After Action Report and Hotwash Job Aid for Laboratory Staff
This job aid aims to provide lab audiences with general knowledge and tools to conduct a Hotwash and After-Action Report after an incident, near miss, training exercise, or emergency response event.
PDFBasic Culture Media and Isolation Techniques: Microbiology Curriculum - Facilitator Guide Laboratory Exercises
This job aid contains hands-on basic culture media and isolation techniques exercises that learners can use along with equipment in their laboratory to reinforce concepts from the associated eLearning course.
PDF WordBasic Culture Media and Isolation Techniques: Microbiology Curriculum - Laboratory Exercises
This job aid contains hands-on basic culture media and isolation techniques exercises that learners can use along with equipment in their laboratory to reinforce concepts from the associated eLearning course.
PDF WordBasic Culture Media and Isolation Techniques: Microbiology Curriculum - Specimen Type and Culture Media Table
As part of the Microbiology Curriculum, this course is designed to familiarize you with basic culture media and the techniques used for microorganism identification in the microbiology laboratory. You will explore various culture media, learn to inoculate media through the use of a four quadrant streaking procedure, and recognize common problems when performing microbiological culture techniques.
PDF WordBasic Microscopy – Adjusting the Condenser Diaphragm
Microscopes are important pieces of equipment used in the management of patient care. Compound microscopes have mechanical and optical components essential to their function and use. It is important to set up microscopes for optimal viewing every time it is used. This video gives a brief overview of how to adjust the condenser diaphragm on a compound microscope for viewing a specimen on a slide.
Basic Microscopy – Adjusting the Field Diaphragm
Microscopes are important pieces of equipment used in the management of patient care. Compound microscopes have mechanical and optical components essential to their function and use. It is important to set up microscopes for optimal viewing every time it is used. This video gives a brief overview of how to adjust the field diaphragm on a compound microscope for viewing a specimen on a slide.
Basic Microscopy – Centering a slide on the stage
Microscopes are important pieces of equipment used in the management of patient care. Compound microscopes have mechanical and optical components essential to their function and use. It is important to set up microscopes for optimal viewing every time it is used. This video gives a brief overview of how to center a slide for viewing a specimen with a compound microscope.
Basic Microscopy – Cleaning the Microscope
Compound microscopes require regular cleaning to help ensure accurate diagnoses and prevent damage to the microscope. However, microscopes are delicate instruments that must be handled with care. Do not use toilet paper, Kleenex, or paper towels as these may contain particulates that could scratch the lenses. Do not apply pressure. This video walks you through the basic techniques used to clean your microscope from top to bottom. Consult your manual on the preferred cleaning solution.
Basic Microscopy – Focusing the Microscope
A microscope is a very important instrument in the laboratory. It is necessary to focus your microscope when viewing specimens to perform a proper analysis and give an accurate diagnosis. This video gives a brief overview of how to focus on a specimen using a compound microscope. It demonstrates the steps in focusing a compound light microscope from 10X to 100X. The use of immersion oil for the 100X lens is also specifically shown.
Basic Microscopy – Köhler Illumination
To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to visualize samples as clearly as possible. Köhler illumination is a light microscopy where the user aligns the illuminating optics to produce a uniform background, maximize contrast, minimize artifacts, and reduce stray light. This video is a brief tutorial on how to set Köhler illumination on a compound microscope to get a brilliant image. Please note that the ability to adjust the condenser aperture or field aperture (diaphragm) may vary by manufacturer. Consult your manual for additional instructions.
Basic Microscopy – Microscope Components
The most common type of microscope is a compound light microscope. It contains two or more lenses and uses visible light to produce a two-dimensional image of an object viewed through the oculars. This video provides a description of the three main sections of a microscope—the head, the arm, and the base—and their important components.
Basic Microscopy – Ocular Micrometer Calibration
Size is one of the most important physical features when identifying and characterizing an organism in the lab. The exact size of an organism can be determined using a calibrated ocular micrometer. An ocular micrometer is a calibrated ruler etched on a glass disk that is used for measuring organisms under a microscope. The ocular micrometer sits inside the eyepiece. This video provides step-by-step instructions on how to calibrate an ocular micrometer on a compound microscope with mathematical calculations. It also shows how to use the stage micrometer, which is a special glass slide clipped to the stage of the slide, to calibrate the ocular micrometer. Calibration should be done separately for each objective lens and different microscopes.
Basic Microscopy – Setting Up the Microscope
Microscopes are important pieces of equipment used in the management of patient care. Compound microscopes have mechanical and optical components essential to their function and use. It is important to set up microscopes for optimal viewing every time it is used. This video gives a brief overview of how to set up a microscope for viewing a specimen on a slide.
Basic Molecular Biology: Basic Science – Bacterial Transcription
The creation of RNA is made possible by a process called bacterial transcription. Through transcription the information contained in a section of DNA is replicated to form a new piece of messenger RNA (mRNA). This video will cover the three steps to create mRNA. mRNA is used to manufacture proteins through a process called translation.
Basic Molecular Biology: Basic Science – DNA Replication
Before a cell divides and DNA is passed from one cell to another, a complex process occurs. The DNA strands unwind and separate. Each strand makes a complementary strand by adding the appropriate nucleotides. As a result, there are now two double-stranded DNA molecules in the nucleus that contain the same information. This process is known as replication. This animation will describe the complex process in detail.
Basic Molecular Biology: Basic Science – DNA Structure
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a complex molecule of many components. These components can be divided into four main groups: basic elements, nucleosides, nucleotides, and nucleic acids. This video will describe how these four groups build upon each other to create the DNA molecule.
Basic Molecular Biology: Basic Science – RNA Structure
RNA is similar in structure to DNA but is involved in different cellular functions. RNA contains the same basic elements of DNA but with three major differences in its structure. This video will describe these three differences. The video will also touch on the different types of RNA found in a cell and their functions.
Basic Molecular Biology: Laboratory Practice – The Laboratory Working Areas
In performing molecular procedures in the laboratory, it is essential that you keep contamination down to a minimum. Contamination can affect the results of your test. This video will discuss the necessary steps that should be used in reducing contamination.
Basic Molecular Biology: Nucleic Acid Extraction – Column-Based Extraction
Column-based extraction is a method that employs selective binding of nucleic acid to a solid matrix, such as silica that is packed in a column. This video will show this procedure to remove nucleic acid from a specimen.
Basic Molecular Biology: Nucleic Acid Extraction – Gel Electrophoresis
Gel electrophoresis is a method used for separation of nucleic acid using a porous gel matrix depending on the size of the nucleic acid. This video will show how this procedure is performed.
Basic Molecular Biology: Nucleic Acid Extraction – Liquid Phase Extraction
When performing liquid phase nucleic acid extraction, a method called alcoholic precipitation is used where contaminants such as organic solvents salts and proteins are removed from nucleic acid in a solution. This video will show how the procedure is performed.
Basic Molecular Biology: Nucleic Acid Extraction – Magnetic Bead-Based Extraction
Magnetic bead-based extraction is a method that utilizes small particles with a paramagnetic core that binds to nucleic acid. This video will show how the procedure is performed.
Basic Molecular Biology: Nucleic Acid Extraction – Organic Extraction
Organic extraction is a method used to separate nucleic acid and other cellular components based on their differential solubility. This method uses a mixture of organic solvents, phenol and chloroform, to extract unwanted cellular components from nucleic acid. This video will show how the procedure is performed.
Basic Molecular Biology: PCR and Real-Time PCR – Principle of PCR
Polymerase chain reaction or PCR is a technique for amplifying specific DNA fragments from a DNA template. PCR happens in three basic steps: denaturation, annealing, and extension. This video will show the steps in amplifying specific DNA fragments for the PCR technique.
Basic Molecular Biology: PCR and Real-Time PCR – RT-PCR Fluorescent Probe-Based Detection
Detection of PCR products in real time can be accomplished by using fluorescent dyes or probes. Fluorescently labeled probes detect the amount of specific double-stranded DNA sequences. While fluorescent dyes detect only the amount of double-stranded DNA, in this video we are going to look at the principles behind fluorescent dye-based detection method.
Biochemicals and Gram-Negative Organisms Identification Course Facilitator Guide
Guide that facilitators/mentors can use to oversee the completion of Gram-negative laboratory exercises. The guide contains instructions for laboratory exercises, objectives, laboratory setup, supply list, job aids, and an answer key.
PDF WordBiochemicals and Gram-Positive Organisms Identification Course Facilitator Guide
Guide that facilitators/mentors can use to oversee the completion of Gram-positive laboratory exercises. The guide contains instructions for laboratory exercises, objectives, laboratory setup, supply list, job aids, and an answer key.
PDF WordBiochemicals and Gram-Positive Organisms Identification Course Laboratory Exercises
This resource familiarizes laboratory professionals with how to read a Gram stain, colonial characteristics, biochemical tests used to identify Gram-positive microorganisms, and commonly used testing algorithms. This job aid is part of the Biochemicals and Gram-Positive Organism ID eLearning course, which only covers aerobic microorganisms, those that grow in the presence of oxygen.
PDF WordBiosafety Laboratory Resources and Tools
Useful resources to establish or strengthen biosafety practices in a clinical or public health laboratory.
Calibration of the Ocular Micrometer
Size is one of the most important physical features when identifying and characterizing an organism in the lab. The exact size of an organism can be determined using a calibrated ocular micrometer. An ocular micrometer is a calibrated ruler etched on a glass disk that is used for measuring organisms under a microscope. The ocular micrometer sits inside the eyepiece. This is job aid provides step-by-step instructions on how to calibrate an ocular micrometer on a compound microscope with mathematical calculations. It also shows how to use the stage micrometer, which is a special glass slide clipped to the stage of the slide, to calibrate the ocular micrometer. Calibration should be done separately for each objective lens and different microscopes.
PDF WordCompetency Assessment Template: Donning and Doffing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
This template is intended to help supervisors or training evaluators assess PPE competency in clinical and public health laboratory settings. The goal is to determine whether employees can appropriately select, don, doff, and dispose of PPE according to site—and activity-specific risk assessments.
PDFContinuity of Operations (COOP) Emergency Event Trigger Notification List
A notification list used to determine who has the authority to activate the continuity of operations plan based on predetermined triggers and how others in the organization will be notified of the decision to activate.
PDF WordCrisis Response Toolkit
This product includes crisis response information and resources for laboratories to use in the event of various crisis events. Laboratories can consult the toolkit in the event of a crisis event and can also use the information provided for advanced planning to establish or review existing crisis response protocols and SOPs.
PDFDelivering Successful Virtual Laboratory Training
This resource discusses what virtual training is and explores the features of popular online learning platforms.
PDFDiagnostic Sensitivity and Specificity for Clinical Laboratory Testing
This job aid reviews basic information about diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for clinical laboratory testing.
PDFDiagnostic Stewardship Toolkit
The Diagnostic Stewardship toolkit was created to help organizations form diagnostic stewardship teams and apply guiding principles. Diagnostic Stewardship supports ordering the right test for the right patient at the right time to improve patient outcomes.
Learn more about the Diagnostic Excellence Initiative.
Donning and Doffing PPE in Clinical Laboratories: Basic PPE for Routine Laboratory Procedures
Donning and doffing Personal Protective Equipment is essential to keeping laboratorians and the public safe from possible contamination. This video focuses on donning and doffing a laboratory coat, gloves, and safety glasses with wrap around sides.
Donning and Doffing PPE in Clinical Laboratories: Removing Gown and Gloves Together
This video demonstrates the donning and doffing of the following PPE: Gown, Gloves, Disposable Face Mask, and Face Shield. The doffing portion of this video demonstrates removing the gown and gloves.
Donning and Doffing PPE in Clinical Laboratories: Removing Gown First and Gloves Second
This video demonstrates the donning and doffing of the following PPE: Gown, Gloves, Disposable Face Mask, and Face Shield. The doffing portion of this video demonstrates removing the gown and gloves.
EdU’s Risk Situation Table
This job aid is based on the fictitious EdU scenario in the Laboratory Risk Management course and is intended only for the purpose of this risk management training. Please reference your laboratory's policies and procedures for site-specific risks and considerations.
PDFFacilitator Guide for Basic Microscopy Laboratory Exercises
Guide that facilitators/mentors can use to oversee the completion of basic microscopy laboratory exercises. The guide contains objectives, laboratory setup, a supply list, and laboratory exercises, instructions, and an answer key as well as job aids.
PDF WordFocusing the Microscope
A microscope is a very important instrument in the laboratory. It is necessary to focus your microscope when viewing specimens to perform a proper analysis and give an accurate diagnosis. This job aid gives a brief overview of how to focus on a specimen using a compound microscope. It demonstrates the steps in focusing a compound light microscope from 10X to 100X. The use of immersion oil for the 100X lens is also specifically shown.
PDF WordForward Pipetting Technique with a Manual Micropipette
Video Description: This video demonstrates the proper technique for forward pipetting. This video demonstrates how a laboratory professional transfers 500 microliters of liquid from one buffer to another (buffer A to buffer B) using a 100 to 1000 microliter micropipette. The process includes setting up a clean workspace, using the proper personal protective equipment, selecting the correct size micropipette, adjusting the volume, mounting the pipette tip, pre-wetting, aspirating, transferring, dispensing the liquid, and finally discarding the pipette tip.
Fundamentals of Chemical Fume Hood Safety: Good Work Practices
Good Work Practices demonstrates the performance checks, the proper placement of equipment, and additional tasks needed to ensure a good performance of chemical fume hoods.
Fundamentals of Chemical Fume Hood Safety: How Airflow is Affected
How Airflow is Affected demonstrates how airflow in a chemical fume hood can be interrupted, altered, and changed by different factors.
Fundamentals of Handling Compressed Gas Cylinders – Setting Regulator Pressure
Some laboratory procedures require the use of compressed gas cylinders, and it’s important to learn how to safely and properly use them. This video takes you through the steps necessary for safely setting the compressed gas regulator, beginning with turning on the flow of gas from the cylinder to the regulator to controlling the pressure of the gas being delivered from the regulator to your laboratory equipment. Knowing how to properly set your regulator pressure will help maintain a safe working environment in the laboratory.
Fundamentals of Handling Compressed Gas Cylinders Safely – Attaching the Regulator
Knowing how to properly use compressed gas cylinders is essential for maintaining a safe laboratory. The regulator on a gas cylinder controls the flow and pressure of gas from the cylinder to your laboratory equipment. This training video shows a step-by-step tutorial for safely attaching a regulator to a compressed gas cylinder, including the proper tools and how to check for damage.
Fundamentals of Handling Compressed Gas Cylinders Safely – Checking your System for Leaks
Checking your compressed gas cylinder for leaks will help keep your laboratory safe and will also help maintain accurate laboratory procedures. This training video shows how to use a bubble test to check for leaks and changes in gas pressure at both the inlet and outlet valves on the regulator. Regularly checking for leaks and keeping a record of these system checks helps maintain a safe working environment in the laboratory.
Fundamentals of Laboratory Safety - Emergency Procedures and Reporting Scenario
Incidents in the laboratory are situations in which an employee is injured or exposed to a pathogen. An incident without an injury is known as a near miss. To reduce risk, laboratories should put various safety controls in place, including the best practice of reporting all incidents. It’s important to report and record all incidents, even near misses, to ensure risks are minimized or properly assessed. In this video, a laboratory technician punctures their glove with a needle but doesn’t pierce their skin. Is this an event that should be reported?
Fundamentals of Laboratory Safety - Incident or Near Miss Scenario
A laboratory incident, such as a sharps injury, could cause an employee serious harm or exposure to a dangerous pathogen. A near miss is an incident that doesn’t result in an injury or exposure, it’s called a near miss. It’s important to report and record all incidents, even near misses, to ensure risks are properly assessed and mitigated. In this video, an animal researcher has a sharps incident during which they puncture their skin with a needle after removing the needle from a research animal. Is this considered an incident or a near miss? Should this situation be reported?
Fundamentals of Laboratory Safety - Introduction to Laboratory Safety
Biological, chemical, and physical hazards can put laboratory employees at risk for safety incidents that could injure themselves, fellow employees, the public, and the environment. To lower risk, each laboratory should promote a culture of safety in which laboratory safety issues are immediately addressed and consistently assessed. Laboratory employees should be trained in best practices that are outlined in the laboratory SOP and exposure control plan. These administrative controls are assessed annually or reassessed after an incident or near miss. Together these safety measures contribute to a culture of safety that helps to lower risk for laboratory employees, the public, and the environment.
Fundamentals of Laboratory Safety - Laboratory Hazards Scenario
Laboratory employees are at risk for coming into contact with biological, chemical, and physical hazards in their daily work. As part of OSHA’s bloodborne pathogens standard, laboratories must follow certain guidelines to identify risks in the laboratory and do what they can to lower these risks. A hierarchy of safety controls should also be in place to mitigate risk. This video presents a scenario asking how new laboratory employees can find out what hazards are present in their laboratory.
Fundamentals of Laboratory Safety - Laboratory Work Practices Scenario
Working in a laboratory can put an employee at risk for coming in contact with biological, chemical, and physical, and electrical hazards. In this video, a laboratory technician heats an unlabeled solution using a hot plate that is connected by a long extension cord to an outlet on the other side of the laboratory. The technician leaves the solution unattended, and another employee happens to trip over the cord, knock over the solution, and burn their hand on the hot plate. What were the circumstances leading to this incident and how could it have been avoided? What are some best practices for maintaining laboratory safety in this situation?
Fundamentals of Laboratory Safety - Near Miss Scenario
Directional airflow in the laboratory is an engineering control that keeps possibly contaminated air in a laboratory from reaching other areas. The constant influx of air directs flow through biological safety cabinets and fume hoods where the air can travel through filters. In this video, a laboratory technician notices that the flutter tape, indicating the direction of airflow, is showing that air is moving out of the laboratory instead of into the laboratory. What should this technician do next?
Fundamentals of Laboratory Safety - Risk Management Scenario
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are administrative controls that help reduce risk from harm by identifying hazards in the laboratory. An SOP usually outlines best practices, procedures, and guidelines for laboratory employees, while keeping track of regular risk assessments, training, and incidents. In this video, an employee is tasked with using a new procedure. When they look up the SOPs and risk assessments that are available, they find that the new protocol may have additional risks. What should they do next?
Fundamentals of Laboratory Safety – Safety Resources
Wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE), like a laboratory coat, can help protect employees from incidents like spilling or splashing biological or chemical hazards on themselves while performing procedures in the laboratory. In this video, a laboratory technician notices that a fellow employee is wearing their laboratory coat outside the laboratory in the office area. The technician worries that this practice could result in an exposure incident. What safety resources are available to help the technician identify whether this practice is an incident or near miss and direct them on how to address the situation?
Fundamentals of Methylene Chloride Safety – Introduction
Methylene chloride, a chemical used in many laboratory procedures, is a potential cancer-causing chemical that’s been known to harm the brain, liver, and heart after repeated exposure to large volumes. Even though only small volumes are used in the laboratory, the potential for harm requires methylene chloride to be used under the OSHA standard, 29 CFR 1910.1052. In this training video, the basic health hazards of methylene chloride are introduced, along with safety controls required by the OSHA standard to help mitigate your risk for exposure in the laboratory.
Fundamentals of Quality Management System – Continual Improvement
Continual improvement means making things better to benefit both the customer and the laboratory. Without your engagement, laboratories run the risk of having laboratory work that deviates from the protocol, rather than a seamlessly integrated QMS that supports the high-quality work of the laboratory. Your quality work in the laboratory helps inform healthcare decisions for the individual and the community.
Fundamentals of Quality Management System – Cost of Quality
The cost of quality is more than a management tool. It’s a mindset that should be adopted at every operational level of a laboratory. The implications and cost associated with poor quality, or no quality, create ripple effects well beyond the walls of your laboratory. Adopting a cost of quality mindset helps improve all laboratory operations, which include reducing processing and testing errors and decreasing avoidable expenses that result from having to repeat the work. A laboratory pays for prevention once; however, it pays many times over to resolve recurring problems.
Fundamentals of Quality Management System – Introduction
Clinical and public health laboratories have a responsibility to ensure all specimen and testing activities are of the highest quality. Quality in the laboratory is a continual process and best accomplished using a systematic, managed approach.
Fundamentals of Quality Management System – Return On Investment
Investing in a QMS will help your laboratory efficiently manage organizational assets, quantify the value, and impact a QMS brings, and identify opportunities to continuously improve your laboratory’s mission. Return on investment (or ROI) allows organizations to measure the worth of an investment in quality initiatives.
Fundamentals of Working Safely in a Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC): Cleaning Up a Spill in a BSC
Cleaning Up a Spill demonstrates how to appropriately clean up a spill inside a biosafety cabinet.
Fundamentals of Working Safely in a Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC): Completing Work in a BSC
Completing Work in a BSC demonstrates the steps to be performed after BSC work is completed.
Fundamentals of Working Safely in a Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC): Factors Affecting BSC Airflow
Factors Affecting Airflow Inside the BSC demonstrates how Airflow in a biological safety cabinet or BSC can be interrupted, altered, and changed by many different factors. These interruptions can lead to potential exposures and/or product contamination.
Fundamentals of Working Safely in a Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC): Preparing for Work in a BSC
Preparing for Work in a BSC demonstrates the performance checks, the proper placement of equipment, and additional tasks needed to prepare for working inside of a biological safety cabinet.
Fundamentals of Working Safely in a Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC): Safe Use of a BSC
Safe Use of a BSC depicts best practices to work safely in a BSC.
Fundamentals of Working Safely with Formaldehyde and Glutaraldehyde: Introduction video
This video provides a brief overview of the best practices for safely working with formaldehyde and glutaraldehyde in the laboratory.
Gram Negative Organism ID Glossary
Glossary of terms and references for the Gram Negative Organism ID course.
PDFHow Does the Laboratory Information Management System Differ from Other Laboratory Systems?
The LIMS manages the information workflow through the laboratory. It interfaces or interacts with many of the other systems within and outside the laboratory. These systems can include those that interface with laboratory instruments. This video will explain the difference between the LIMS and other laboratory systems.
How to Perform a Gram Stain
This microlearning focuses on the laboratory technique known as the Gram stain, which is commonly used to differentiate between bacterial species that are Gram-positive and Gram-negative.
How to Perform the Catalase Test
This microlearning focuses on the laboratory technique known as the catalase test, which is commonly used to differentiate between bacterial species you will learn the proper techniques with the slide method and the tube method.
How to Perform the Motility Test
This microlearning focuses on the laboratory technique known as the Motility Test, which is commonly used to differentiate between bacterial species by detecting if a bacterium is motile due to the presence of flagella.
How to Perform the Oxidase Test
This microlearning teaches the proper techniques to be used while performing the Oxidase Test, which is one of several tests that is used to identify Gram-negative bacteria.
Increasing Laboratory Learner Engagement
This resource discusses what learning engagement is, the benefits that come from it, and the practices that you can take to increase learner engagement.
PDFIntroduction to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988
eLearning course to equip learners with foundational information about CLIA.
Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) | CDC
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Result – Life of a Specimen Flow Overview
To understand how test results are obtained, you need to start from the beginning where specimens are collected. This video will give an overview of specimen collection, testing, and test results.
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Result – Life of Result Outside of the Laboratory
Data and reports may be sent to stakeholders outside the laboratory. Some examples of where data may be sent include electronic health records, vital records, and a disease registry. This data will follow at least one of two distinct paths. This video will discuss these two paths.
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Result – Manual Entry of Results
Depending on your laboratory certain tests may not be automated. This could be due to the nature of the test or because the testing instrument does not have a direct interface with the LIMS. For example, some tests require visual observation and manual data entry. This video will discuss important things to consider when results must be entered manually.
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Result – Where do Data and Results Live?
Laboratory data and test results must be properly stored and managed. Proper data storage is a critical component of ensuring data integrity throughout the laboratory process. All data and results must be stored; however, they can live in many places within the laboratory. The main repository for all laboratory data and results is usually a LIMS. This video will discuss how laboratory data is stored and linked to other pertinent information.
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Specimen - Who is involved in Laboratory Informatics?
Everyone inside and outside of the laboratory has an important role to play in laboratory informatics. The extent of the role and specific responsibilities will vary. This video will discuss specific roles and responsibilities of those working in the laboratory with laboratory informatics.
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Specimen – Communicating Results
The post analytic phase consists of communicating testing results and storage or disposal of the specimen. This video will describe how the LIMS is involved in communicating results and determining storage or disposal of the specimen.
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Specimen – Data Quality
Laboratories play a crucial role in supporting public health. Accurate diagnoses of diseases and protection from health threats depend on a laboratory's ability to produce quality data. There are many areas in the life of a specimen workflow where data quality can be compromised. This video will discuss these areas and how compromised data can affect a patient’s health.
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Specimen – Data Relationship in the Laboratory
Throughout the life of a specimen, the amount of data associated with a specimen increases creating various relationships made up of different types of data. This video will cover the different types of data captured in the LIMS, their relationship, and importance to each other.
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Specimen – Data Standards
Data standards provide a method to convey information in valid, meaningful, and actionable ways. Although there are many types of data standards, in this video we will focus on data representation and data exchange standards.
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Specimen – Recording Laboratory Results
The last step in the analytic process is recording laboratory test results. After testing, results are either recorded manually or through automation into the LIMS. During this process it is imperative that the data is checked for accuracy to ensure incorrect data is not entered into the LIMS. This video will explain why it is important to ensure accuracy in reporting results.
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Specimen – What is a LIMS?
A LIMS helps laboratories track and manage the workflow of a specimen and its associated data from the time a specimen is received through the reporting of results. LIMS have many capabilities and benefits. In this video we will describe the capabilities, benefits, and limitations of a LIMS.
Introduction to Laboratory Informatics: Life of a Specimen – What is Informatics?
Informatics is a broad field that encompasses information science, information technology algorithms, and social science. In these videos we will review two types of informatics: laboratory informatics and public health informatics.
Köhler Illumination
To make an accurate diagnosis, it is necessary to visualize samples as clearly as possible. Köhler illumination is a light microscopy where the user aligns the illuminating optics to produce a uniform background, maximize contrast, minimize artifacts, and reduce stray light. This resource aids users on the steps to set Köhler illumination on a compound microscope to get a brilliant image. Please note that the ability to adjust the condenser aperture or field aperture (diaphragm) may vary by manufacturer. Consult your manual for additional instructions.
PDF WordLaboratory Onboarding Safety Workbook (Staff Version)
The goal of this product is to provide laboratory supervisors and staff with an interactive workbook to share safety protocols and common work practices in the laboratory.
PDFLaboratory Onboarding Safety Workbook (Supervisor Version)
The goal of this product is to provide laboratory supervisors and staff with an interactive workbook to share safety protocols and common work practices in the laboratory.
PDFLaboratory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Toolkit
The Laboratory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Toolkit is a guide to resources on using PPE in clinical and public health laboratories.
PDFLaboratory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Toolkit One Page Quick Guide
This quick guide contains links to the resources included in the Laboratory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Toolkit.
PDFLaboratory Supply Chain Frequently Asked Questions
The Supply Chain Frequently Asked Questions Job Aid is a follow-up resource from the “Supply Chain Lessons Learned and Q&A” OneLab network event held on October 28, 2021.
PDF WordNasal Mid-Turbinate Specimen Collection
This infographic is a resource/tool to improve nasal mid-turbinate swab specimen collection for SARS-CoV-2 testing.
PDFNasopharyngeal (NP) Specimen Collection
This infographic is a resource/tool to improve nasopharyngeal swab specimen collection for SARS-CoV-2 testing.
PDFPersonal Protective Equipment (PPE) Group Training Template
This template is intended to help supervisors document the PPE training of employees in clinical and public health laboratory settings. Employees must be trained on PPE usage before they are allowed to perform work in areas requiring PPE. The types of PPE and their processes (e.g., donning and doffing) will be determined by the laboratory’s site-or procedure-specific risk assessment.
PDFPersonal Protective Equipment (PPE) Program Assessment Template
This template is intended to help supervisors or evaluators of PPE programs in clinical and public health laboratory settings. The goal is to determine whether appropriate policies and procedures are in place to enable employees to safely and effectively use PPE. This template should be customized to address site-specific needs.
PDFPoint of Care Testing (POCT) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Toolkit
The Point of Care Testing (POCT) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Toolkit is a guide to resources on using PPE in POCT settings.
PDFProvider Performed Microscopy Procedures
Regulatory requirements, resources including forms and examples, and images of common microscopic findings for the nine specific microscopic examinations that may be performed under a Certificate of PPM Procedures.
PDFQuality Control Log Instructions
This job aid details the steps to follow when performing quality control testing to ensure tests perform as expected and alert the user when problems occur. Instructions are included for logging qualitative and quantitative tests, both with and without QC, as well as logging QC results for multiple tests.
WordREACH Partnership Resource Submission Form
This form will be used to submit resources to OneLab REACH and include the details for requirements
PDFRoutine Microscopy – Direct Smear
Demonstration of performing a direct smear from a specimen in the last step for culturing microorganisms.
Routine Microscopy – Gram Stain Procedure
Demonstration of performing a gram stain procedure following the American Society of Microbiology’s Manual of Clinical Microbiology Procedures.
Routine Microscopy – India Ink
Demonstration of the proper technique for performing an India ink stain.
Routine Microscopy – KOH Preparation
Demonstration of how to perform a potassium hydroxide or, KOH preparation, for detecting the presence of yeast in a specimen under a microscope.
Routine Microscopy – Wet Mount
Demonstration of how to perform a wet mount using a bright-field microscope and the proper equipment.
Routine Microscopy Procedures Laboratory Exercises Facilitator Guide
Guide that facilitators/mentors can use to oversee the completion of routine microscopy procedures laboratory exercises. The guide contains instructions for laboratory exercises, objectives, laboratory setup, supply list, job aids, and an answer key.
PDF WordSample Job Hazard Analysis
This is a sample chemical job hazard analysis that can be used to document a chemical’s hazards, volume, activities, exposure routes, and control measures volumes of specific chemicals used in the laboratory. Information on dichloromethane (methylene chloride) is used as an example.
PDF WordSARS-CoV-2 Specimens: Packing and Shipping Job Aid
This job aid serves as a quick reference guide for personnel trained to pack and ship suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 specimens.
PDF PowerPointSelf-Assessment Checklist for Good Testing Practices
This job aid is a downloadable and printable example of a checklist that details four main areas of focus when completing pretesting tasks: 1. preparation of the work area; 2. checking and recording temperatures; 3. maintaining equipment; and 4. preparing materials for testing.
PDF WordSmear Preparation
Instructions and list of supplies (with images) describing the process of making a smear preparation.
PDF smear-preparation.docxSpecimen Packing and Shipping Guidance
This job aid defines the criteria to properly ship biological specimens to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
PDFTemperature Log Instructions
This job aid details the steps to follow when performing and logging temperature control checks in the laboratory. It includes instructions for recording temperatures and an example of a completed monthly refrigerator/freezer temperature log.
WordThe CLIA and Provider-Performed Microscopy Procedures: An Introduction
eLearning course to prepare physicians, midlevel providers, and dentists to meet requirements for PPM procedures under a CLIA certificate.
Tips for Selecting and Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
This job aid provides tips for Selecting and Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
PDF Tips_for_Selecting_Using_Personal_Protective_Equipment_PPE.docxWhat is a Micropipette?
Video Description: Micropipettes are crucial laboratory instruments used to measure and transfer small volumes of liquid. They are suitable for various applications, such as molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell culture. By the end of the video viewers should be able to identify the parts of the micropipette, recall the two basic pipetting techniques, and explain the difference between precision and accuracy.
