Recombinant adeno-associated virus safety and handling

Recombinant AAV stocks are provided in formulation buffer containing PBS 1X, 35mM sodium chloride, 0.001% pluronic F-68 and 5% glycerol (Final NaCl is 172mM). Never dilute the viral sample in low salt buffer, water or ethanol. We strongly recommend that you test the virus prior to diluting it. If dilution is necessary, use the formulation buffer.

Store at -80⁰C with minimal freeze-thaw cycles. We recommend making single use aliquots in siliconized screw cap microcentrifuge tubes. You can buy them here (Catalog # 4200SLS). For short term storage (~ 1 week), you can keep AAV aliquots at 4⁰C

Avoid vortex or excessive pipetting of the sample. Do not dry the sample. Use sterile tubes, tips, needles, syringes.

Do not expose the sample to extreme conditions such as very low or high pH, high temperature, denaturant agents, detergents, organic compounds, etc.

Do not transfer between tubes more than necessary, especially when using regular hydrophobic plastics.

Recombinant AAV vectors are not known to be pathogenic in humans. However since they can rarely integrate into the host DNA they must be handled following the NIH guidelines for risk 1 group agents https://osp.od.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/NIH_Guidelines.pdf

Recombinant AAV vectors are replication incompetent, the transgene rarely integrates into the host genome.

NIH and OSHA guidelines state that replication-defective rAAVs that do not contain a tumorigenic gene product or a toxin can be handled at Biosafety level 1 (BSL-1). To disinfect material exposed to AAV you can use 0.5% sodium hypochlorite, 2% glutaraldehyde, or autoclave for 30 minutes. Ethanol is not an effective disinfection agent.

The Principal Investigator of the recipient laboratory assumes safety and handling responsibility once the sample leaves our premises.