Good Microbiological Lab Practices

Good Microbiological Laboratory
Practices (GMLP)
 Post a Department Emergency Information sign at the laboratory entrance. Include the
name and contact information of the laboratory supervisor or other responsible person.
 Restrict laboratory access; keep doors locked when the laboratory is unattended.
 Ensure that everyone entering the laboratory understands the hazards associated with the lab.
 Keep the lab clean and free of clutter.
 Ensure that emergency safety equipment (e.g., fire extinguishers, eyewashes, showers) are
accessible and in working order.
 Prior to initiating any work, review the relevant SDS and PSDS associated with the intended
activity and keep them close at hand for quick reference.
 Wear appropriate lab attire:
o Fastened knee-length lab coats, never worn outside the laboratory;
o Prior to donning a lab coat, carefully inspect the lab coat for holes, tears, evidence of
contamination, and inside the pockets for debris. If any of these are found, notify lab
supervisor/staff and obtain a new lab coat, which must be inspected for holes, tears,
contamination, and debris prior to use. Only use lab coats that are free from the above
deficiencies;
o Gloves: when deemed necessary and always when handling infectious materials or
when working in a biological safety cabinet; remove and dispose of them before leaving
the laboratory. Prior to donning gloves, inspect them for thinning areas, holes, tears, and
other imperfections that could impede their protective qualities. Discard gloves with any
of the above imperfections and obtain new gloves. Only use gloves that are free from
deficiencies that could impede their protective functions. Wash hands before and after
use;
o Eye and face protection when necessary;
o Footwear with closed toes and heels;
o Covered legs: shorts, Capri pants, short skirts, etc., do not provide adequate skin
coverage and are not permitted.
 Never perform experiments using your own cells.
SEM 20.06.1 Good Microbiological Laboratory Practices

Revised: January 26, 2017 Page 1 of 2
 Never eat, drink, store food or drinks and related utensils, apply cosmetics or lip balm,
handle contact lenses or take medication in the laboratory.
 Perform all procedures to minimize splashes, spills and generation of aerosols.
 Never pipet any substance by mouth.
 Avoid touching mouth or eyes.
 Tie back long hair.
 Restrict the use of needles and other sharps to those procedures for which there are no
alternatives. Do not bend, break, shear or recap used needles or remove them from
disposals.
 Dispose of all sharps in labeled, leak- and puncture-proof sharps containers.
 Substitute plastic ware for glassware whenever possible. Avoid direct handling of broken
glassware; pick up using a brush and dustpan, tongs, or forceps.
 Avoid bringing items (e.g. books, cell phone) that cannot easily be decontaminated into the lab.
 Store personal items such as purses, backpacks and street clothing separately from PPE
and away from areas where biological material is handled.
 Cover any open wound, cut, scratch or graze with a waterproof dressing and disposable gloves.
 Use disinfectant traps and in-line filters to protect vacuum lines from contamination.
 Wash hands after removing gloves and other personal protective equipment, after
handling viable materials and animals, and before leaving the laboratory.
 Follow appropriate cleanup and disposal procedures:
o Decontaminate work surfaces with an appropriate disinfectant at the end of every
experiment and following any spill;
o Ensure that all cultures and stocks are decontaminated before disposal;
o Decontaminate glassware, instruments and lab coats before reuse, recycling or disposal;
o Dispose of broken glassware in a puncture-proof container;
o Ensure that contaminated clothing is decontaminated before laundering.
 Report all spills and accidents/incidents to your supervisor and OSEM, using the
University online Incident Report Form.
SEM 20.06.1 Good Microbiological Laboratory Practices

Revised: January 26, 2017 Page 2 of 2

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Good Microbiological Laboratory

SEM 20.06.1 Good Microbiological Laboratory Practices

SEM 20.06.1 Good Microbiological Laboratory Practices

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