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    Academic User Policy

    This policy applies to instruments and services provided by the Cell Imaging and Cytometry Core (CIC) at Turku Bioscience Centre. Every user must read and follow the practices herein.

    Publications and acknowledgements

    1. It is obligatory to acknowledge the Cell Imaging and Cytometry core AND Biocenter Finland in your publications. e.g. Imaging/Flow cytometry was performed at the Cell Imaging and Cytometry Core, Turku Bioscience Centre, Turku, Finland, with the support of Biocenter Finland.
    2. Once published, please report your publication here.

    General instrument usage rules

    1. No eating or drinking is allowed at the CIC facilities.
    2. Lab coats must be worn in designated areas.
    3. Outdoor clothing is forbidden in CIC instrument areas. External users may place their outdoor clothing to the CIC office.
    4. Users must keep workspaces/equipment clean by following guides located beside each instrument.
    5. Users may not disassemble or physically modify instruments, including objectives. Contact CIC in advance when a customized solution is needed.
    6. Contact CIC staff and inform of any instrument malfunction or for help optimizing configuration.
    7. It is forbidden to look directly into a light beam.

    Access, training & contact

    1. CIC staff are available on weekdays 9-15.
    2. Contact us in our office BioCity 5th floor, room 5077 or by email or phone:

    Flow Cytometry: flow (at) bioscience.fi or +358 (0)50 365 1598

    Mass Cytometry: masscytometry (at) bioscience.fi or +358 (0)50 365 1598

    Microscopy: microscopy (at) bioscience.fi or +358 (0)50 369 7532

    Obligatory introductory training (min. 1 h, 30€/h) is required before instrument use. Users must read the instrument user guide before training (available in CIC web pages). You are required to prefill a questionnaire on OpenIRIS so that staff can customize your training to your needs. A preliminary consultation discussion about the project with the CIC staff is recommended. CIC staff reserves the right to decide if a user needs additional training or to completely revoke instrument access if the user policy is not followed.

    Reservations and cancellations

    1) It is forbidden to use the instruments without a reservation.

    2) Reservations are made here: https://utu.openiris.io.

    3) Cancellation times are instrument-specific and can be viewed in OpenIRIS. Late cancellations will be charged. The user must inform CIC staff in advance if they are unable to cancel their reservation.

    4) Microscope reservations are for a minimum of 1 h and cannot exceed 4 h during peak times (9 – 17 Mon-Fri). Contact CIC staff when alternative arrangements are needed.

    5) Users must check (in OpenIRIS) for upcoming reservations after them and follow instrument-specific shutdown/standby procedures accordingly.

    Biosafety

    1) CIC premises are biosafety level 1 (BSL1), (except for the Sony Cell Sorters which are BSL2). No samples requiring BSL2 can be analysed at the microscopes or flow cytometer analysers.

    2) If you are not sure whether your material is BSL1 or BSL2, classifications outlined by the Gene Technology Board of Finland are here. For further questions regarding GMO classification in Finland contact gtlk.stm@stm.fi.

    3) CIC staff may ask to see your GMO risk assessment approved by the GTLK.

    4) For all live human samples collected after 1/1/2020, users must wear an FPP2/3 face mask and safety goggles/vizor and follow instrument-specific instructions/restrictions.

    5) Users must inform CIC staff whether or not human samples have been tested for HIV or hepatitis.

    Billing

    1) All instruments are charged per hour. Users are invoiced according to academic pricing here. Industrial and external users are invoiced separately.

    2) In case of reservation misuse or failure to follow shutdown procedures, users will be billed for additional hours. If the instrument is left on over the weekend, the charge can be significant, and P.I.s will be informed.

    3) CIC staff charge contact hours and preparation time for workshops/lectures/demos.

    Data storage and handling

    1) It is the user’s responsibility to save their data and take it with them after using the instrument/service.

    2) Files older than 30 days are automatically erased from the operating computers, without prior notice. These files cannot be retrieved. Please contact us to learn more about data storage options.

    Updated February 5th 2024