Safe Laboratory Practice

• Never mouth-pipette, use safe measuring and dispensing devices like Capillary and micropipette fillers, Pipettors, Specimen measuring syringes, Reagent dispensers etc.
• Do not eat, drink, smoke, store food, or apply cosmetics in the working area of the laboratory.
• Use an aseptic technique when handling specimens and culture.
• Always wash the hands after handling infectious material, when leaving the laboratory and before attending to patients. Cover any open wound with a waterproof dressing.
• Wear appropriate protective clothing when working in the laboratory. Ensure it is decontaminated and laundered correctly.
• Wear protective gloves, and a face mask, for involving direct contact with infectious materials.
• Minimize the creation of aerosols.
• Centrifuge safely to avoid creating aerosols.
• Do not use chipped or cracked glassware and always deal with a breakage immediately and safely.
  
• Avoid spillages by using racks to hold containers.
• Work neatly and keep the bench surface free of any unnecessary materials.
• Decontaminate work surfaces at the end of each day’s work and following any spillage of infectious fluid.
• Report immediately to the laboratory officer in charge, any spillage or other accident involving exposure to infectious material.
• Use and control an autoclave correctly.
• Dispose of laboratory waste safely. 
• Do not allow unauthorized persons to enter the working area of the laboratory. 
• Ensure technical and auxiliary staff working in the laboratory receive appropriate immunizations. 
• Those at increased risk of acquiring infections, e.g. immuno-compromised persons, should not work in a laboratory handling infectious material.