CONTROLLED DOCUMENT- DO NOT COPY*

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research

Facility

Cleaning and Disinfection of the

Sample processing area

SOP History (archived date) V1.3 (21/05/2013) reviewed by Mercy Korley; V1.2 (01/11/2010);
V1.1 (23/01/2009); V1.0 (20/02/2008)
SOP Number CRF.L108
Created by Emma Goodwin
Version 2.0
Date 30/10/2013
Review Date October 2018
1
Related SOPs CRF.L109, CRF.L105
Approved by John Humphreys

SOP CRF.L108 Version 2.0

Cleaning and disinfection of the sample processing area
30/10/2013
Page 1 of 3

*The master document is available on the CRF I:\ drive and website: print-off of this document by anyone other than
the CRF SOP Co-ordinator will be classed as uncontrolled. Researchers and their teams may print off this document
for training and reference purposes but are responsible for regularly checking with the CRF Sop Co-ordinator for the
most recent version.
 CONTROLLED DOCUMENT- DO NOT COPY

Standard Operating Procedure: NIHR Sheffield Clinical Research Facility

Cleaning and Disinfection of the Sample Processing Area

This SOP has been written to give general guidance to study personnel on cleaning and
disinfection of the sample processing area. There are no GCP Guidelines on how to clean
and disinfect the sample processing area.

Background
Every laboratory should have strictly administered guidelines for cleaning and
disinfection. The main use of disinfectant in the clinical laboratory is to ensure that
equipment and the environment are decontaminated and safe to handle. Cleaning is a
process that physically removes contamination, but does not necessarily destroy micro-
organisms. It is important that all staff working in the Clinical Research Facility use the
same procedure when cleaning and disinfecting the sample processing area to ensure
that there is continuity and consistency when cleaning and disinfecting in the sample
processing area.

Definition
Cleaning is a process that physically removes contamination, but does not necessarily
destroy micro-organisms. Disinfection is a process which reduces the numbers of micro-
organisms present but may not destroy bacterial spores or some viruses. Disinfection is
considered to reduce the numbers of micro-organisms to a level that is safe for the
purpose of which the piece of equipment is intended.

Procedure

1. Staff involved in cleaning and decontamination in the sample processing area

of the Clinical Research Facilities must have received appropriate training for
the procedures they are undertaking and training must be documented.

2. When cleaning and disinfecting the sample processing area the individual
must wear protective clothing this should be in the form of a laboratory coat or
disposable gloves and apron. Gloves and aprons can be found in wall
dispensers in the laboratory within the Clinical Research Facility.

3. Staff in the Clinical Research Facility must ensure that priority is given to the
use of low hazard materials. Materials for cleaning and disinfecting in the
Clinical Research Facility include 1% TriGene (has advantages over sodium
hypochlorite solution e.g. Milton, including longer shelf life after dilution) and
sani-cloth detergent multi surface wipes (or similar detergent wipe product).

4. The investigator or delegated person must clean the Clinical Research

Facility work bench tops after use. Disinfecting wipes can be used to clean
the Clinical Research Facility laboratory workbench. Wipes can be found in
the Clinical Research Facility laboratory on top of the laboratory workbench.

5. The Clinical Research Facility clinical staff should disinfect the laboratory
weekly or at the end of each working day if the laboratory has been in use.
The weekly check list that is held in the Clinical Research Facility reception
must be completed.

6. When cleaning and disinfecting equipment in the Clinical Research Facility

laboratory a decontamination file for the Clinical Research Facility can be
SOP CRF.L108 Version 2.0
Cleaning and disinfection of the sample processing area
30/10/2013
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accessed at the nurses stations. This file contains a comprehensive list that
states all equipment in the Clinical Research Facility laboratory and how often
the equipment should be cleaned and with what products. For further advice
please refer to STHFT Policy for the Decontamination of Hospital Equipment
& Medical Devices.

7. Spillage of blood and body fluids occurring in the Clinical Research Facility
laboratory must be cleaned and decontaminated promptly a body fluid
response kit can be found in the Clinical Research Facility laboratory. Please
refer to SOP CRF.L105 Procedure for Dealing with Spillages and Sheffield
Infection Control Guidelines.

For a list of approved chemical disinfectants and examples of usage see the Sheffield
District Council of Infection Guidelines and STHFT Infection Control Guidelines (table 6 &
7 on pages 47, 53-56). The STHFT infection control guidelines include updated list of
approved chemical disinfectants and examples of usage as to Sheffield Council of
infection Guidelines.

Related Documentation1

Document Name Author

Sheffield Infection Control Guidelines STH Infection Control
Team
Sheffield Policy for the Decontamination of Hospital Equipment STH Foundation Trust
and Medical Devices
STH Hand Hygiene Policy STH Infection Control
Team
Weekly Checklist CRF
Sheffield Waste Strategy & Policy J Watts & M Mahon
1
The location(s) of any related document(s) are listed in the CRF SOP Referenced Documents
Directory.
The CRF SOP Referenced Document Directory and any Related SOPs, listed on page 1 of this SOP,
can be accessed electronically at www.sheffield.crf.nihr.ac.uk or can be requested by contacting
Sheffield Clinical Research Facility, O Floor, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10
2JF, 0114 2713339.

SOP CRF.L108 Version 2.0

Cleaning and disinfection of the sample processing area
30/10/2013
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