GLP aims to minimize the occurrence of most common accidents caused by human error, poor laboratory practice, or the misuse of equipment. It consists of a set of instructions about the use of various laboratory equipment such as pipettes, bacterial loops, hypodermic needles, centrifuges and homogenizers.
These practices are based on sterile techniques, which are learned in every bacteriological course. They are intended to protect the experiment from contamination on one hand, and the worker and the environment on the other. Basically, they prevent the production and dissemination of aerosols, and some of them are cited here:
- Bacteriological loops should be heated from the far end of the loop.
- Loops must be cooled before touching the inoculum.
- Mixing, blending and centrifuging should be done in airtight tubes.
- The last drop from the pipette should not be blown out.
- Lyophilized cultures should be opened and wrapped in cloth soaked with decontaminant, preferably in a biological safe cabinet.
- Cultures should be poured slowly.
- Needles should be wrapped before withdrawing from bottles.
GLP is based on years of experience and studying accidents and laboratory-acquired infections, and appears in the form of regulations. These regulations must be obeyed, preferably after instructing and explaining the rationale behind each regulation.