Samples and Substances

Each sample or substance must be described in the samples section. When filling out the samples section please give as much detailed information, select and tick the boxes where required. List all samples and substances that you are planning to use in the experiment.

In case the sample or substance needs to be used in a laboratory the section 5 “laboratory access” needs to be filled out.

Under Sample/Substance provide the detailed name of the substance or sample.  

Under Sample/substance description the entire composition of your sample must be given, this includes the chemical formula or CAS number if available.

Under reception and storage requirements please state how the sample arrives at European XFEL (brought by user/send to XFEL) and whether there are special requirements for reception and storage (fridge, humidity control, in the dark,…). Please order standard samples/substances on user accounts directly to European XFEL. Please get in contact with the relevant lab responsible European XFEL staff early to further discuss reception and storage options !

For storage it is mandatory that containers have to be clearly and permanently labelled with name of the owner, the name of the substance and the appropriate hazard labels according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemical (GHS).

Under Usage requirements describe any special requirement that you need for using the sample at the instrument.

All samples and substances must be removed by you after completion of the experiments. In case you wish to dispose samples or substances on-site the waste disposal policy of European XFEL must be followed. The disposal collection vessels and procedures of disposal are provided by the Safety Group. Please contact the Safety Group for details (expsaf@xfel.eu).

Under associated risks you should describe any danger associated with the reception of the sample or subtance, the risk associated to any used equipment and or disposal of the substance.

According to the German and European biosafety legislation biological agents are

• micro-organisms, cell cultures and endoparasites including their genetically modified forms,

• agents associated with transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE), that may constitute a hazard to humans as a result of infections, communicable diseases, toxin formation, sensitization or other effects which are harmful to human health.

The following substances are considered as equivalent to biological agents:

• ectoparasites which may cause autonomous diseases in humans or create sensitising or toxic effects,

• technologically produced biological entities with new properties that may pose a threat to humans in the same way as biological agents.

Micro-organisms are all cellular or non-cellular microscopically or sub-microscopically small biological entities which are capable of replicating or transferring material, in particular bacteria, viruses, protozoa and fungi.

Cell cultures are cells isolated from multicellular organisms and grown in vitro.

Toxins are metabolic products or cell components of biological substances which may have a toxic effect in humans when they are inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin, and may therefore result in acute or chronic damage to health or death.

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. Please specifiy Donor organism, genetic sequence, type of modification, use of vector and acceptor organism in detail.

Biological agents are classified into risk groups 1 to 4 according to the infection risk originating from them. The EU's legal classifications (Annex III to Directive 2000/54 EC), as well as additional national classifications, can be found in the technical rules of the biological substance ordinance (TRBA 460–468).

Classification of biological agents into risk groups

For experiments at the beamlines only wildtype biological samples of risk group 1 can be used.

Risk group 1 GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) are also allowed in the biolab. GMOs could be cultured, protein purification and protein crystallisation could be carried out in the biolab and the protein samples could then be used as samples at the beamlines.

For work with GMOs we need some details for the documentation for the authorities. Therefore, it is important to give as much details about the sample and sample handling in the sample section and in the laboratory support section from the beginning. The work description should include the following:

• a brief summary of your research project that explains the purpose and the aim of the project
• a work description with a flow diagram that explains the working steps ( e.g. production of GMO) including the maximum volume of cell culture used.
• A list of the vectors that will be used

In case the proposal has been scheduled for beamtime, the bio substance Officer (Sandra Plett, sandra.plett@xfel.eu) may need further information on the work that you plan to carry out.

In this section information about properties of chemical samples and substances must be provided. This also includes chemical substances that occur in animals, microorganisms and plants, e.g. DNA or RNA fragments, antibodies, enzymes, natural and recombinant proteins.

Indicate the type of hazard(s) of the sample, following the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemical (GHS). This information can be for example found in the material safety data sheet.

According to the COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION of 18 October 2011 (Directive 2011/696/EU) nanomaterials are defined as

“natural, incidental or manufactured material containing particles, in an unbound state or as an aggregate or as an agglomerate and where, for 50 % or more of the particles in the number size distribution, one or more external dimensions is in the size range 1 nm - 100 nm.

In specific cases and where warranted by concerns for the environment, health, safety or competitiveness the number size distribution threshold of 50 % may be replaced by a threshold between 1 and 50 %.

By derogation from the above, fullerenes, graphene flakes and single wall carbon nanotubes with one or more external dimensions below 1 nm should be considered as nanomaterials.”

The most important measure to protect workers’ health is to minimize (reduce or eliminate) exposures to hazardous substances in the workplace. In order to minimize exposure to nanomaterials it is important that you indicate under protective measures all engineering controls and personal protective equipment that is required to carry out the experiment under safe conditions.

In case of question please contact the Safety group under expsaf@xfel.eu.

The use of radioactive substances and samples is subject to the German Radiation Protection Act and the Radiation Protection Ordinance. If you intend to bring radioactive samples, radioactive sources, equipment that may contain radioactive substances/ sources, or equipment that has been activated please contact the Radiation Protection Officers via rpo@xfel.eu at least 12 weeks before the start of the experiment. The responsible Radiation Protection Officer will check whether such samples, sources, equipment or materials may be brought to XFEL. In certain cases, permission may have to be applied for from the Radiation Protection Authorities in Germany which can take up to 3 months.