VA HANDBOOK 7610 (278)
(b) Use the following table to determine the number of rooms required:
NOTE: The number of rooms required is based solely on the use of upright freezers.
Deviation from the number of rooms may be justified if chest freezers are to
be used.
Number of
Number
of Rooms
Freezers
Up to 8
1
9 to 16
2
17 to 24
3
25 to 32
4
33 to 40
5
(6) Special Instrument Space
Space for each of the following special instruments requires approval of the AsCMD
for Research and Development. The first 9.3 NSM (100 NSF) for each special
instrument approved will be derived from total laboratory unit space.
(a) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Suite ............................................................... 46.5 NSM (500 NSF)
Used to determine the etiological agent for particular anomalies. Intensifies or
amplifies nucleic acids in biological samples so they can be counted. Requires three
separate rooms accessed though a common airlock corridor to provide a clean
environment to prevent contamination by other nucleic acids which can cause
erroneous results.
Space accommodates an airlock, preparation laboratory for isolating nucleic acids
from biological samples, the PCR Room housing DNA Thermal Cyclers which
amplify the nucleic acids and an electrophoresis room.
(b) Confocal Microscope ............................................................................................... 18.6 NSM (200 NSF)
Used to visualize non-radioactive antibody probes. Images of the probes are built
using the microscope and computer, then stored on the computer hard drive for
future recall.
(c) Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) ............................................................. 13.9 NSM (150 NSF)
Used in Cell biology to isolate and separate cells.
(d) Cell Irradiater .......................................................................................................... 4.7 NSM ( 50 NSF)
Used to expose biologic specimens to gamma radiation.
(e) Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectrometer ............................................. 37.2 NSM (400 NSF)
(f) Mass Spectrometer ................................................................................................... 18.6 NSM (200 NSF)
(7) Controlled Temperature Rooms
These prefabricated rooms include walk-in refrigerators (cold rooms), incubators,
and freezers, utilized for the performance of special procedures and storage of
special supplies that require specific temperature and humidity control. Since these
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