BSL-1 Handling Guidelines (ATCC)
ATCC classifies a BSL assigned according to risk assessments conducted in BMBL (Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Users must follow their organization’s safety policies and local regulations. Always use appropriate PPE when handling vials. For cultures preserved in liquid nitrogen, we need to be aware that some vials may freeze and fill with liquid N2. When thawed, the expansion of the nitrogen gas may cause explosions or caps to eject resulting in harmful debris. We need to store cultures in the vapor phase except where submersion is necessary.
Handling Procedure
- Follow the instructions for opening the vial.
- Reconstitute pellet using 0.5–1.0 mL of broth (5–6 mL total).
- Transfer the rehydrated sample back into broth; mix well.
- Use suspension to inoculate a second broth tube, slant, or plate.
References
- American Type Culture Collection. (n.d.). ATCC® 9945™