Laboratory Safety and General Guidelines
(Followed in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, DGCN COVAS)
1. Keep biological safety cabinets and other working places including washing and sterilization room clear of clutter. Do it immediately after finishing your job.
2. Consider all sample materials as potentially infectious.
3. Always work in appropriate laboratory attires (lab coats, gloves, masks etc.) and wash your hands thoroughly upon leaving the laboratory.
4. Perform procedures that have the potential to generate aerosols or droplets in a biological safety cabinet.
5. All samples/specimens are to be labeled and stored properly in proper storage boxes to avoid leakage (Don’t use glasswares for storage especially at subzero temperature). Do not store the unnecessary materials.
6. Temperature sensitive media, solutions, enzymes, biochemical reagents etc. should be returned immediately to their location after use to maintain their efficacy. (Use cold bricks/buckets/coolers when taking out the temperature reagents from refrigerators).
7. Computers and phones in the labs/offices: The individuals handling specimens or engaged in laboratory work must remove their gloves before using these keyboards or telephones.
8. Always change gloves that have been grossly contaminated with body fluids/products, infectious materials or chemical reagents.
9. Judicious usage of chemicals should be ensured, as there is limited contingency to carry out the ongoing projects.
10. Dispose the used articles properly. Never mix the reusable glass and plastic wares with the burnable discards. Infectious discard should be autoclaved first before reusing or burning (Strictly adhere to the departmental guidelines).
11. Perform vortexing using sealed tubes or secondary containers in an open laboratory. Do not use parafilm as a primary closure.
12. Proper training should be obtained before handling any lab. equipment .
(Equipments are costly assets and difficult to replace and repair).
13. Clean and disinfect refrigerators and equipments (water baths, test tube racks, etc.) at least once a month or after contamination with any biological material. Areas around the balance and pH meter should always be kept tidy and spatulas after usage should be cleaned properly.
14. Clean and disinfect the exterior of the pipetting devices with an appropriate disinfectant if it becomes contaminated with specimen. If the pipettor is contaminated internally, the entire unit must be disassembled and decontaminated.
15. Clean and disinfect any equipment to be repaired prior to repair.
16. Proper functioning of equipments should be ensured including filling up the logbooks. Any fault in the functioning of equipments should be brought to the notice of the technical staff.
17. If laboratory is running low on any chemicals/reagents etc., make sure that it is ordered in advance in order to avoid non-availability at the last minute.
18. All the water and electric connection (equipments of temporary use) must be turned/switched off after finishing the work or leaving the lab especially after office hours. Never under any circumstances leave high temperature/pressure equipment (Hot air ovens, autoclaves) unattended for long periods.
19. Your suggestions and efforts for pleasant working atmosphere in the department are appreciated.