Facility Rules

All work in the EM facility has to follow the laboratory safety requirements: General Laboratory Guidelines of ISTA.

ONLY people who got the special training/introduction from EM facility team members can operate the microscopes, work in the sample preparation lab and use sample preparation equipment.

General rules

  1. No food or drink is allowed in the EM facility.
  2. User is not allowed to use any instrument for which s/he has not been trained.
  3. Particular training is taken as successfully completed in the moment this sheet is signed by the trainer and user.
  4. Time on instruments must be booked in PPMS before usage (maximum 2 weeks in advance).
  5. Only the person who booked the session is allowed to use the instrument.
  6. It is strictly forbidden to use any instrument without booking.
  7. Appropriate laboratory attire is required in sample preparation rooms of EMF (namely long pants/lab coat and close toed shoes).
  8. Every user of the EMF, who will use LN2, must accomplish Liquid Nitrogen Handling Training provided by LSF prior to finalizing EMF training.
  9. Cryo-safety gear must be worn when handling liquid nitrogen (gloves and eye protection).
  10. Due to security reasons, it is forbidden to use LN2 in the elevators. For transporting large volumes of LN2, users need an introduction from EMF members– for details see safety guidelines.
  11. Report any instrument problems immediately to the EM facility members.
  12. Users have to enter required information in the log book of specific instruments after every session.
  13. All messes and clutter have to be cleaned up after working in EMF rooms.
  14. Report to EM facility members if any instrument or lab place was not left in a suitable state or a mess was left.
  15. EMF is not responsible for samples left in the EMF rooms. Not proper labeled samples may be discarded at any time.
  16. Never move any instrument from the electron microscopy and sample preparation rooms without asking EM facility members first.
  17. No software of any kind may be installed on the computers in EMF without authorization from side of EM facility members.
  18. The computers in the facility are not allowed to be used for web-surfing, playing audio files or any other non-research related functions.
  19. Only the instrument, which will be used can be booked. Booking of instruments to reserve a space is not allowed.
  20. System which is not used within the first 30 min of the booking (without informing EMF team), will be freed for other users and the charge will be kept. Book the instrument time precisely.

Electron microscopes

  1. Electron microscopes can be booked maximum 2 weeks in advance.
  2. Only the person who booked the session is allowed to use the microscope.
  3. It is strictly forbidden to use Electron Microscope without booking.
  4. Cancellation/modification of existing bookings can be done maximum 24 hours prior their start.
  5. Each electron microscope has booking and general rules, which can be found on the page of the specific instrument. The introduction of the booking and general rules is also part of the training.
  6. At the end of the session the microscope has to be left in a suitable state (defined during the training).

Data storage policity

  1. The computers of the EM facility should never be used for the data storage.
  2. The data discs of the EMF computers are not backed up.
  3. You are supposed to back up your data as soon as you are done with the acquisition and delete your data from the hard drive.
  4. For that purpose use only intranet connection for transfer of images to your group file-server (DO NOT USE USB sticks!). EMF computers have shortcuts for the file-server connection on the desktop.
  5. As long as your data are stored at the EM facility computer, any user can delete them, in case she/he does not have enough space to record their data.
  6. EM facility is not responsible for any data loss due to prolonged storage, which means data loss that occurred not immediately during your booked acquisition slot.
  7. In short: backup your data immediately and do not rely on our computers as data storage spaces!

EMF Sample Preparation

  1. Please inform EMF staff immediately if you see particular glassware, plastic ware or chemicals are running out!
  2. All instruments, all glass and plastic ware in EMF labs are only allowed to be used in these rooms. Never move any equipment out of EMF rooms.
  3. All “ONLY EMF” labeled stuff is NOT allowed to be used.
  4. All chemicals in EMF labs are allowed to be used but only in these rooms.
  5. Chemicals from other labs are not allowed to be brought into the facility without permission from EMF members.
  6. Users who want to use Uranyl Acetate have to get an introduction from EMF members and sign the “Confirmation of notice – Working with Uranium containing substances” form. Each time using the Uranyl Acetate, users are obliged to fill the form “Uranyl Acetate – use record”.

Antibodies

Gold-conjugated antibodies and immunochemicals may only be used after consultation with the EM Facility.

  • Nanogold®-Fab’ fragments 1.4-nm (anti-rabbit, -mouse, -guinea pig, -goat, -rat, -sheep)
  • Immunogold conjugated IgGs 5-nm, 10-nm and 15-nm (anti-rabbit, -mouse, -guinea pig, -goat)
  • Immunogold conjugated IgGs 2-nm (anti-rabbit, -mouse)
  • Nanogold®-Streptavidin conjugate 1.4-nm

Attention: The Electron Microscopy Facility is cleaned every Monday 8:30 till 9 am. Please consider it when planning experiments.