Policies

Guidelines
Cell Analysis Guidelines 

Carry In, Carry Out Policy.
This means:
  •     All consumables, including tubes, plates, and pipette tips, must be brought in by users and      taken out when leaving.
  •     The facility does not provide plates, pipettes, or pipette tips.
We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining the organization and efficiency of our lab space.
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General Policies
  • Last researcher of each day or any researcher using the instrument on the weekends is responsible for maintenance below.
    • Filling the Sheath fluid
    • Emptying Waste
    • Powering off the instrument.​
      If the instrument is left on the researcher will be charged from end of their reservation time until 8am the next business day.
  • You must fill and empty the instruments each use.
  • Only trained researchers should be analyzing experiments 
  • Researchers are not allowed to train lab mates.  The Flow Core are responsible for all training
  • Researchers cannot leave nor store samples in the core.  Only samples being processed should be in the core.
  • In the case of problematic instrumentation, please call 617-632-3179 or email [email protected] immediately 
  • All cancellation policies here are still in effect 


Analyzing Lentivirus and Human Primary Cells
​
  • Cells must be analyzed in a 96 or 384 well plate on the HTS plate reader.
  • Researcher is responsible for running an extended cleaning procedure and disinfecting the analyzer area.
  • The researcher is responsible for removal and disposal of gloves, and all wipes used to disinfect the analyzer and affected areas.

Read the full Lentivirus Analysis protocol here. 
Read the full Human Primary Cell Analysis protocol here.

Analyzer Reservations
  • Researchers are expected to start their experiments on time. If a researcher is unable to start their experiment on time, this should not impact the next researcher's reservation. You must stop your experiment and allow the next researcher to use the instrument when you reservation is finished, even if you started late due to another user.​

​Cleaning Policies
  • Cleaning analyzer (Run 3 min Bleach 3 min ddH20)
  • Biohazard waste carry in / carry out waste will be strictly enforced 
  • Absolutely no waste should be thrown away in the regular trash

Diva
  • We are requiring all researchers to establish a password in DIVA.
  • This will ensure the person who is logged into Diva is the correct person being invoiced.  Do not share accounts.
 
HTS plate mode
  • You must return the instrument to tube mode when finished.
  • If you are analyzing plates you must stop 10min prior to the end of your
            reservation to run the cleaning plate (8min)


Data management policies:
​
Policy Change effective 2.1.24
     All data is removed from the computers on Thursdays and Sundays. 
     All experiments must be named as follows or the core WILL NOT store a copy of the data.
     Researcher Initials followed by 6-digit date followed by the experiment name
     Example:  SL 012624 Annexin V


Items below cause Diva database corruption and computer issues
  • DO NOT 
    • IMPORT experiments containing DATA back on the computer
    • ADD DATA to an experiment from a previous acquisition
    • ADD PLATES to an experiment from a previous acquisition run 
    • Export EXPERIMENT TEMPLATE
      • If the experiment already contains DATA
      • Copy and paste the experiment so it contains no data
      • Delete all tubes except the last tube
      • THEN EXPORT experiment template 
    • Allow your experiment to exceed 500MB of data (FORTESSA I  only)                                          
      • Option 1.  Stop acquiring Data > Import the template and continue in the new experiment
      • Option 2.  Stop acquiring Data > Copy Experiment > Paste on your directory name (top of Browser window)
  • Experiments over 500MB will not be stored on the core server 

Unscheduled Maintenance
​If an unexpected issue arises with an instrument the core will notify the scheduled researchers immediately of any delay.
We ask for everyone’s patience and understanding in dealing with instrument maintenance.
If you cannot sort or analyze your experiment at the delayed time, or on another instrument, we will delete the reservation at no charge.