Automating procedures in handling of biological samples and biosafety improvements by the use of specialized chemistry chapel.

• Grant number: 12/51654-8
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Technical Reserve for Institutional Research Infrastructure
• Start date: February 01, 2013
• End date: January 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Parasitology - Protozoology of Parasites
• Principal Investigator: Paulo Cesar Cotrim
• Grantee: Paulo Cesar Cotrim
• Host Institution: Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo (IMT). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Regarding the annual implementation plan for costs of institutional infrastructure supported by FAPESP, the Advisory Board of Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo (IMTSP), seeking to improve the quality of the research, unanimously approved the acquisition of A) a Modular Research Systems for receiving, processing and storing biological samples, integrating eight major laboratories; B) A biological safety cabinets/fume hood to meet the requirements of biosafety in handling solvents and contaminants; and C) A Geiger counter to monitor areas where radioactive materials are used. A - Barcode system for biological samples management: The goal of this project is to install and adapt the Modular Research Systems (MRS), a biological samples management for IMTSP needs. As all scientific laboratories of the institution do research with biological samples it is needed a system that helps to manage the entire process of biological sample handling (identification, test procedures, storage). This system it will be essential for good laboratory practice ensuring improvement in quality of research. B - Biological safety cabinet/fume hood equipment: This equipment attends all requirements for good laboratory practices and it will be used by all research labs from the institution. The chosen system is modern and meets the researchers' needs in handling solvents including infectious agents. C - Geiger counter: Although the number of studies using radioactive products has decreased in some circumstances, its use is justified by the high sensitivity to identify substances in biological samples. To monitor the area where this kind of research is done, it is essential to control the all area avoiding any source of contamination. (AU)