Core Laboratory
GCRC Core Lab
The primary mission of the GCRC Core
Laboratory is to provide timely and
accurate laboratory services not
available through the MGH clinical
laboratories, or that demand special
processing and/or other specialized
assay requirements.
Core Lab Services
Reviews proposed studies and requested
tests to ensure that requested services are
within the scope of the Core Lab.
Provides guidance about how the Core Lab
can support new studies.
Core laboratory-only studies are encouraged.
Space and specialized equipment is available
for use by trained study staff as requested
through the protocol application. GCRC Core
Lab personnel will train study staff as
appropriate.
Core Lab Tests
The laboratory is fully equipped for general
laboratory work and for the performance of
radioimmunoassays (RIA) and enzyme-linked
immunosorptive assays (EIA).
Examples of tests performed by the Core Lab
include, but are not limited to, bone-specific
alkaline phosphatase, C-peptide, growth
hormone, osteocalcin, TNF-alpha,
adiponectin, resistin, ghrelin, vWF, and
salivary cortisol.
Assay kits for testing are supplied by the
Principal Investigator.
General Guidelines for the
GCRC Core Lab
Training is required for any study staff using the
GCRC Core Lab.
Cell phones are not permitted in the lab. Please
leave phones on desks or file cabinet in room 405D.
All persons entering the lab must be wearing closedtoe shoes. Long pants are preferred. Disposable lab
coats are available. See Dept. of Pathology Dress
Code Policy for further questions.
http://intranet.massgeneral.org/pathology/documents/
Dress%20Code%20Policy%20May%202005.pdf
Gloves, sample bags, paper towels, or styrofoam
cups should not be disposed in the BioHazard box
unless visibly contaminated with body fluids.
General Guidelines for the
GCRC Core Lab Cont.
The computer next to the centrifuge is a
clean computer and should not be
touched if wearing tainted gloves.
Please ask before signing/logging off
the computer in 405D.
Equipment Usage:
Marathon Benchtop Centrifuge
If spinning the blood cold (4oC), please allow
time for the centrifuge to cool to at least 10oC
before starting.
Use sample carriers and lids with
corresponding numbers to help balance the
centrifuge.
When finished, the centrifuge should be
turned off with the lid propped open a few
inches.
Equipment Usage:
Sink Usage in Room 405F
Both the cold and hot water knobs turn
counterclockwise.
To prevent leakage, do not push the knob
past the starting point when turning off water.
When disposing of capped tubes with blood
or other bodily fluids, please dispose of in the
red biohazard boxes.
When disposing of blood or other bodily fluids
in the sink, please flush with plenty of water to
dilute the sample.
Dealing with Blood Spills in the
Lab
If a blood spill is too much for you to
handle, please call the Safety Office at
6-2425 right away.
If you are able to handle a blood spill,
please clean it wearing gloves and
using disposable paper towels. The
area must then be disinfected with an
approved hospital disinfectant.
Dealing with Blood Spills in
the Lab Cont.
Approved hospital disinfectants include:
 Virex – spray bottle under the hood in
Bulfinch 412 (see label)
 Bleach – 1.5oz per gallon dilution (see
label)
 Expose – 1:256 dilution (see label)
* If any unsafe occurrences happen that you feel may
be a potential problem, then you MUST bring it to the
attention of a Safety Officer.
Infection Control (ID What
Hospital STDS are for Study
Staff)
MGH Policy and Procedures pertaining to Infection
control must be followed. This may be found at
Partners Applications > Clinical References > MGH
Policies and Procedures > Infection Control
All users of the Core Lab are required to follow
standard infection control and lab safety procedures
and must attend annual MGH BB (Bloodborne)
Pathogen-TB-Infection Control training.
Standard infection control procedures include, but are
not limited to, hand washing and/or use of CalStat,
proper use of Personal protective equipment (PPE),
such as gloves, face shields, protective gowns.
Infectious Waste Disposal
Liquid infectious waste to be disposed of in
the sink.
Biohazardous waste to be disposed of two
standard locations: red-bagged, large red
plastic biohazard boxes or sharps container.
All materials not significantly contaminated
may be disposed of in the clear bag with
regular rubbish.
Infectious Waste Disposal
Cont.
Materials to be placed in the red-bagged, large red
plastic biohazard box include:
 Gloves - only if significantly contaminated with
blood
 Kimwipes - only if significantly contaminated with
blood
 Bench protectors - only if significantly
contaminated with blood
 Capped specimen tubes, used or unused
 Plastic pipets-only if contaminated with blood
* Avoid throwing liquids in these containers
Infectious Waste Disposal
Cont.
Materials to be placed in the Sharps
Box include:
 Pasteur pipettes
 Needles
 Broken glass
What to do in case of
emergency
Chemical inventory is updated annually and available
in the lab.
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are available
online at Partners > Utilities > MSDS Material Safety
Data Sheets.
Spill Kits are located under the sink in Core Lab
Room 405F.
In the case of a needle stick, skin or mucous
membrane exposure – wash or irrigate the area and
then report to the acting supervisor if on site. Always
report to Employee Health Service 6-2217 (open
weekdays and on call 24/7), or to Emergency
Services with the name and unit # of the subject
involved.
Fire Safety
All users of the Core Lab must complete
annual Fire and Safety Training
Fire extinguishers are located in the following areas:
 Room 405 on the wall behind the entry door
 Room 405E on the wall to the right of the
centrifuge.
 On the outside, left wall of room 402
 In the vestibule of rooms 408A/412
 Far end of the center bench in room 412
 On the wall in hallway across from the elevator
General Core Lab Safety
Showers are located in both room 412
and room 405 near the fume hoods.
In the event of an evacuation, all people
in the Core Lab are to meet on Blossom
street, across from the Gray lobby
entrance.
References and Forms
MGH Policies and Procedures
Infection Control Manual
Transporting Specimens – Refer to
Laboratory Safety Manual
http://intranet.massgeneral.org/pathology/doc
uments/Dress%20Code%20Policy%20May%
202005.pdf
Contact Us!
Lorna Lampert– Core Lab Supervisor & Lab
Safety Officer


(617) 726-3692
llampert@partners.org
Andrea Marckmann – Core Lab Technologist
& Alternate Safety Officer
(617) 724-9581
 amarckmann@partners.org
Location: Bulfinch 405
Hours: 7:30am to 4:00pm, Monday-Friday

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