Sterile Technique

Summary

This instructional video from Addgene emphasizes the importance of aseptic technique in lab sciences. It covers personal protective equipment, setting up a clean workspace, and maintaining sterility. Key points include wearing lab coats and gloves, keeping workspaces organized, and using alcohol and flame to sterilize tools. The video also demonstrates proper handling of agar dishes and bottles to prevent contamination, ensuring a safer and more effective laboratory practice.

Takeaways

• 🔬 Aseptic technique is crucial for success in fields like microbiology, molecular biology, and cell biology.
• 🧼 Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as lab coats, gloves, and safety glasses are essential for maintaining aseptic conditions.
• 👕 Ensure arms and wrists are covered to minimize the risk of contaminating samples with body flora.
• 🧤 Gloves protect both the user and the material from contamination; change them when necessary.
• 🧹 Clear the workspace of unnecessary materials and keep clean and dirty items separate to maintain a clean working environment.
• 🔥 Use a Bunsen burner or candle jar to create a sterile field, and keep the surrounding area free of flammable materials.
• 🍶 Wipe down workspace and equipment with 70% alcohol to disinfect surfaces before starting work.
• 🔍 Inspect all materials for signs of contamination or compromised sterility, including checking autoclaved items and sealed containers.
• 🔥 Sterilize metal objects like forceps by flaming after dipping in 70% alcohol for reuse in the lab.
• 🧫 When working with agar dishes, hold the lid at an angle to inoculate to prevent contamination from body flora.
• 🌐 Visit Addgene's website for more resources on aseptic technique, protocols, and scientific sharing.

Q & A

What is aseptic technique and why is it important in scientific fields?

Aseptic technique is a critical skill in fields such as microbiology, molecular biology, and cell biology, which involves maintaining a sterile environment to prevent contamination of samples and reagents.

What personal protective equipment is recommended for working in a lab?

Appropriate personal protective equipment includes a lab coat, gloves, and safety glasses if necessary.

How can body flora be a source of contamination in a lab setting?

Body flora can contaminate reagents and samples, so it's important to cover arms and wrists with a cuffed lab coat or disposable arm cuffs to reduce this risk.

What are some best practices for maintaining glove cleanliness in the lab?

To keep gloves clean, avoid touching skin, hair, cell phones, writing utensils, or other unsterilized objects, and always change gloves if they come into contact with something unsterile or when starting a new task.

How should a workspace be organized to minimize contamination risks?

The workspace should be cleared of unnecessary materials, with clean and dirty items separated and within arm’s reach. It's recommended to work from left to right, with clean items on the left and waste bins on the right.

Why is it important to wipe down workspaces and pipettes with 70% alcohol?

Wiping down workspaces and pipettes with 70% alcohol helps to disinfect surfaces and prevent contamination of materials and samples.

How can you check if autoclaved items have maintained their sterility?

Check autoclaved items for color changes in the indicator tape to ensure sterility. For foil-covered items, check for tears or holes, and for capped items, ensure the cap is tightly sealed.

What is the proper way to handle foil when working with sterile containers?

Gently loosen the edges of the foil before starting work, lift it with one hand to keep it upright, and hold it in your hand rather than putting it down to prevent contamination of the sterile side.

How should you handle glass bottles containing sterile liquids to maintain sterility?

Gently loosen the cap before starting, remove it with one hand without placing it on the lab bench, and pass the bottle neck through a flame before and after use to sterilize it.

What method can be used to sterilize metal objects like forceps and spreaders in the lab?

Dip the metal objects in 70% alcohol, pass the alcohol-dipped portion through a flame to ignite and burn off the alcohol, and cool the hot tip on a sterile surface before use if it's for live cultures.

How can you reduce the risk of body flora contamination when working with agar plates?

Hold the lid of the agar dish at a 75-90 degree angle towards you and inoculate from behind to form an additional barrier against contamination.