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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1975 April; 29(4): 484-490
Copyright © 1975 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Biohazards Assessment in Large-Scale Zonal Centrifugation

^* Dow Environmental Health Services, 3 Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, Maryland 20850; Electro-Nucleonics Laboratories, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland 20014; and Office of Biohazards and Environmental Control, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20014

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to determine the biohazards associated with use of the large-scale zonal centrifuge for purification of moderate risk oncogenic viruses. To safely and conveniently assess the hazard, coliphage T₃ was substituted for the virus in a typical processing procedure performed in a National Cancer Institute contract laboratory. Risk of personnel exposure was found to be minimal during optimal operation but definite potential for virus release from a number of centrifuge components during mechanical malfunction was shown by assay of surface, liquid, and air samples collected during the processing. High concentration of phage was detected in the turbine air exhaust and the seal coolant system when faulty seals were employed. The simulant virus was also found on both centrifuge chamber interior and rotor surfaces.