Used laboratory equipment, such as incubators, refrigerators and freezers, must be thoroughly decontaminated prior to disposal or release to surplus property (Figure 2). Laboratory equipment that was used in conjunction with biological research may have residual contamination resulting from chemicals and/or radioactive materials.

  • Wear appropriate personal protective equipment. At a minimum wear gloves, lab coat, safety glasses with side shields or goggles and a respirator if chemical vapors/odors are anticipated (contact EH&S for respirator information).
  • Remove all specimens and/or laboratory materials.
  • Remove all biohazard labels or stickers from the surface of the equipment.
  • Clean the surface of the equipment for any radioactive contamination (if applicable). Schedule a wipe test with Health Physics to ensure that the equipment is free from residual radioactive contamination. Call Health Physics, 723.3201 for more information.
  • Be sure that the equipment surface can be safely cleaned with a chemical disinfectant. Make sure that the equipment was not used to store water reactive chemicals, corrosives or strong oxidizers that may incompatibly react during the decontamination process.
  • Apply a chemical disinfectant to the surface of the equipment and allow the disinfectant time to inactivate potential contamination.
  • Ensure that the surface is rinsed to remove the disinfectant.
  • Put the cleaning waste (paper towel, sponge) in a biohazard bag and treat as biohazardous waste.
  • Dispose of PPE properly and wash hands thoroughly.

Do not open internal compartments of equipment for decontamination. If the internal compartments of a piece of equipment are grossly contaminated with biohazardous material, label or tag the equipment as potentially biohazardous. Notify the Biosafety Manager and a decision will be made whether the equipment is safe for disposal.

When the equipment is ready for pick up, prepare a certificate with your department’s letterhead addressed to the Director of Surplus Property, Material Management, stating that you have decontaminated the equipment designated for removal in accordance with guidelines from Biosafety. You need not send a copy to the Biosafety Manager or EH&S.

Additional guidance related to the proper deactivation and move-out of Stanford University laboratories is available at: https://stanford.io/2CsW6HG

A Laboratory Deactivation Matrix and Laboratory Deactivation Inspection Checklist can be found at: https://stanford.io/2AL2KbK

 

Figure 2. Freezer in Need of Clean-Out