Sheesh.

I finally caught up on the last episodes of The Mentalist this week.  Now, I take it about as seriously as any other cop show, which is to say, I know they don't always do their research.  But Code Red, the episode involving the scientist murdered by use of a pathogen...

Well, first off, there's no such thing as a BSL-5 lab.  As my boss says, BSL-3 is bad enough.  I work admin in a facility that has the latter, and they require closed cabinets and hazard gear, and the scientists fax their notes out.  And if a BSL-5 did exist, it would certainly require more than just rubber gloves and a lab coat!  

Besides which, the officious twit said at one point to get the pathogen back in a deep freeze--and went and put it in a regular freezer, one without even so much as a lock, let alone anything like liquid nitrogen.  You'd think they could at least be consistent... 

I also admit to being annoyed by the victim's outfit, particularly when everyone else is dressed casually, but I can chalk it up to the need of drama, and maybe a high-ranking scientist at a private lab might dress that way.  Just about every lab worker at my place (federal gov't) dresses for comfort, or at least dresses casual, but different environment, etc.  

Sheesh.

I finally caught up on the last episodes of The Mentalist this week.  Now, I take it about as seriously as any other cop show, which is to say, I know they don't always do their research.  But Code Red, the episode involving the scientist murdered by use of a pathogen...

Well, first off, there's no such thing as a BSL-5 lab.  As my boss says, BSL-3 is bad enough.  I work admin in a facility that has the latter, and they require closed cabinets and hazard gear, and the scientists fax their notes out.  And if a BSL-5 did exist, it would certainly require more than just rubber gloves and a lab coat!  

Besides which, the officious twit said at one point to get the pathogen back in a deep freeze--and went and put it in a regular freezer, one without even so much as a lock, let alone anything like liquid nitrogen.  You'd think they could at least be consistent... 

I also admit to being annoyed by the victim's outfit, particularly when everyone else is dressed casually, but I can chalk it up to the need of drama, and maybe a high-ranking scientist at a private lab might dress that way.  Just about every lab worker at my place (federal gov't) dresses for comfort, or at least dresses casual, but different environment, etc.