ENS Event | |
|---|---|
06:00 Dec 6, 2024 | |
| Title | Autoclave Contamination |
| Event Description | The following report was received by the Texas Department of State Health Services (the Agency):
On December 11, 2024, the Agency received an email from the licensee requesting information on reporting a contamination incident that occurred in their biosafety level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory involving 200 microcuries of C-14. The incident occurred on Friday, December 6, 2024, and was discovered on December 7, 2024, when the sample had cooled and access could occur. The licensee's researcher had labeled a sample of the material they were using with the C-14. After the use was concluded, the researcher doused the material with a fluid to kill the bacteria. The sample was placed in a `red bag' for disposal, but [the sample] was inadvertently placed on a tray that was moved to the autoclave. The sample was put through the autoclaving process where the plastic container it was in ruptured due to the heat and pressure. Some material spilled onto the tray, and some material was in the drain of the autoclave. It was not until December 7, 2024, when the material cooled, that any assessment could confirm the presence of radioactive material and any evaluation for contamination could be made. The drain [exposure rate] was four times background, and the tray contained most of the contamination and material. The BSL-3 laboratory and vivarium have been closed until such time as decontamination can be completed. There was no contamination of personnel, no contamination outside of the autoclave, and no contamination in the actual BSL-3 laboratory. Additional information will be provided in accordance with SA-300. Texas Incident Number: I-10150 Texas NMED Number: TX240048 |
| Where | |
|---|---|
| University Of Texas At El Paso El Paso, Texas (NRC Region 4) | |
| License number: | L0000159 |
| Organization: | Texas Dept Of State Health Services |
| Reporting | |
| Agreement State | |
| Time - Person (Reporting Time:+148.75 h6.198 days <br />0.885 weeks <br />0.204 months <br />) | |
| Opened: | Bruce Hammond 10:45 Dec 12, 2024 |
| NRC Officer: | Adam Koziol |
| Last Updated: | Dec 12, 2024 |
| 57468 - NRC Website | |
University Of Texas At El Paso with Agreement State | |
WEEKMONTHYEARENS 574682024-12-06T06:00:0006 December 2024 06:00:00
[Table view]Agreement State Autoclave Contamination 2024-12-06T06:00:00 | |