Formaldehyde Fumigation Procedure:
Prepare BSL-3:
Remove all lab personnel. Close all incubator and refrigerator doors.
Set air conditioning to 28°C (heat room).
Turn off biosafety cabinets (timed period, for 13 hours only).
Fumigation:
Make formalin mixture in fume hood (75 ml 37% formaldehyde,
150 ml H2O). Transport mixture into BSL-3 in a suitable carrier.
Add mixture to a metal fumigation beaker on hot plate that has
been hooked up to a timer set for two hours and that has been
placed in view of the window.
Leave BSL-3 immediately after turning on timer to the hotplate.
Seal outer door and window filters, put biohazard tape visibly
around door, and lock securely.
Incubation:
Allow beaker to boil dry and leave room "as is" overnight.
The formaldehyde is removed from the facility by the Class II
cabinets, which turn on automatically after 13 hours.
Once the room is at negative pressure, unseal tape from around
the window filters.
After 24 hours, the formaldehyde should have been evacuated. Unseal the door and
return air conditioning to normal setting. Make sure formalin has dispersed before
allowing any BSL-3 personnel in.