COVID

COVID INFORMATION

Note

Please make sure you have read the following: COVID-19 Guidelines for Laboratory Personnel

There will soon be a vacant/occupied sign outside each microscope rooms. Please use them in addition to the calendar.

Scheduling

Microscopes are only to be scheduled for half a day or for a full day at big.umassmed.edu. The calendar now defaults to full day. If you need to use a microscope for less than a day, start your microscope session on the hour, and end half-past an hour. For example, start at 9am, and end at 11:30am. This allows at least a 30 minute gap between users for proper air exchange to occur in the room.

Note

Scheduling discipline must be adhered to for everyone's safety.

Cleaning

The following will need to be done before starting your imaging session, and after you have finished.

Warning

Assume the microscope and computers were not properly cleaned previously

Warning

Use only 70% Ethanol, applied to a napkin or Kimwipe, except for objectives which require lens paper. Do not spray directly on the microscope or electronics

Warning

You should wear a fresh pair of gloves inside microscope room. Please dispose of them once you are outside of the microscope, and after the door has been shut

Power Switches

Assume all power switches and other high contact surfaces are contaminated. You may elect to use gloves and/or wipe them down. If you don't use gloves, please sanitize your hands immediately before and after touching any power switches. Keys to turn lasers on maybe difficult to clean but should be done.

Note

Keys for lasers do not have to be turned off (and cleaned) after you have finished.

Computers

• Wipe the power button.
• Wipe the tops of the keys of the keyboard.
• Wipe the top and sides of the mouse.
• Wipe down the desk area around the keyboard and mouse.

Microscopes

• Wipe the cap and sides of the oil bottle.
• Wipe the left and right fine/coarse focus control knobs.
• Wipe the stage surface, especially focusing on the areas you manipulate to insert a slide.
• Wipe down the front body of the microscope, where your exhaled air would likely land.
• Wipe down any optical table surface that you might place arms or hands.
• If equipped, wipe the remote focus control knob.
• If equipped, wipe down any control pads and/or stage control joysticks.
• Confirm that the ocular rubber eyecups are not in place. They should not be used.

Note

The above cleaning process should be done before and after using a shared microscope or shared computer.

If there are any questions or suggestions, you can contact Karl Bellve.