry racks etc, tidy the benches before you leave.

Cleaning rules

• All lab users, with the exception of PIs, will be added to the weekly cleaning roster and are expected to do their part in maintaining the labs. For 1-hour a week, the following cleaning is expected to be done by the users assigned to the weekly cleaning:
  
  • 5% bleach and sterile water clean all benchtops, door handles, cupboard doors, fridge/freezer handles
  • Clean centrifuges and minifuges with filtered water, then 5% bleach and finally 70% ethanol. For large centrifuges, take out the rotor and UV treat for 10 mins.
  • Take out recycling and trash
  • 5% bleach and sterile water clean all pipettes, followed by 10 mins UV on each side
  • Check stock of tips, tubes (main communal plastics), gloves and restock or email Sarah and your PI
  • Put away dried items from sink drying rack

General tidy

• Whenever you use the labs, you are expected to CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF!
• Make fresh 5% bleach dilution when it is low or empty (25ml bleach in 500ml sterile water from the water tank).
• Before and after use of benches, wipe down with 5% bleach followed by sterile water.
• After you finish in the lab, clean all racks etc with 5% bleach followed by sterile water.
  • Note: If you have used a kit containing guanidine (e.g. Qiagen kits) make sure to wipe with water first, then bleach and then water again.
• If the trash or recycling bins are full, take them to the larger trash/recycling receptacles in the hallway outside the labs.
• If you have a reagent spill in a centrifuge, you must take the rotor out, and thoroughly clean all parts. Clean thoroughly with sterile water first, then 5% bleach, then 70% ethanol.----

Lab Safety

Risk assessment

All new users of the INH Molecular Labs must complete a risk assessment form before commencing lab work. Card access will not be granted without a risk assessment. The risk assessments must be sent to the PI, HSE contact and the lab manager.

Personal protective equipment

• Gloves: Gloves must be worn in all labs to protect yourself from chemicals, to protect lab surfaces and your samples from nuclease contamination and to protect from cross-sample contamination.
• Shoes: Closed, clean-toed shoes must be worn at all times in the labs. This is to protect your feet from potential chemical spills or injuries from sharp objects. In the aDNA lab, you must remove your shoes to enter the lab, and wear shoe covers over your socks, then wear the provided lab clogs. In the eDNA lab, shoe covers are required or use of supplied cloggs.
• Lab coats: Lab coats must be worn in all labs at all times. This is to reduce contamination and to protect yourselves and clothing from chemical spills.
• Goggles: Goggles are provided in all labs. These can be used when cleaning with bleach to reduce the risk of eye injuries. They are available to use for any purpose required
• UV goggles: UV goggles are provided in the Post-PCR lab for use when performing gel cuts with the UV light plate on
• Thermal gloves: Heat-resistant gloves are provided in Post-PCR to reduce the risk of burns associated with agarose gel preparation.
• Freezer thermal gloves: Can be found in the Freezer Room and should be used when handling cold substances (dry-ice, -80C freezers, liquid nitrogen).
• Face-masks, hairnets, coveralls, sleeve covers and shoe covers: These items are all required when using the Ancient DNA lab. They can also be used if you require them for experiments in Pre-PCR or Post-PCR that you deem necessary.

Working after hours or alone

If you are working after normal hours, weekends or holidays (normal hours are 7:30 - 16:30, Mon-Fri), please inform your PI or another person so that someone knows where you are. This is particularly important if you are using hazardous chemicals.

Working with hot liquids (preparing agarose gels)

When microwaving agarose gel, always use the thermal resistant gloves located on top of the microwave to avoid severe burns.

Working with items from -80C freezer, dry-ice or liquid nitrogen

• If working with dry-ice or handling the -80C freezers, you must use thermal gloves which can be found in the Freezer Room.
• Do not handle liquid nitrogen without an experienced user. We do not have a liquid nitrogen supply at INH, so you will need to request assistance with this from the lab manager.

Working with hazardous reagents

• Always read the safety sheets (MSDS) for all reagents you will use while working in the lab. Do not use chemicals you are unfamiliar with and until you have had adequate training from your PI. It is your personal responsibility to ensure what you are working with, how to handle it, how to clean it and how to dispose of it. The MSDS for reagents in our labs can be found here: XXX . You can also find all pdfs for these online.
• Always use volatile or hazardous reagents in the dedicated fumehood. Importantly, check that the fumehood is fully functional before use by watching to see if the streamer is being sucked inwards towards to fumehood. Also check that the alarm system is functioning before using the fumehood.

Chemical waste

• General information for chemical waste handling at NTNU can be found here.
• Hazardous chemical waste from the labs must be collected and disposed in accordance with local routines and national regulations (ENG). Contact the lab coordinator in your lab for information.
• Procedure to decide if chemical waste is "hazardous waste" (NO). It is not allowed to dilute hazardous waste with the objective of classifying it as non hazardous.
• Once you have finished with using hazardous chemicals, ensure that you securely fasten the waste receptacle (e.g. autoclave bag) and label it with the name of the dangerous substance (e.g. Qiagen waste, 2-mercaptoethanol, etc). Place the chemical waste into the red waste bin, stored in the fumehood or in the clear waste box in the ventilated cupboard below the fumehood.

Chemical spills

If you should spill a hazardous chemical, make sure you remember your safety is the priority. If you are unsure what to do, the first thing you should do is to inform any other lab users in the room with you, then leave the room for fresh air while you consider your clean-up plan. If a chemical spill represents an immediate health hazard the area must be evacuated immediately and the clean up process left to skilled personnel with suitable protective equipment. Otherwise all spills must be cleaned up immediately. This applies regardless if the represent a hazard or not as other lab users may not be aware of the hazard. The MSDS for each chemical contains information about hazards, handling of chemical spills and appropriate protective equipment.

There are PIG HAZ-MAT spill kits and Chemizorb Powder located in all the labs.

Chemizorb Powder Instructions:

• Make sure you have on protective gear (gloves, lab coats, goggles)
• Can be used to clean up acids, alkalis, aqueous solutions, organic solvents, paraffin oils. Instructions are written on the packaging, if in doubt.
• Cover the spillage adequately with Chemizorb Powder and mix using a spatula (or similar) until completely absorbed.
• Fill the loaded powder into a polyethylene bag and dispose of in the chemical waste bins in the fumehood. Remember to label the waste bag with the chemical name.

PIG HAZ-MAT Spill Kit Instructions:

• Make sure you have on protective gear (gloves, lab coats, goggles).
• Instructions can be found in the PIG HAZ-MAT kit. The instructions provided contain a complete list of chemicals it can be used for cleaning up.
• Put the Danger Hazardous Spill sign up on the lab door so people know not to enter.
• Isolate the spill using the sock then place the absorbent mats over the spillage.
• Wait for the absorbent mat to fill up, then dispose of it in the provided yellow waste bag.
• Label the waste bag with the chemical name, then place in the chemical waste bins in the fumehood.

Other cleaning options:

If you spill a small (<2ml) of a hazardous chemical in a piece of equipment, e.g. centrifuge, first dilute the spillage with water. Do not add any other chemicals (e.g. bleach). After the spillage is diluted, you can use paper towel to absorb the liquid. For centrifuges, take the rotor out after diluting and absorbing the spill and clean thoroughly with 5% bleach and sterile water, as well as inside the centrifuge. Remember to dispose of all paper towels used in the clean-up as chemical waste - place in waste bag and label, then discard in the chemical waste bins in the fumehood.

After you have cleaned up any chemical spills, please report the incident to your supervisor and to the lab manager. We will then file a report here: https://i.ntnu.no/sifra-ansatt

Chemical spills on yourself:

• All MSDS contain information on what to do in the event of chemical spills on yourself (skin, eyes, inhalation).
• See section “Safety supplies” for a list of equipment the labs have for dealing with such situations.
• Should a spill occur, you must report it to the HSE-coordinator and lab manager.

Working with chemicals that may cause genetic defects or cancer - registration in the exposure index

It is mandatory to register in the exposure index when working with H340, H350 or H350i-chemicals. Those who need to register must be offered a health examination (NO) / (ENG). Contact the HSE-coordinator for booking.

Safety supplies

There is additional safety equipment in or near each lab.

• First-aid kits: Can be found in all labs
• Eye-rinsing: saline eye wash solutions or eye-rinse stations are in all labs
• Chemical spill shower: If you spill a chemical on yourself, you need to immediately rinse it off using the shower located in the Sorting Lab. There is a shower room for when using the Ancient DNA lab.

First safety

Fire extinguishers are located throughout the building, as well as fire blankets. Familiarize yourself with their locations before commencing lab work.

Lab fees

The lab fees represent an hourly rate for booking bench time in the labs. This costs covers communal reagents and consumables (details below), lab maintenance including machine servicing and pipette calibrations, and 30% of technician salary to maintain the labs.

Pre-PCR and Post-PCR prices for booking benches, flow hoods, fume hoods and QiaCube automated extraction machine (price per hour in NOK):

Ancient DNA and Environmental DNA labs prices for booking benches, flow hoods and fume hoods (price per hour in NOK):

Price per hour for technical assistance in the lab (Sarah Martin) - 582kr