Basic Rules and Regulations in Microbiology Laboratory

                            

A microbiology laboratory is a place for working with a variety of microorganisms. Most microbiological laboratory procedures require the use of living organisms and the integral part of all laboratory sessions is the use of aseptic techniques. Although the virulence of microorganisms used in the academic laboratory environment has been greatly diminished because of their long term maintenance on artificial media, all microorganisms should be treated as potential pathogens (capable of causing disease). Thus microbiology students must follow aseptic techniques (free of contaminating microorganism) in the preparation of pure cultures that are essential in the industrial and clinical applications. 

Rewarding laboratory experience demands strict adherence to prescribed rules for personal and environmental safety. The former reflects concern for personal safety in terms of avoiding laboratory accidents. The latter is required maintaining a scrupulously clean laboratory setting to prevent contamination of experimental procedures by microorganisms from exogenous sources. These techniques will thus determine the success or failure of the scientific experiments conducted as well as protects the lab personnel from potentially harmful microorganisms. 

The following basic steps should be observed at all times to reduce the ever present microbial flora of the laboratory environment. 

1. Upon entering the laboratory, place coats, books and other paraphernalia in specified locations and never on working bench tops. Working space should be reserved for essential equipments and a lab book. 

2. Keep doors and windows closed during laboratory sessions to prevent contamination from air currents. 

3. A lab coat or apron must be worn at all times in the laboratory to protect clothing from contamination or accidental discoloration by staining solutions. When leaving the laboratory, remove the coat or apron and at regular intervals, get the apron washed. 

4. Wear a paper cap or tie back long hair to minimize its exposure to open flames and contamination with microbial cultures. 

5. Wear closed shoes at all times in the laboratory. 

6. Cut nails regularly and don’t put finger in eyes, ear or mouth as it can facilitate the chance of infection by microorganisms. 

7. Do not eat, drink, apply cosmetics or insert contact lenses in the laboratory. 

8. Wash the hands with liquid detergent, rinse with 70% ethyl alcohol and dry them with paper towels upon entering and prior to leaving the laboratory. 

9. Wipe bench tops with disinfectant solution, at the beginning and termination of each laboratory sessions and after every spill. 

10. Carry cultures in a test tube rack when moving around the laboratory. Also keep cultures in a test tube rack on the bench top when not in use. This helps to prevent accidents and to avoid contamination of yourself and the environment. 

 11. Open the culture tubes or plates and perform the experiments near the vicinity of the flame of the burner. The burner must be kept at a distance from organic solvents and immediately turned off after use. 

12. Always use a mechanical device for pipetting reagents or bacterial cultures. Mouth pipetting is strictly prohibited in the microbiology laboratory. 

13. Do not lick labels. Use only self stick labels for the identification of the experimental cultures. 

14. Do not place contaminated instruments such as inoculating loops, needles, pipettes and slides on bench tops. Loops and needles should be sterilized by incineration and pipettes and slides should be disposed off in designated receptacles. 

15. On completion of the laboratory sessions, place all cultures and materials in the disposal area 

16. Rapid and efficient manipulation of fungal cultures is required to prevent dissemination of their reproductive spores in the laboratory environment. 

17. Speak quietly and avoid unnecessary movements in the laboratory so as to prevent distractions which can lead to accidents. 

18. Report accidental cuts or burns or spills immediately. 

19. Spilled cultures or broken tubes must be immediately covered with paper towel and saturated with disinfectant solutions. After 15 minutes of reaction time, the towel should be removed and dispensed. 

20. Follow strict aseptic techniques for personal safety and success of experiments performed