Use of the MCIF Facilities:

 Anyone may apply to use the MCIF facilities using the form provided. Approval of an application will require a valid grant account number and the signature of the PI. Applications will be reviewed for feasibility, and if required an estimate of the costs involved in carrying out the project will be provided to the applicant by the MCIF staff.

Sign Up and Equipment Usage Policy:

• Sign-up is required for the use of the two TEMs, the SEM and the ultramicrotomes.
• On-line sign up is available
• Only users who have been approved by the MCIF staff may sign up. Approval is based on satisfactory completion of training on the instrument.
• If a user does not arrive within 30 minutes of their scheduled time they may lose reservation to another user. .
• Users who do not use their scheduled time and do not remove their names from the schedule will be charged for the full session.

 

Training:

All electron microscope and major equipment users will be required to demonstrate competency on the instrument they propose to operate to be considered qualified. Investigators who have qualified on instruments elsewhere must be instructed in the use of the current equipment prior to check-out. If further training is required to demonstrate competency, scheduled sessions will be available. Individual operators must be able to assess the working condition of an instrument, and will be held responsible for informing the MCIF staff if an instrument is not performing properly.

Usage Policies:

• Keys - Keys to the MCIF will be dispersed to qualified individuals only and each key holder must fill out the sign out sheet in K1.210A. Each key holder will be required to inform MCIF staff of after hours use.
• General - All materials stored in the refrigerator, desiccators, or in the prep labs must contain the individual's name and date. Equipment left unattended but still in use must have a note attached designating the user and duration of use.
• Hazardous Materials - Samples that may be characterized as potentially dangerous to the users or staff of the MCIF may not be brought into the MCIF facilities unless they are rendered harmless and the procedures for rendering them harmless have been approved by the Institutional Biosafety Committee, Research Involving Infectious Agents Committee and/or the Radiological Safety Board. The evidence of approval must be on file in the office of the MCIF. This policy affects at least bacterial, viral, carcinogenic and radioactive samples. Fixing the samples before bringing them into the MCIF is not sufficient; the full procedure and precautions for preparing the sample for microscopy must be approved in writing after complete discussions with the MCIF director.
• Food, Beverages and Radios - No food or beverages may be taken into the electron or light microscope rooms or in any of the laboratory and darkroom of the MCIF. This policy is necessary to reduce the possibility of instrumentation failure and downtime due to accidents with food or beverage spillage. Radios may be used at a volume level so that others using the MCIF are not disturbed.