Centrifuge Cup Safety

Since 2016, the Centre for Biosecurity (the Centre) has received reports of 1 suspected laboratory acquired infection and 6 exposure incidents related to the use of centrifuges.

The causes of these incidents were:

•         opening a centrifuge without additional safety measures, following a tube breakage
•         centrifugation of pathogens in a centrifuge without a sealed safety cups/rotor
•         unloading sealed safety cups/rotor outside of a biosafety cabinet
•         conducting maintenance of a centrifuge that was not decontaminated

To minimise the risk of incidents related to the use of centrifuges, the Centre reminds you to:

•         use sealed safety cups/rotors for the centrifugation of pathogens for which the main route of transmission is by aerosols (Risk Group 2 pathogens) or of any pathogen that is Risk Group 3 and higher
•         unload sealed safety cups/rotors in a biosafety cabinet
•         when the use of sealed safety cups/rotor is not possible, allow sufficient time for aerosols to settle before opening the centrifuge
•         routinely verify the integrity of the centrifuge as per the manufacturer's specifications (for example, visually inspect the containers and O-rings regularly, and grease O-rings as required)
•         decontaminate centrifuges prior to maintenance
•         for spills in refrigerated centrifuges, allow the rotor, chamber, and centrifuge cups to come to room temperature before applying disinfectant

Chapter 12-1 of the Canadian Biosafety Handbook provides more details on the use of centrifuges.