Safety Procedures

Biochemicals

Antibiotic Explorer

BioUltra

Biological Detergents

Safety and Procedures
	Radiochemicals

Safety
Carbon-14 Safe Handling Information
Tritium (³H) Safe Handling Information
Break-Seal Ampule Procedure
Sealed Glass Ampule Procedure
Combi vial

Safety - Make It A Priority

Safety is extremely important in any laboratory, but special measures should be taken when using radioactivity in the laboratory.
Here is a brief checklist of what might be done in a typical laboratory before using a radiochemical compound:

Check the national or state regulations governing the use of radiochemicals before ordering the product. We will not ship a radiochemical product to a customer unless a current copy of your Radioactive Materials License is on file at our facility.
Check with your radiation safety officer before using the product. Make sure you understand the rules before using the product.
Keep an MSDS of the compound posted near you, as well as a safe handling sheet for your particular isotope. We provide a safe handling sheet for carbon 14 and tritium with all of our products. Make sure to monitor work areas and personnel regularly.
If you have any questions check with your radiation safety officer. If you have a technical question, please contact us at 1-800-325-4581. We will be glad to help!

Carbon-14 Safe Handling Information

Handling Precautions

WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, GLOVES AND SAFETY GLASSES.
AVOID CONTACT WITH EYES, SKIN AND CLOTHING.
DO NOT PIPETTE RADIOACTIVE SOLUTIONS BY MOUTH.
WORK IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA, VOLATILE MATERIALS SHOULD BE CONTAINED IN A CHEMICAL FUME HOOD.
MONITOR AREA REGULARLY TO AVOID CONTAMINATION; USING A GM DETECTOR OR WIPE TEST WASH HANDS AND MONITOR BEFORE LEAVING A RADIOACTIVE AREA.
USE ONLY DISPOSABLE TOWELS AND TISSUES; DISPOSE OF AS RADIOACTIVE WASTE.

Storage Precautions

CONTAIN RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL IN A DESIGNATED AREA.
LABEL RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL CLEARLY, INDICATE: NUCLIDE; TOTAL ACTIVITY; DATE OBSERVE RECOMMENDED STORAGE TEMPERATURE AND CONDITIONS.
OBSERVE POSTING AND SIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL STORAGE AREAS.

Spill or Leak Procedure

CORDON OFF AREA OF CONTAMINATION.
NOTIFY RADIATION SAFETY OFFICER.
DETERMINE TYPE AND AMOUNT OF CONTAMINATION.
REFER TO MSDS FOR THE MATERIAL INVOLVED.
DECONTAMINATE THE AREA FROM THE OUTER EDGE BY WIPING OR SCRUBBING.
MONITOR AREA TO BE CERTAIN DECONTAMINATION IS COMPLETE.
DISPOSE OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE ACCORDING TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.

Physical and Biological Data

HALF-LIFE: 5730 YEARS (BETA EMISSION)
EMAX = 0.156 MEV
EMEAN = 0.049 MEV
EFFECTIVE BIOLOGICAL HALF LIFE: 10 DAYS
CRITICAL ORGAN: WHOLE BODY, FAT
BODY BURDEN: 0.4 mci, WHOLE BODY; 0.3 mci, FAT
MAX. RANGE IN AIR: 24 cm
MAX. RANGE IN WATER: 0.28 mm
MAX. PERMISSIBLE CONCENTRATION IN AIR: 0.000004 I~Ci/ml

Tritium (³H) Safe Handling Information

Handling Precautions

WEAR PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, GLOVES AND SAFETY GLASSES, AVOID CONTACT WITH EYES, SKIN AND CLOTHING.
DO NOT PIPETTE RADIOACTIVE SOLUTIONS BY MOUTH.
WORK IN A WELL VENTILATED AREA, VOLATILE MATERIALS SHOULD BE CONTAINED IN A CHEMICAL FUME HOOD.
MONITOR AREA REGULARLY BY WIPE TEST TO AVOID CONTAMINATION, WASH HANDS AND MONITOR BEFORE LEAVING A RADIOACTIVE AREA.
USE ONLY DISPOSABLE TOWELS AND TISSUES; DISPOSE OF AS RADIOACTIVE WASTE.

Storage Precautions

CONTAIN RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL IN DESIGNATED AREA.
LABEL RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL CLEARLY, INDICATE: NUCLIDE; TOTAL ACTIVITY; DATE. OBSERVE RECOMMENDED STORAGE TEMPERATURES AND CONDITIONS.
OBSERVE POSTING AND SIGN REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL STORAGE AREAS.

Spill or Leak Procedure

CORDON OFF AREA OF CONTAMINATION.
NOTIFY RADIATION SAFETY OFFICER.
DETERMINE TYPE AND AMOUNT OF CONTAMINATION.
REFER TO MSDS FOR THE MATERIAL INVOLVED.
DECONTAMINATE THE AREA FROM THE OUTER EDGE BY WIPING OR SCRUBBING.
MONITOR AREA TO BE CERTAIN DECONTAMINATION IS COMPLETE.
DISPOSE OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE ACCORDING TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS.

Physical and Biological Data

HALF-LIFE: 12.3 YEARS (BETA EMISSION)
EMAX = 18,6 KEV
EMEAN = 5,7 KEV
EFFECTIVE BIOLOGICAL HALF LIFE: 12 DAYS
CRITICAL ORGAN: WHOLE BODY
BODY BURDEN: 1 mci, WHOLE BODY
MAX, RANGE IN AIR: 6 mm
MAX. RANGE IN WATER: 6 X 10-3 mm
MAX. PERMISSIBLE CONCENTRATION IN AIR: 0.002 p. Ci/ml (3H2); 0.000005 I~Ci/ml (3H20)

Break-Seal Ampule Procedure

Used for packaging volatile liquids or gases under vacuum. The material may be recovered from the break-seal ampules by one of two methods. Once requires a vacuum manifold and the other is used when a vacuum manifold is not available. Detailed instructions for both methods will be sent with the product. The first method requires the use of a high vacuum manifold system. A Teflon coated stirring bar is carefully placed on the pigtail. The ampule is attached to the manifold system by a short piece of rubber tubing and the system evacuated. An empty flask or reaction vessel to which the material will be transferred is also attached to the manifold system and evacuated. The bottom of the ampule is cooled as appropriate with liquid nitrogen, dry ice-acetone, etc. Using a second large magnetic bat, the stirring bar is moved to crush the pigtail. (Prior to crushing pigtail make certain that the vacuum line to pump is closed to prevent product from being pulled into trap). When the cooling bath is removed, the material can be vacuum transferred as needed.

The second method can be used when a vacuum system is not available. The bottom of the ampule is cooled to concentrate the material in the tip. The pigtail is covered with the appropriate solvent or reagent. If the mixture will be moisture sensitive, a drying tube can be attached to the top of the ampule with rubber tubing. The pigtail is then crushed by using a coated stirring bar as stated above or crushed by using a heavy glass rod. Since the ampule is under vacuum, the liquid above the pigtail will be sucked into the ampule. The mixture can then be removed by pipette.
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Sealed Glass Ampule Procedure

Used for packaging neat liquids, solutions and low melting point solids. The ampules are flame sealed and have a restricted neck etched for convenient opening. Typically the ampule is placed in a cooling bath such that the material inside has a very low vapor pressure, the ampule can then be carefully opened either by hand pressure or with an ampule breaker/collar.

Note: Sigma-Aldrich carries ampule collars which can be placed over the top of the ampule before snapping the ampule at the score in the neck.
Product Code Z12,290-4 (1-4 mL)
Product Code Z12,289-0 (5-10 mL)
Product Code Z16,813-0 (11-20 mL)

Before opening the ampule: check the location of the contents in the ampule. If the contents are scattered, the goal is to get them located in the bottom part of the ampule before opening. Carefully hold the ampule vertically and tap gently until the contents concentrate into the bottom of the ampule. If the product is liquid or in solution, centrifuge (500-1000 rpm) for a few minutes, this will ensure the contents are at the lower end of the ampule. If the contents have a high vapor pressure, cool the end of the ampule in liquid nitrogen. This will minimize the loss of a high vapor pressure compound. However, if the contents are also moisture sensitive, you will have to make sure the contents stay dry after opening.
Score the serrated neck with a glass-cutting tool.
Snap off the neck of the ampule at the serrated edge. Be careful not to scatter the contents sealed under vacuum.
Place the ampule in a sturdy secondary containment while manipulating. After snapping the neck, the contents are now accessible for use.

Note: Once an ampule is open, the radiochemical is no longer properly stored. Solvents are likely to evaporate, and there is also a possibility of spillage. As soon as possible, transfer the contents to another properly sealed container and keep compound under specified storage conditions.

Combi vial

The Combi vial system consists of the following:

Combi vial
Polypropylene V-insert (2 mL or less)
Septum lined with teflon
Aluminum seal crimped closed
Screw cap

For maximum recovery of products supplied in volumes of 1 mL or less, a polypropylene V-insert is used to allow small volumes of liquid to collect at the base of the "V." Products sold in volumes between 1.1 and 7 mL are usually supplied in a Combi vial without the V-insert. A specially designed teflon-lined septum allows you to use a syringe to extract the contents of the Combi vial directly through the teflon septum. The package can then be resealed with the screw cap. If the septa and crimp are removed, dispose and seal bottle with screw cap lid. A leak proof plastic outer container called a securitainer is used to house the Combi vial during shipping and can also be used to store the Combi vial in your lab.

Safety and Procedures