Lab Safety and Ubiquity

What is the purpose of aseptic technique?

Prevents you from contaminating yourself, ensures others and the work area are not contaminated, ensures cultures do not become contaminated

What is the purpose of having different biosafety levels?

ranks potentially harmful biological agents based on level of risk

BSL-1

Pose minimal risk to workers or environment; Do not typically cause disease in healthy adults; Non-pathogenic strains of E. coli and B. subtilis

BSL-2

Pose moderate threat to workers or environment; Can cause mild disease in healthy adults (treatment available); S. aureus

BSL-3

Serious biological hazards; Can cause serious or potentially fatal disease (treatment available); Yellow fever virus, tuberculosis bacteria

BSL-4

Easily transmitted and cause serious or fatal diseases (treatment may not be effective); Ebola virus

Autoclave

a, sterilizer machine that uses high-pressure, high-temperature steam to destroy bacteria, viruses, fungi, and spores on items, such as, laboratory instruments and medical supplies

What goes in the labeled autoclave bag?

Agar plates, used gloves, paper towels

What goes in the labeled autoclave bin?

culture tubes