Laboratory Safety and Protocol Flashcards
The rules and regulations for the laboratory are set in place for what two primary reasons?
- for your personal safety
2. to prevent contamination of experimental procedures
What does it mean to say that a technique is aseptic?
that it is free of contaminating organisms
What are pathogens?
organisms capable of producing disease
Where in the lab should all coats, books, backpacks etc. be placed upon entering the lab?
At the front of the room, never on the lab benches
Why should the doors and windows of the lab be closed during lab?
To prevent contamination from air currents
What should be done with the lab benches at the beginning and end of each lab session?
They should be wiped down with lysol and paper towels
How should loops and needles be sterilized?
Via incineration
Why should fungal cultures especially be worked with efficiently and rapidly?
In order to prevent the dissemination of their reproductive spores in the laboratory environment
When should you wash your hands during a lab session?
At the beginning and at the end of the laboratory session
What is the dual purpose of transporting all test tubes in a test tube rack?
- to prevent accidents
2. to avoid contaminating yourself and your environment
When can microbial cultures be removed from the lab?
Never
What should be done with a spilled or broken culture?
It should be covered in paper towels and saturated in disinfectant immediately. After 15 min, the paper towels can be removed and the mess can be cleaned up/disposed of.
