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Ideally you want the suits to be an overpressure system, and the room to be
negative pressure.  That way if a suit is breeched air blows OUT of it into
the room, hopefully preventing anything from entering the suit.  Also, if
the room is breeched (a leak or something) air is drawn INTO the room, again
hopefully containing anything pathological...
I can see how the masks typically used in the suits can be a bit problem for
trying to use a microscope.

Craig


On Fri, Jan 14, 2011 at 11:00 AM, Vergara, Leoncio A. <[log in to unmask]>wrote:

> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> The purpose of the negative pressure in the BSL3 room is not to protect the
> users inside the room but to prevent escape of aerosols outside of the room.
> The full face shield is part of a complete suit, not just a face mask as
> Simon points out, the purpose of the suit is to protect the user in case of
> accident happen that releases aerosols, you can encapsulate the sample in a
> box while in the microscope, but the sample has to get there from the
> biosafety cabinet, there is when accidents can happen...
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Watkins, Simon C
> Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 11:55 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: BSL3 microscopy
>
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> *****
>
> This little question is proving quite fruitful for discussion, this is not
> a face shield but totally enclosed nonflexible mask with filtered air.  to
> stop any accidents aerosolized or otherwise, the bugs are right on the edge
> of a level 4 in my mind. we tried screens this am, frosted glass, not enough
> light.  video cameras not enough light, CCD cameras with a reducing adaptor
> will work but difficult and expensive.  The most interesting suggestion so
> far has been the vision engineering eyepieces.. They superficially look
> perfect
> http://www.visioneng.us/isis-ergonomic-microscope-eyepieces-overview.phpbut.... they stopped selling them 6 months ago... (still on the website, and
> they are hunting for some)
>
>
> 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
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Confocal Microscopy List [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Caroline Bass
> Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 11:10 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: BSL3 microscopy
>
> *****
> To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
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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:
>
> >*****
> >To join, leave or search the confocal microscopy listserv, go to:
> >http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A0=confocalmicroscopy
> >*****
> >
> >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>
>