Lab Exercise 1 - Lab Basics, Aseptic Techniques, Two-Tube Transfer

basics of lab attire

coat, gloves, and goggles ALWAYS

long pants always

closed-toed shoes (crocs and UGGs that show the heel are nos)

hair should be short or tied back

What do you do if you spill something?

tell a TA and your neighbors immediately

don’t try to clean it up on your own

Is food or water allowed in the lab?

Absolutely not

Are cough drops allowed in the lab?

no

Where do we dispose of test tubes?

racks or baskets provided

Where do we dispose of Petri dishes?

in disposal trays or in biohazard bins

Where do we dispose of pipettes?

in pipette trash cans, specifically labeled

Do gloves go in the regular trash?

no, they go in a special glove disposal bin

How should you store Petri dishes?

agar side up

(storing lid-up could allow condensation to drip back down from the lid onto the agar and ruin your inoculation)

3 main types of media

general purpose

selective

differential

most common preparations of media

broth

agar slant

agar deep tube

agar plate

Should you handle test tubes by the cap or by the body?

Always handle by the body, not by the cap. Caps are not secure

handle with your non-dominant hand

aseptic technique

technique practiced to minimize infection