Every laboratory has a certain specification as determined by the Gene Technology Regulator (GTR). Most labs at SASVRC are classified PC2. Read the sign on the outside of the lab door for information about this classification. These rules are made for your protection, and for compliance with the Gene Technology Act (2000).
Supervisors are responsible for training of laboratory personnel in use of equipment and work practices used in the PC2 laboratory.
The requirements for PC2 containment emphasise the procedures to be observed by the laboratory work to ensure a basic level of laboratory safety.
Many of the laboratory procedures detailed below are those that would be considered essential minimum practices in any microbiological laboratory.

1. Laboratory doors shall be closed at all times to ensure that access to the laboratory is limited to laboratory personnel and persons specified by the laboratory management.
2. Mouth pipetting is prohibited.
3. Eating, drinking, application of cosmetics or smoking is prohibited.
4. Storage of food or drink in the laboratory or any storage unit containing genetically manipulated DNA (eg. refrigerator) is prohibited.
5. Laboratory gowns shall be worn during work and removed before leaving the laboratory. Suitable hooks shall be provided within the laboratory and adjacent to the access door. Closed footwear shall be worn. Long hair should be tied back.
6. Hands shall be thoroughly washed when leaving the laboratory and after handling culture.
7. All microbiological waste shall be steam sterilised before disposal. This includes gloves, plastic pipettes, plastiware, pipette tips, biohazard hood wipes, etc. Waste is to be bagged, clearly labelled with name and date and transferred to the 6th floor autoclave area. Provision shall be made to allow for the penetration of steam into the bag during autoclaving.
8. Equipment used for handling cultures or containmented material which is not readily steam sterilised shall be chemically disinfected after use. Refer to AS/NZS 2243.3 for appropriate decontamination procedures (Library).
9. Work benches and surfaces shall be decontaminated with a disinfectant solution after spills and when work is completed.
10. All technical procedures shall be performed in a way that minimises the creation of aerosols. In particular, operations such as sonication or vortexing which may generate aerosols are to be done in a biological safety cabinet. A period of at least five minutes shall be allowed for aerosols to settle before opening homogeniser or sonicator containers in a biological safety cabinet.
11. All work done in the PC2 laboratory shall follow PC2 procedures whether or not genetic manipulation work is involved.
12. Cultures shall be clearly identified, dated and appropriately stored. Cultures should not be stored for long periods on the bench, but should be transferred to a dedicated storage area.
13. Labels shall not be moistened with the tongue.
14. Lab coats must be worn while working in all laboratories within the Centre. Coats can be obtained from the 6th floor (see the Technical Officer) and returned to the 6th floor when dirty. Lab coats should not be worn outside the laboratory. Ideally you should wash your hands before leaving the laboratory.
    Should it be necessary to wear gloves outside of the lab, ensure that you wear only one, so that you have on ungloved hand for opening doors, etc.
15. An additional rule determined by SASVRC states that children are expressly prohibited from all laboratories.
16. Waterproof covering for skin wounds is required.
17. Laboratory benches are to be decontaminated with appropriate disinfectant after spills and when work is completed.
18. Specialised wastes are to be segregated eg. Infectious, radioactive, sharps.