Handling Potent Compounds in Standard Analytical Laboratories

3 HANDLING POTENT COMPOUNDS IN STANDARD ANALYTICAL LABORATORIES 

Access to the laboratory should be limited to personnel directly involved with the testing of the high potency material. Access should be regulated using a key card, as shown in Fig. 17.1, or other type of lock system to prevent persons who do not 

A double door system with a gowning and degowning area is recommended since this can minimize the disruption of airflow into and out of the laboratory and provide a defined area for PPE disposal and storage. Sticky mats, also known as tack mats or adhesive mats, should be placed at all doorways to eliminate the possibility that material will be tracked outside of the laboratory on the soles of shoes. These mats should be changed on a regular basis to ensure their functionality caution should be used when changing the mats. 

An additional consideration is the use of absorbent, plastic-backed paper on laboratory benches or work surfaces. These papers can absorb any spills, minimizing the risk of forming powder deposits of the potent compound after the spill has dried. 

As previously discussed, once the solid or powder sample is in solution, the risk of worker exposure is greatly reduced. Handling precautions for the solution containing the potent compound may therefore be less stringent than for handhng sohds or powders of the same compound. Transportation of high potency materials to and from the laboratory is discussed in Section 17.4. 

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