The following are the ABIF's rules of use for operating any and all instruments within the facility. Please read all the guidelines listed below so that we may ensure a pleasant working environment for everyone.
Important User Information
- No user is permitted to use an instrument they have not booked
- Initial training sessions are 2-4 hours
- Charges correspond to time reserved on the online booking calendar. 1hour of booking = 1hr of billing. Our billing policy is built on trust in the personal integrity of our users. Therefore, if you book for 1 hour, but use the microscope for 3 hours, please go back to the system and add a 2hr booking
- If users do not cancel 24 hours before booking, they will be billed for the time frame that was originally booked
- If a user does not arrive during the first hour of their booking the instrument is considered available for others, but the original user will be billed
- Users will NOT be billed if the equipment is not functioning (please contact a staff member should this happen)
- Each confocal session is limited to one 3 hour session per day, and a limit of 3 sessions per week* (9 hours total) within regular working hours (9:00AM - 6:00PM)
*Note - These limitations do not apply outside these regular working hours. - Images left on the computers for more than one month can be deleted without notice
- Priority will be given in the following order:
- Local Users
- Live Cell Experiments
- McGill Users
- Outside Users
All users must
- Bring a sample similar to the those being used for their project during the first training session to address specific sample issues
- Be trained by a member of the ABIF staff
- Fill out a project proposal form
- Apply for building access to the appropriate rooms: Building Access Request Form
- Use the online booking system for using all of the equipment: Book Microscope
- Cancel all bookings 24 hours in advance of the time booked
- Only work on instruments they have been trained on
- Have Biohazard Level 2 samples approved by the ABIF staff
- erika.wee [at] mcgill.ca (Book an appointment) if they require technical assistance
- Immediately inform ABIF staff of any issues with the microscopes. Many issues can be quickly resolved if they are reported early but may cause more significant damage if they are left unresolved. This is not about assigning blame, mistakes happen, it is about minimizing any potential damage to the microscopes
All users must NOT
- Use any instruments they have not been trained on
- Train other new users – please leave this to the qualified personnel employed by the ABIF facility
- Bring samples that are Biohazard Level 3 or higher; they are not allowed in the ABIF facility
Important PI information
- An approved study is needed to use the ABIF infrastructure. The approval instructions will be sent to the PI upon the creation of a new study for McGill lab with two emails, one automatic and one personalized. For non-affiliated McGill lab, the ABIF will contact directly the PI to confirm approval of ABIF usage and will manage their study. Lack of study approval will prevent users from using the ABIF infrastructure.
- Following a new user's consultation, PI approval is required before continuing the process for equipment access and training. ABIF is responsible for sending the email to request the approval and the PI to reply with their approval. No training will be scheduled and no access will be granted until approval email is received.
- Ensure you receive automatic email notifications for approval charges from no-reply.medicine [at] mcgill.ca. If you do not receive them, please contact the ABIF to resolve the issue (Only for FOAPAL payment).
These rules are subject to change if deemed necessary by the ABIF staff.
Please remember to acknowledge the ABIF in any publications you have that include images taken in the ABIF facility. Here is a suggested text:
"Images were collected and/or image processing and analysis for this manuscript was performed in the McGill University Advanced BioImaging Facility (ABIF), RRID:SCR_017697".