History Main / DecontaminationChamber

* ''Literature/TheAndromedaStrain''. The "Wildfire" labs are designed for researching extraterrestrial microbes, so keeping the facilities sterile is serious business. There are multiple, redundant decontamination procedures the scientists must go through just to enter the labs, and one of these is a brief flash of intense light and heat that burns away their outermost layer of skin, and all the microbes on it.

* ''Literature/TheAndromedaStrain:'' The "Wildfire" labs are designed for researching extraterrestrial microbes, so keeping the facilities sterile is serious business. There are multiple, redundant decontamination procedures the scientists must go through just to enter the labs, and one of these is a brief flash of intense light and heat that burns away their outermost layer of skin, and all the microbes on it.

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* In episode 13 of ''Anime/NeonGenesisEvangelion'', "Lilliputian Hitcher", Shinji, Asuka, and Rei must enter one of these (naked and at the same time) in preparation for a test of their Eva's systems, much to Shinji and Asuka's dismay. [[EmotionlessGirl Rei, of course, doesn't seem to be bothered.]]

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* The human cities in ''Anime/FinalFantasyTheSpiritsWithin'' have a decontamination protocol against the deadly phantoms haunting the outside world, Aki [=BSs=] her way around it to [[spoiler:hide the ghost contained in her]].

* An ultraviolet decontamination room is used on ''Film/{{Saturn3}}'', as part of the airlock system. However, the researchers undergo this process with their space suits on, presumably because the [=UV=] levels would fry them to a crisp or cause more cancer than a lab rat. A regular wet shower follows toward the interior of the facility.

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* In the Literature/WhateleyUniverse story "Christmas Crisis", Tennyo had to go through one after surviving a nuclear bomb. Since she looks more like [[Anime/TenchiMuyo Ryoko]] than anyone should, the soldiers around her who weren't worried about her dying of radiation poisoning were ''really'' looking forward to seeing it.

* The radiation scrub-down is featured in ''Film/DrNo'' (including Ursula Andress in NudeColoredClothes) and in ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull''.

* Downplayed in ''ZenonGirlOfThe21stCentury''. Zenon's parents work in a standard biological research laboratory on a space station. When she walks in to visit them, the decontamination chamber only causes lights to flash for a couple seconds before releasing her.

* Anyone who is exposed to radiation is scrubbed down. Instructions for emergency workers after a nuclear accident involves shaving off all hair (if possible), removing and burying all clothes and jewelry, scrubbing with a rough brush. This is to reduce the damage done by fallout and the radioactive dust and grime that might be covering you. It's one thing to be exposed to radiation for 2 minutes. It is another to have a bit of radioactive grime in your hair bombarding your skull for hours and hours.

* Used in ''TransformersAnimated'' by Sentinel Prime to pick on the Autobots who have been living on Earth by removing possible organic contamination.

** "New Earth". The chamber is built right into the hospital elevators, and a massive plot point at the end.
** In "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS5E4TheEnemyOfTheWorld Enemy of the World]]", Salamander's radiation chamber is also a major plot point, even though it is completely non-functional.

* ''Series/TheXFiles'': In episode "One Son", Mulder and Scully go through decontamination at the Center for Disease Control facility at Fort Marlene, including a [[ShowerOfAwkward shower where they're separated only by a shoulder-high wall]]. No words are exchanged, though even ChasteHero Mulder can't stop his eyes flicking downwards when he and Scully turn to face each other.

* ''Series/{{Angel}}''. Winifred Burkle is shown showering after being splattered with blood during a séance gone wrong in "Hellbound". This gives Ghost!Spike an opportunity to [[CouldntFindAPen write a message for her on the shower stall]].

** Similarly, there are procedures for decontaminating people and equipment exposed to biological or chemical warfare agents. Not necessarily a chamber, sometimes it's [[BoringButPractical just a couple of buckets of bleach and water]], some scrubby brushes, and pads saturated with charcoal (to absorb any agents in liquid form before they can get into your body). Note that these are often meant to be used on personnel already wearing [[GasMaskMooks chemcial protective gear.]]

* ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'': [[http://www.sssscomic.com/comic.php?page=122 Going though one of these]] is necessary to enter Mora.

* A door in ''VideoGame/TimeSplitters: Future Perfect'' won't open unless you run yourself through a decontamination shower.

* ''VideoGame/{{Doom}} 3'' had Decontamination Chambers near some (but not all) experimental teleporters. They also have a bio scan system before you enter Mars city proper.

* In the WhateleyUniverse story "Christmas Crisis", Tennyo had to go through one after surviving a nuclear bomb. Since she looks more like [[TenchiMuyo Ryoko]] than anyone should, the soldiers around her who weren't worried about her dying of radiation poisoning were ''really'' looking forward to seeing it.

* Field saunas were used as this during WorldWarII. Soldiers would collect lice like... well... lice and it was a useful means of cooking the lice to death.

-->-- ''TheMiddleman'', "The Clotharian Contamination Protocol"

* Happened to Sarah Connor on ''Series/TheSarahConnorChronicles''. It was portrayed realistically and looked extremely uncomfortable. It turned out that her boss faked her radiation test in an attempt to intimidate her.

* ''Series/TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles'' has Sarah working as a temp at a nuclear plant. She gets this treatment when she's exposed to radiation.

* AnneMcCaffrey and Creator/MercedesLackey used this in ''Literature/TheShipWho Searched'': The planet on which the Cades are working at the opening of the story is a Mars-type planet with an atmosphere that humans can't breathe, but which can support other types of life. Unfortunately. Decontamination procedures are required whenever someone comes in through the airlock. Readers are treated to some graphic depictions of what can happen when decontamination procedures prove inadequate or aren't followed properly.

* In ''Franchise/MassEffect'', the ''Normandy'''s airlock also functions as a decontamination chamber. A beam of light sweeps over the characters as they wait to enter and exit the vessel, while the soothing voice of the ship's VI announces 'Decontamination in progress'. The characters are in full armor during the process. Once they are inside, they've taken the armor off, however, implying that changing clothes is part of the process.

A standard for any setting where there's a chance of [[CaptainObvious contamination]], usually by an [[TheVirus alien virus]]. Also, since decontamination usually means stripping and scrubbing, it also gives a chance for {{fanservice}}, [[NakedPeopleAreFunny humor]] or both.

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* Tony Stark, the last normal human alive in ''EarthX'', sealed himself away and let only his robot Avengers in after getting decontaminated.

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* AnneMcCaffrey and Creator/MercedesLackey used this in ''TheShipWho Searched'': The planet on which the Cades are working at the opening of the story is a Mars-type planet with an atmosphere that humans can't breathe, but which can support other types of life. Unfortunately. Decontamination procedures are required whenever someone comes in through the airlock. Readers are treated to some graphic depictions of what can happen when decontamination procedures prove inadequate or aren't followed properly.

* Commonplace in ''{{Newsflesh}}'' for any reporter who has had to go into a zombie-infested location.
* OrsonScottCard's ''Speaker for the Dead'' features a decontamination chamber between the pequeninos' land and the human city. It sprays unpleasantly caustic fumes, causing coughing and watering eyes.
* In the ''MyTeacherIsAnAlien'' series, Peter has to go through one when he is (willingly) abducted onto the alien spaceship ''New Jersey.'' When he's too embarrassed to undress, the aliens use TheNudifier on him. It's not entirely clear what the rest of the process is, however, as they wind up putting him to sleep through it (and some brain surgery to give him TranslatorMicrobes). Later two human friends of him come aboard, but because they were teleported in apparently they don't need to go through the process.
* In the ''{{Goosebumps}} 2000'' book ''Brain Juice,'' the main characters are abducted by aliens and need to be decontaminated before they're presented to the Emperor as potential new slaves. This process would involve ''acid'' shot from hoses that would be ''inserted down their throats.'' Fortunately, the Emperor gets impatient and orders they be brought forward before this can happen.

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* As shown above, used in ''TheMiddleman'' with great glee. Or, as MM himself said, "Quit your grinnin' and drop your linen!"

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* The "biosphere" episode of ''{{Eureka}}''. Almost always played for awkward sexual tension moments.

* ''PushingDaisies'', oddly enough, in the episode about scent.

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* In the ''MyTeacherIsAnAlien'' series, Peter has to go through one when he is (willingly) abducted onto the alien spaceship ''New Jersey.'' When he's too embarrassed to undress, the aliens use TheNudifier on him. It's not entirely clear what the rest of the process is, however, as they wind up putting him to sleep through it (and some brain surgery to give him TranslatorMicrobes).