Wyneken Henry, Kim Kelly N, Cerles Audrey A, Heren Christine, Bowman Sydney, Reuter Emma J, McCarty Colin, Chen Kaylin, Daly Sean, Gherman Lauren, Imran Iqra, Marcopul Jenna, Miller Alannah, Valladares Andrea, Wrinn Caitlin, Fleming Adam E J, Roberts Rebecca, Casagrande Rocco
Gryphon Scientific, Takoma Park, Maryland, USA.
Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA.
Appl Biosaf. 2024 Mar 1;29(1):1-9. doi: 10.1089/apb.2023.0013. Epub 2024 Feb 28.
Threaded conical centrifuge tubes are ubiquitous in biological laboratories and are frequently used for the storage/transport of potentially biohazardous samples. However, limited data are available on how frequently and from where these tubes leak. These data are valuable for laboratory biorisk management and to inform future studies on risks arising from the routine use of laboratory consumables.
The frequency of leaks from threaded conical centrifuge tubes was tested using a Glo Germ solution as a tracer. Conical tubes (15 and 50 mL) from several brands were filled, inverted, and placed on their side on the benchtop. After 1 h, the presence or absence of leaks on the benchtop surface, tube threads, and exterior was recorded.
We observed that liquid leaked out of tubes that were apparently properly threaded in 2% of 15 mL tubes (confidence interval [95% CI] 1.4-2.6) and 1.4% of 50 mL tubes (95% CI 0.2-1.5). After opening, liquid was found on the threads on the outside of the tube in 20% of 15 mL tubes (95% CI 10-31) and 14% of 50 mL tubes (95% CI 1-28). We did not find sufficient evidence that differences in leak rates among brands were practically significant.
The fact that leaks were not uncommonly observed from conical centrifuge tubes suggests that mitigations for any hazard posed by a leak should be a component of every biorisk management strategy for protocols involving the manipulation of hazardous substances in these tubes. Further research should be conducted on other activities that could cause tubes to leak (such as centrifugation or vortexing) and should be completed to understand the risks associated with this consumable. Research into the costs and benefits of mitigating the risk of leaks from conical tubes is recommended.
螺纹锥形离心管在生物实验室中随处可见，常用于储存/运输可能具有生物危害性的样品。然而，关于这些管子泄漏的频率以及泄漏源的数据有限。这些数据对于实验室生物风险管理以及为未来关于实验室耗材常规使用所产生风险的研究提供信息非常有价值。
使用Glo Germ溶液作为示踪剂来测试螺纹锥形离心管的泄漏频率。将来自几个品牌的锥形管（15毫升和50毫升）装满、倒置并侧放在台面上。1小时后，记录台面、管螺纹和外部是否有泄漏。
我们观察到，在15毫升的管子中，有2%（置信区间[95%CI]1.4 - 2.6）的管子螺纹看似正确但仍有液体泄漏，在50毫升的管子中有1.4%（95%CI 0.2 - 1.5）出现这种情况。打开管子后，在15毫升的管子中有20%（95%CI 10 - 31）、50毫升的管子中有14%（95%CI 1 - 28）的管子外部螺纹上发现有液体。我们没有找到充分证据表明不同品牌之间的泄漏率差异具有实际显著性。
锥形离心管并非不常见地发生泄漏这一事实表明，对于涉及在这些管子中处理有害物质的实验方案，任何因泄漏造成的危害的缓解措施都应成为每个生物风险管理策略的一部分。应针对其他可能导致管子泄漏的活动（如离心或涡旋）开展进一步研究，并应完成研究以了解与这种耗材相关的风险。建议对降低锥形管泄漏风险的成本和效益进行研究。
