Introduction to the biosafety guidelines for sorting of unfixed cells.

Cell sor ting of biologic specimens by flow cytometry has become a widely used technique in r esear ch and clinical laborator ies. Because viable biologic specimens can contain infectious agents, pr ecautions need to be taken to prevent the exposure of operators of flow cytometers to biohazards ar ising from the use of these instruments. The International Society of Analytical Cytology (ISAC) r ecognized the need for establishing guidelines for sor ting of unfixed cells and initiated the formation of a Biohazard Working Group, which has produced a set of r ecommendations that can aid in preventing such exposur es. The guidelines contain r ecommendations on 1 ) sample handling, 2) training and protection of operators, 3) laboratory design, 4) cell sor ter setup and maintenance, and 5) testing the instrument for the efficiency of aerosol containment. Cytometry 28:97–98, 1 997. r 1 997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.