Safety data sheet for lenticules
Updated 8 April 2022
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-data-sheet-for-lenticules/safety-data-sheet-for-lenticules
Safety data sheet for: UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Proficiency Testing (PT) samples for food and water microbiology in Lenticule® disc format
Review date: 31 March 2023
Issued to: all users of UKHSA PT schemes
Access: document to be downloaded from UKHSA website
Food and environmental proficiency testing unit (FEPTU)
UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ
Email foodeqa@phe.gov.uk
Telephone 020 8327 7119
Website: Proficiency testing for food, water and environmental microbiology
1. Identification of the product and the establishment
Product
Simulated food or water samples for microbiological examinations that may contain a mixture of micro-organisms or control micro-organisms in pure culture.
Establishment
Food and Environmental Proficiency Testing Unit (FEPTU)
UK Health Security Agency
61 Colindale Avenue
London
NW9 5EQ
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8327 7119 (9am to 5pm)
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8200 4400 (out of working hours)
2. Composition and information on ingredients
Plastic vials containing bacteria of Hazard Group 2, in tablet format (Lenticule disc) with a silica gel desiccant Hazard Group 2 as defined by the Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens (ACDP) 2004 Approved List of Biological Agents
A Hazard Group 2 organism may cause human disease and may be a hazard to laboratory workers, but is unlikely to spread to the community.
The silica gel self-indicating (orange) inserts are not classified as dangerous material.
3. Hazards identification
Physico-chemical hazard
Not applicable.
Health hazard
Minimal risk of infection provided good laboratory practice is observed.
Environmental hazard
Not applicable.
4. First aid measures
If accidental contact with material occurs, laboratory staff must follow local first aid procedures that are normally applied following exposure to an equivalent food or water sample. Following exposure to the material, medical advice must be sought.
5. Fire-fighting measures
Not applicable.
6. Accidental release measures
Wearing the appropriate personal protective equipment, pick up the dropped tablet (Lenticule disc) with absorbent material moistened with a suitable disinfectant. Wipe area with a similarly moistened pad of absorbent material and subsequently sterilise all paper and the tablet (Lenticule disc).
7. Handling and storage
Store at -20±5°C. Samples must be processed in a laboratory environment which, as defined by national regulations or guidelines, is suitable for the handling of micro-organisms of ACDP Hazard Group 2. Staff handling the material should have been trained in the handling of infectious biological material. The material should be treated with the same degree of care as would be exercised with equivalent food and water samples submitted to the laboratory for testing.
Hand-to-mouth contact should be avoided while working with the samples and normal hand-washing procedures relating to the handling of routine samples must be observed also with PT samples.
8. Exposure controls and personal protection
Use good laboratory practice and wear appropriate laboratory coat, gloves and eye protection.
9. Physical and chemical properties
Inert odourless dry material.
10. Stability and reactivity
Long-term storage will not increase the risks of infection associated with handling the material.
11. Toxicological information
Not applicable.
12. Ecological information
Not applicable.
13. Disposal considerations
The used material must be disposed of using an autoclave as for food and water samples containing infectious micro-organisms and in accordance with all local and national regulations.
14. Transport information
Refer to national and international regulations for transport of bacteria in Hazard Group 2 (biological substance, category B; UN3373).
15. Regulatory information
EC Biological agent, Hazard Category/Risk Group 2.
Note that this safety data sheet does not constitute the user’s own assessments of workplace risk as required by health and safety legislation.
16. Other information
In the event of an accident involving exposure of staff to the material contained in the samples, contact the Food and Environmental Proficiency Testing Unit on 020 8327 7119 during normal UK working hours. The Colindale Duty Officer (020 8200 4400) should be contacted out of hours.
For further safety information concerning this product, participants are advised to read the instruction sheets available from GOV.UK.