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Hi,

I've worked in a BSL3 lab before, and did use a general inverted
microscope. Are you sure that the specimen can't be contained and that you
need the face shield? The purpose of a BSL3 facility is to maintain
negative air pressure in case of an incident. A face shield protects
against accidental splashes but doesn't do anything for an aerosolized or
airborne agent (they easily get around a mask). So it seems if there is a
way to contain the specimen either in a sealed environment (flask, or
slide chamber) or to set up a shield between the user and the specimen,
that would serve the same purpose.

Also, what about a monitor situation? If you can contain the specimen from
the user then it seems your typical confocal setup, where most of the work
is done on a computer, contained within the BSL3 facility should be
sufficient. 

Caroline Bass




On 1/14/11 9:32 AM, "Watkins, Simon C" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

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>To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
>http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
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>
>Folks, I am about to install an advanced imaging system (sweptfield
>confocal and widefield imaging combo) in a biosafety level 3 facility.
>To work in the facility one has to suit up and wear a rigid face mask, as
>the cells/pathogens will be on the scope and may be open to the
>environment.  This means that the eyepieces of the scope are essentially
>useless.  I wonder if any other listers have dealt with this problem and
>what their solution was? Obviously the widefield camera will help a lot,
>but it doesnt allow survey of the full field of view, as we are doing
>mostly flourescence a video camera isnt much use.... back in the day,
>there were some screen solutions....
>Looking for creative ideas
>S.
>
>Simon C. Watkins Ph.D, FRC Path
>Professor and Vice Chair Cell Biology and Physiology
>Professor Immunology Director Center for Biologic Imaging
>BSTS 225
>University of Pittsburgh
>3500 Terrace St
>Pittsburgh PA 15261
>412-352-2277
>www.cbi.pitt.edu<http://www.cbi.pitt.edu>