Overview

Products and the equipment, chemicals, and synthetic organisms used and produced in the development process must be handled safely. Here we outline the safety measures we have taken to ensure the safe development and use of our CFNT: Cell Fluorescence Neutralisation Test diagnostic kit.

Product Safety

One safety measure is the use of the SRIP: Single-Round Infectious Particle. SRIPs are less virulent and do not multiply when they infect cells, increasing the safety of the experimenter compared to other neutralization tests such as PRNT. It is also safer and easier to handle, regardless of the environment or operator, as there is less risk of breakage.

Laboratory Safety

Laboratory safety equipment

The following measures have been taken in the P-2 laboratory[]

Installation of a safety cabinet
Installation of high-pressure sterilisers
Installation of hand washing facilities, disinfectant solutions and gloves
Restrictions on unauthorized access
Restrictions on the opening of laboratory windows and doors

In the laboratory of Associate Professor Yo-ichi Tagawa, who is in charge of the experiments, experiments are conducted under the supervision of graduate students, and access to the laboratory is prohibited outside of their working hours.

Waste Disposal[]

In the laboratory, all waste is sorted according to the following categories

A-1 Small quantities of chemical substances
A-2 Filtering materials and other wastes (not in contact with hazardous chemicals)
A-3 Waste from water washing filtration materials, etc. (those that have come in contact with hazardous substances)
A-4 Waste polyethylene tanks
A-6 Water wastes containing sedimentation difficult to filter
B-1 Glass
B-2 Silica gel
C-1 Needles and syringes
C-2 Gels, agar media, etc.

Each waste is placed in its own trash bin, and biohazardous wastes are collected by a specialized company after sterilization.

Waste liquids are managed by preparing a “Waste Liquid Separation and Storage Record Form” for each waste liquid polyethylene tank, which is filled out each time the waste liquid is put into the polyethylene tank. In addition, applications for waste disposal are made on a laboratory-by-laboratory basis, and safety is enhanced by checking the contents, leakage, and appearance of the waste liquid, as well as the pH and contaminants in the waste liquid for collection.

Waste Management

The laboratory disposes of all waste separately into general waste (e.g. packaging and Kimwipes that are not contaminated with chemicals or organisms) and biohazard waste (e.g. chips, gels and tubes used in experiments that are biologically contaminated). Separate bins are provided for each and biohazardous waste is collected by a specialist company after sterilisation.

Safety education[]

At Tokyo Institute of Technology, in accordance with the “Law Concerning the Conservation of Biodiversity through Regulations on the Use of Living Modified Organisms (hereinafter referred to as the 'Cartagena Law')” and the “Ministerial Ordinance stipulating measures to prevent dissemination in the second type of use, etc., of living modified organisms in research and development, etc. (hereinafter referred to as the 'Type II Ordinance')” established by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and other relevant bodies, the “Tokyo Institute of Technology Safety Management Regulations for Genetic Recombination Experiments, etc.” has been established. The Safety Committee for Genetic Recombination Experiments, etc. (hereinafter referred to as the “Committee”) oversees and provides guidance, and students engaged in experiments are required to attend this training. The contents of the training (4) are as follows

Points of caution when conducting genetic recombination experiments (including points to note in the experimental location under the Cartagena Law and measures to prevent dissemination)
Review of genetic recombination experiments.

As proof of attendance, participants are given an examination number with a validity period (students: 3.5 years). Before starting an experiment, all participants must enter their examination numbers in the “experimenters” section of the experimental plan and must pass the university's review process. Additionally, from this academic year, our university has made classes on bioethics and regulations mandatory across all faculties, ensuring that even students not involved in experiments receive adequate ethical education.

Reference

中村聡, , 中島春紫 (2019). 新版　ビギナーのための微生物実験ラボガイド..

Tokyo Institute of Technology Office of Campus Management General Safety Management Section Environmental Safety Promotion Office (2018). Guide to Appropriate Laboratory Waste Control . Accessed: 2023/05/14

Tokyo Institute of Technology (2023/04/01). 国立大学法人東京工業大学遺伝子組換え実験等安全管理規則 . Accessed: 2023/05/14

Tokyo Institute of Technology Research Promotion Department (2023). 遺伝子組換え実験について . Accessed: 2023/05/14