Why no 95%? We have been using it in perpituity with no bad effects. The alcohol has evaporated from the inside surfaces by morning. Claire
________________________________ From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu on behalf of gayle callis Sent: Fri 2/6/2009 11:11 AM To: 'Louise Hartson'; histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu Subject: RE: [Histonet] Disinfecting Cryostat We use 70% ethanol on gauze (just damp) to wipe down inside of cryostat. Do not use 95% or 100% alcohol, as 70% is the most effective for disinfection, commonly used in biohoods. We pick up little trimmings with first dampened gauze (or kim wipe) then re-wipe with a second gauze. We prefer gauze for its flexibility. Also, if you put a kimwipe or gauze behind knife holder to l catch trimmings then you can fold up kimwipe, and lift "garbage" out, intact, and go to biohazard container before wipe down. We try to avoid too much alcohol on knife holder parts since alcohol ruins lubricants needed for good operation. Check with your cryostat manufacturer to see what they recommend. It pays to wipe down under and over sliding glass door to counterattack biohazardous "cling-ons" found on your gloves, and where people have touched the instrument. 70% alcohol will not kill prions. Water based disinfectants freeze in cryostat. Eventually you need scheduled disinfection with cryostat in defrosted mode with approved disinfecting agent. _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet