Standard Microbiological Practices

1.  Access to the laboratory is limited or restricted at the discretion of the lab director when experiments or work with cultures and specimens are in progress.

2.  Persons wash their hands after they handle viable materials, after removing gloves, and before leaving the laboratory.

3.  Eating, drinking, smoking, handling contact lenses, applying cosmetics, and storing food for human use are not permitted in the work areas.  Persons who wear contact lenses in laboratories should also wear goggles or a face shield.  Food is stored outside the work area in cabinets or refrigerators designated and used for this purpose only.

4.  Mouth pipetting is prohibited; mechanical pipetting devices are used.

5.  Policies for the safe handling of sharps are instituted.

6.  All procedures are performed carefully to minimize the creation of splashes or aerosols.

7.  Work surfaces are decontaminated at least once a day and after any spill of viable material.

8.  All cultures, stocks, and other regulated wastes are decontaminated before disposal by an approved method (such as autoclaving).  Materials to be decontaminated outside of the immediate laboratory are to be placed in a durable, leakproof container and closed for transport from the laboratory.  Materials to be decontaminated outside of the immediate laboratory are packaged in accordance with applicable local, state, and federal regulations before removal from the facility.

9.  A biohazard sign is posted at the entrance to the laboratory whenever agents are present.  The sign may include the name of the agent(s) in use and the name and phone number of the investigator.

10.  An insect and rodent control program is in effect.