Microbiology

[Kathryn]

Hi
I am writing a SWP for Microbiology and have used "Microbiology Safety Considerations" by Hoffman as a reference. However I have a couple of questions......
...are the protocols she writes officially required in schools?
..specifically she says not to take samples from environments likely to contain pathogens including toilets....
When talking to one of the teachers he said he likes the kids to compare toilets & handbasins to their own fingernails and the seats they sit on in class, as the toilets are in fact cleaner! He thinks that the safety measures that are followed eg gloves, sealing plates and not opening again, incubation temperature etc are sufficient to ensure no danger to students.
So my question is... is there a directive on this??

Also there has been discussions before in this forum, on sealing plates - all the way around or just in four places... what are opinions on this???

Thanks...

kathryn

[Labbie]

Please Try CSIS Chemical Safety in schools Vol 2 page 57 & 61 section 3.2.6.2. Microbiology. Do hope this helps you.

[Ocean Breeze]

Hi Kathryn.. as well as the advice above, remember that everything thats done needs to have a Risk Assessment done PRIOR to the prac being done.

You can refer to documents, standards, gudelines etc in the R A.

We do those type of fingernail/toilety pracs...but WITH a Risk assessment.

R_S

[Kathryn]

Thanks... so we should be ok to go ahead with the toilet/fingernail expts.
The only problem I have with the CSIS manual is that I am never sure if the info is out-of-date and that the protocols have been superceded - which is why i wanted to check on what others were doing.
kathryn

[lada]

I always ask teachers to seal the plates on 4 places to leave room for condensation to evaporate.
I find the totally sealed plates tend to get mouldy and wet inside.
Anybody has a different idea??

Lada

[RosalieM]

If you use parafilm instead of sticky tape you can seal the whole way around. Personally, I much prefer this method of sealing. See other discussions for more info. It has something to do with the fact that parafilm allows oxygen to permeate (like dialysis tubing for the starch/iodine experiment) whereas sticky tape stops everything in and out and therefore when oxygen runs out the anaerobic critters take over...

[Ocker]

We always use Masking tape all round with no problems, maybe it breathes