OHS026
Safe Work Procedure
Faculty/Division
MEDICINE
Document number
RELISADSRe1000.SW
Initial Issue date
School/ Divisional Unit
NEPHROLOGY
Current version
25.4.12
Current Version
Issue date
25.4.12
Next review date
25.4.15
The Writing Safe Work Procedures Guideline (OHS027) should be consulted to assist
in the completion of this form.
Safe Work Procedure Title and basic
description
Title:ELISA ASSAY on DSRe1000
Description:
Associated risk assessment title and location:
Describe
the activity or process
PERFORMING ELISA ASSAY on DSRe1000
This equipment allows operators to dispense reagent and standards, dilute and dispense diagnostic
or research samples, allow for timed incubation of samples and read absorbance and has limited
capacity to curve fit results. Operators should have a fundamental understanding of the
principles and limitations of enzyme linked immunosorptive assay (ELISA) prior to using this
machine.
Decontamination protocol: 70% ethanol wash at the end
List all resources required including
plant, chemicals, personal protective
clothing and equipment, etc
DSRe1000, plate reader, pipettes, gown, goggles, water, wash solution, Elisa reagents,96 well
ELISA plates
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Page 1 of 3
Safe Work Procedure
Date Effective: 25.412
Uncontrolled document when printed
Current Version: 1. 25.4.12
List potential hazards and risk controls
including specific precautions required
 Liquid spills on computer are an electrical risk and will
potentially damage equipment.
 Interruptions to add reagents, water and wash fluids potentially
reduce assay validity and increase risk of accidental injury during
efforts to correct. Off-centre plates and pots will similarly lead
to interruption of assay.
 anti-serum and blood/urine specimens potentially contain blood-borne
infections
 Reagents often contain preservatives [eg azide, thimerosal] that may
be toxic if ingested, inhaled, or put on skin
 Stop Solution is acid or alkali; burn and corrosive hazard
 Substrate Reagents are toxic
 PBS.Tween wash is irritant
 Ensure plate is correctly placed in washer and reader
 Robotic arms move quickly and have sharp tips that could pierce skin
[but machine has sensors to detect impeding objects]
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Controls
Prepare standards, detection antibodies, streptavadin, TMB and stop
solution on separate workbench. Remove gloves and wash hands before
using control keyboard.
Before commencement, ensure water reservoir is full, presence of
sufficient wash solution and reagent volumes to complete planned
assays. Ensure ELISA and dilution plates and sample column; and
standard, reagent and pre-diluents pots and plates are centered
correctly in situ.
Use Elisa plate washer to minimise aerosol, control waste, and
increase reproducibility.
ENSURE THE WASTE IS NOT FULL and has
suffient capacity to accept all wash solution/reagent.
Put sufficient bleach into the empty washer waste bottle to make a 2%
v/v final solution in bottle; this sterilises pathogens as required by
AQIS; allow
Bleach is corrosive and poisonous; wear PPE including gloves and eye
protection. Ensure wash bottle is stable over sink before adding
bleach.
Skin protection [gloves] should be used.
Eye protection may be needed.
Laboratory gown required.
Only operate machine with the front Perspex cover down.
When assays are complete, turn off power before lifting cover to
remove samples, plates and pots. Empty waste reservoir after allowing
30 min for bleach to act prior to disposal.
List emergency shutdown instructions
Switch off equipment
with red button on right hand side or power switch at left
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Page 2 of 3
Safe Work Procedure
Date Effective: 25.412
Uncontrolled document when printed
Current Version: 1. 25.4.12
List clean up and waste disposal
requirements
As per normal lab procedures for chemical and biological disposal
List legislation, standards and codes of
practice used in the development of the
SWP
NSW OHS Act 2000
NSW OHS Regulation 2001
Australia Dangerous Goods Code
Code of Practice for the Labeling of Workplace Substances
AS/NZS 2243.2:2006. Safety in laboratories. Part 2: Chemical aspects
Australian Standard AS2243.6-1990. Safety in laboratories. Part 6: Mechanical Aspects.
Australian Standard AS2243.7-1991. Safety in laboratories. Part 7: Electrical Aspects.
AS/NZS 2161.1:2000 Occupational Protective Gloves – Selection, Use and Maintenance
Safe Work Procedure Form (OHS026)
UNSW Hazardous Waste Disposal Procedure
Supervisory approval, training, and review
Supervisor:
Signature:
Plant custodian:
Signature
List competency required – qualifications, certificates, licencing, training - eg course or
instruction:
Before independent use operators must receive instruction re operation, demonstration and
demonstrate competence in use of equipment
SWP review date:
Responsibility for SWP review:
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Page 3 of 3
Safe Work Procedure
Date Effective: 25.412
Uncontrolled document when printed
Current Version: 1. 25.4.12