________________________________

From: owner-ehs-staff**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu [mailto:owner-ehs-staff**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu]
On Behalf Of Sean Barry
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 3:26 PM
To: ehs-staff**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu; Diane Hoffmann; Karen Shaw; Janice Streisand;
Julie Karlonas; Shawn Rasmussen
Subject: FW: [CSHEMA-L] Explosion problems with Cryovials

 

FYI-folks working with NUNC brand cryotubes might want to examine the
closures carefully to see if they work correctly (see the note below
from David Silberman, H&S guy at Stanford)

 

Sean

 

Sean J. Barry

Campus Biosafety Officer

Environmental Health & Safety

One Shields Avenue

University of California

Davis, CA  95616

530 752 9485

cell 530 681 6451

FAX 530 752 4527

sjbarry**At_Symbol_Here**ucdavis.edu

 

________________________________

David Silberman wrote:

Dear Colleagues,

 

We have had about four "explosive" incidents involving the NUNC brand of
CryoTubes since July.  It appears to some veteran users of these vials
that the threading of the current batch does not seem to be able to hold
onto the cap which have "shot off" during these explosions.  Other
vials, including the Nalgene Cryoware cryoenic vial appear to have more
substantial threads.  We have not had any explosions with these.  While
we have used the NUNC brand in the past without incident, I am concerned
that either one of our labs have a "bad batch" or the product has "gone
downhill" recently. 

 

If any of you have add similar problems, please let me know.  You can
write directly to me if you wish:

 

silberman**At_Symbol_Here**stanford.edu

 

The Warning label reads:  Do not use Cryotubes in the liquid phase of
liquid nitrogen unless correctly sealed in Nunc Cryoflex Tubing.
Improper use may cause entrapment of liquefied nitrogen inside the vial
and lead to pressure build-up, resulting in possible explosion or
biohazard release.  Use appropriate safety procedures as outlined in the
Nunc International Cyropreservation Manual when handling and disposing
of the Cryo Tubes. 

 

We checked with the people who have had tubes explode and they have
verified correct handling -- contents not in liquid phase -- vapor phase
only.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

David

 

 

Packaging Information:
  NUNC(with trademark logo)
       CryoTube Vials
  1.8ml
   Made in Denmark
Nunc A/S - Kamstrupvej 90 - PO Box 280
  DK-4000 Roskilde - Denmark
      Tel:  45 4631 2000
      Fax: 45 4631 2175
       E-mail:  infociety**At_Symbol_Here**nunc.dk
      www.nuncbrand.com  

        Apogent

Lot 084188 2010 08

Cat No  377267

 

--
  

David H. Silberman
Director, Health and Safety Programs
Stanford University School of Medicine

650/723-6336 (Direct)
650/924-0962 (Mobile)
650/723-0110 (Office)
650/736-0179(FAX)

 

Health and Safety... It's more than just compliance.

The views expressed in this forum are those of the individual poster and
do not reflect the views of ABSA or the List Owner.

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