Ohio Water Microbiology Lab
Research Topics
Internal Information
Ohio Water Science Center
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OWML: QA/QC
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual: Ohio Water Microbiology
Laboratory
Thermometers, incubators, water baths,
refrigerators, and freezers
Thermometers
are kept in three areas and are inventoried according to storage and use: (1)
the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) thermometer (2)
daily-use water-bath, incubator, and refrigerator thermometers, (3) digital
thermometers, and (4) back-lab thermometers.
- The NIST thermometer is calibrated and certified annually
by an outside service technician. Certification dates are recorded in the
LIMS. Calibration records are stored in the equipment logbook.
- Daily-use and back-lab thermometers are checked quarterly
against the NIST thermometer. Results are recorded in the LIMS and
acceptance criteria are listed in table 4. Criteria are based on use.
- Digital thermometers are checked quarterly against the
NIST thermometer and are calibrated annually by the manufacturer. Results
and calibration dates are recorded in the LIMS.
Table 3. Acceptance criteria for laboratory thermometers
|
Thermometer use |
Thermometer identification (will vary) |
Location |
Test Temperature |
Criteria |
NIST |
NIST |
Drawer |
Certified |
Certified |
Daily use
water baths |
L |
W/B 1 |
48°C |
±
1°C |
O |
W/B 3 |
36°C |
±
1°C |
K |
W/B 6 |
36°C and 48°C |
±
1°C |
Daily use
incubators |
J |
Inc 5 |
36°C |
±
1°C |
M |
Inc 6 |
36°C |
±
1°C |
Q |
Inc 7 |
36°C |
±
1°C |
Daily use
refrigerators |
R |
Refrig 1 |
0°C |
±
1°C |
N |
Refrig 2 |
0°C |
±
1°C |
B |
Refrig 3 |
0°C |
±
1°C |
S |
Refrig 4 |
0°C |
±
1°C |
T |
Refrig 5 |
0°C |
±
1°C |
Digital |
Dig F, Dig G,
Dig H |
Drawer |
0°C, 36°C, and 48°C |
±
0.3°C |
Back lab |
G |
Freezer 5, Back lab |
0°C |
±
1°C |
There are 7 incubators, 6 water baths, 5 refrigerators and 5
freezers in use in the laboratory. Temperature settings and criteria for
acceptance are dependent on use (table 3). Approximately 11 aluminum-block blue
field incubators and 2 double-chamber gray incubators are used for laboratory
and field operations.
- The temperatures of the laboratory incubators, water
baths, and refrigerators are checked monthly with NIST-calibrated laboratory
thermometers and recorded in the LIMS. During use, the incubators, water
baths, and refrigerators are checked daily and recorded on a designated
daily log sheet posted in the front or on a side of each piece of equipment.
Temperature daily log sheets are stored in the Temperature logbook.
- The temperatures of the freezers are checked quarterly
with NIST-calibrated laboratory thermometers and recorded in the LIMS. The
-70ºC freezers are equipped with automatic alarms that are set to respond
when temperatures rise above -60ºC; the alarm system sounds during regular
working hours and is attached to a telephone notification system after
hours.
- The operating temperatures of microbiological
aluminum-block incubators are checked annually (or in preparation for a
major study) and recorded in the LIMS. During periods of heavy use in the
laboratory or in the field, the temperatures are checked and recorded daily.
- The two –70oC freezers (freezers 3 and 4) are used to
store samples and microbiological cultures. A filter is cleaned and fans
behind the filter are checked by laboratory personnel for operation
quarterly and dates are recorded in the LIMS. The condenser is dusted or
vacuumed every 6 months and recorded in the LIMS. A temperature chart is
changed after a single pass around the chart (weekly).
- Water baths are filled with distilled water and are
cleaned with Liqui-Nox quarterly, or more often as needed. Record quarterly
cleanings in the LIMS.
Table 4. Acceptance criteria for laboratory refrigerators,
freezers, incubators, and waterbaths |
Equipment identification |
Use |
Acceptance criteria |
INC 2 |
Actinomycetes |
28°C ± 1.0°C |
INC 3 |
Hybridization oven |
51°C ± 1.0°C, 80°C ± 1.0°C |
INC 4 |
General use |
36°C ± 1°C |
INC 5 |
Method 1601/1602, transfer cultures, general use |
36°C ± 1.0°C |
INC 6 |
Method 1601/1602, transfer cultures, general use |
36°C ± 1.0°C |
INC 7 |
Method 1601/1602, transfer cultures, general use |
36°C ± 1.0°C |
W/B 1 |
Melt and temper agar |
48°C ± 3.0°C |
W/B 2 |
Method 1602, heat treatments |
37°C ± 1.0°C, 70°C ± 3.0°C |
W/B 3 |
Grow hosts/1602 |
36°C ± 1.0°C, 48°C ± 1.0°C |
W/B 4 |
Shaking bath for hybridization |
51°C ± 0.2°C |
W/B 5 |
Heat treatments |
70°C ± 3.0°C |
W/B 6 |
Grow hosts/1602 |
36°C ± 1.0°C, 48°C ± 1.0°C |
REFRIG 1 |
Sample storage |
1
to 4°C |
REFRIG 2 |
Sample storage |
1
to 4°C |
REFRIG 3 |
Reagent storage |
1
to 4°C |
REFRIG 4 |
Sample storage |
1
to 4°C |
REFRIG 5 |
Reagent/ media storage |
1
to 4°C |
FREEZ 1 |
Reagent storage |
-20°C to -30°C |
FREEZ 2 |
Ice packs, biological sample storage |
-20°C to -30°C |
FREEZ 3 |
Bacteria stocks, virus stocks, samples |
Shelf 1 -70°C ± 10°C
Shelf 2 -70°C ± 10°C
Shelf 4 -60°C ± 10°C
Shelf 5 -60°C ± 10°C |
FREEZ 4 |
Sample storage |
-70°C ± 10°C |
FREEZ 5 |
Probes, hybridization reagents |
-20°C to -30°C |
FIELD INCUBATORS |
Membrane filtration |
35°C ± 1.0°C, 44.5°C ± 0.5°C, 41.5°C ± 0.5°C |
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