Job Aids & Resources

Flowchart for identifying aerobic Gram-negative rods or Gram-negative coccobacilli.

Aerobic Gram-Positive Rods Flowchart.

Flowchart (with images) distinguishing alpha and gamma-hemolytic streptococci on blood agar plates.

Form used to provide an overview of important points to consider when conducting business from an Emergency Relocation Site.

Job aid for the specific steps needed to safely attach the regulator to a compressed gas cylinder.

Flowchart used to identify or rule out B. mallei.

Flowchart used to rule out or refer B. pseudomallei.

Summary of characteristics (with images) that can be used to identify Bacillus spp.

Table that describes various general media used in a public health or clinical microbiology laboratory.

This job aid contains a list of terms commonly associated with basic culture media and isolation techniques and a brief description of each term.

This job aid contains a list of supplies needed and instructions for performing a four-quadrant streak on an Agar plate to obtain isolated colonies from a specimen.

Hands-on microscopy laboratory exercises that learners can use along with equipment in their laboratory to reinforce concepts from associated eLearning course.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Flowchart (with images) that can be used to identify beta-hemolytic streptococci on blood agar plates.

Images showing biochemical tests for identifying Gram- positive organisms.

Hands-on Gram-negative exercises that learners can use along with equipment in their laboratory to reinforce concepts from associated eLearning course.

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.

This job aid details the use of standard precautions when cleaning up blood or other body fluids, including handwashing, rinsing of mucous membrane or eyes after exposure, treating skin punctures, and reporting exposure, as well as glove safety.

This job aid is a reference document for the required steps to take following a blood or OPIM exposure incident.

Chart listing characteristics of Brucella spp.

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.

Compressed Gas Association Valve Outlet Listing

Checklist of activities/tasks needed to safely use biological safety cabinets.

List of questions to consider while following a specimen from collection through microbiological testing.

This job aid details the use of standard disinfectants and antiseptics in the laboratory, including instructions for the preparation of a 10% bleach solution.

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.

Worksheet to list the various communications systems a laboratory uses, the current providers, restoration contacts, and backup modes of communication.

Worksheet to list all facilities in which the organization operates, and designations for which facilities will be needed in an emergency or disaster situation.

Flowchart to assist in determining whether to activate a continuity of operations plan.

Worksheet to ensure that secure methods of communications are available in a continuity of operations situation.

Worksheet to determine overall staffing needs for essential laboratory functions.

This infographic includes general information to improve COVID-19 specimen handling and processing for more accurate results.

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.

This resource discusses what virtual training is and explores the features of popular online learning platforms.

This job aid accompanies the Developing S.M.A.R.T. Laboratory Training Learning Objectives course. It provides a summary of how to apply CDC Quality Training Standard #2, along with exercises to develop S.M.A.R.T. learning objectives for your laboratory training.

This job aid reviews basic information about diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for clinical laboratory testing.

Chart listing characteristics of biothreat agents and similar organisms.

Chart differentiating Brucella spp. from other urea-positive, oxidase-positive gram-negative coccobacilli.

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.

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.

This resource guide includes available biological, chemical, and radiological resources for laboratories to reference during an emergency.

This job aid accompanies the Ensuring Accuracy and Relevancy of Laboratory Training course. It provides a summary of how to apply CDC Quality Training Standard #3, along with exercises to ensure the accuracy and relevancy of your laboratory training.

Examples of statements of applicability and scope for continuity of operations plans.

Examples of purpose statements for laboratory continuity of operations plans.

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.

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.

Flowchart describing major characteristics in identifying Francisella tularensis.

How Airflow is Affected demonstrates how airflow in a chemical fume hood can be interrupted, altered, and changed by different factors.

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.

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?

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.

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?

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?

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.

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.

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.

Cleaning Up a Spill demonstrates how to appropriately clean up a spill inside a biosafety cabinet.

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.

Safe Use of a BSC depicts best practices to work safely in a BSC.

Fact sheet listing common questions and answers about genetic testing and results.

This is a sample glutaraldehyde job hazard analysis that can be used to document the chemical’s hazards and controls by job step. It also contains information about emergency procedures, training, and review and monitoring.

List of supplies and reagents needed to conduct a Gram stain and instructions on how to conduct a Gram staining procedure.

Flowchart for identifying lactose negative Gram-negative rods.

Gram-Negative Rods Non-Stool Pathogens Flowchart.

This job aid details the steps for proper hand hygiene in the laboratory, including instructions for cleaning the hands with water or with an alcohol-based sanitizer.

Fact sheet containing basic information about molecular genetic testing and results.

This document contains the qualifications required for a clinical consultant in a laboratory performing high complexity testing.

This document contains the qualifications required for a cytotechnologist in a laboratory performing high complexity testing.

This document contains the qualifications required for a laboratory director in a laboratory performing high complexity testing.

This document contains the qualifications required for testing personnel in a laboratory performing high complexity testing.

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.

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.

Worksheet to help identify essential and non-essential laboratory functions.

This resource discusses what learning engagement is, the benefits that come from it, and the practices that you can take to increase learner engagement.

eLearning course to equip learners with foundational information about CLIA.

Introduction to Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) | CDC 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This job aid covers essential topics for correctly delegating responsibilities to CLIA laboratory personnel and for identifying responsibilities a laboratory director must retain.

Manual summarizing rules and guidelines for using a standardized abstraction form to record evidence for systematic reviews for best practices in laboratory medicine.

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.

The Laboratory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Toolkit is a guide to resources on using PPE in clinical and public health laboratories.

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. 

An example of a laboratory test request form.

This flowchart outlines the qualifications necessary for a clinical consultant to comply with CLIA regulations related to moderate complexity testing as specified in 42 CFR 493.1417.

This flowchart details the qualifications required for a technical consultant to ensure compliance with CLIA regulations for moderate complexity testing as specified in 42 CFR 493.1411.

This infographic is a resource/tool to improve nasal mid-turbinate swab specimen collection for SARS-CoV-2 testing.

Worksheet to list individuals and organizations to notify in the event of an emergency and the person responsible for notifying them.

In this scenario, the user will demonstrate the proper steps to safely load, operate, and unload an autoclave. The user is tasked with decontaminating biohazardous waste. The autoclave scenario is performed in the Autoclave room.

In this scenario, the user is tasked with packing and next-day air shipping a Category B specimen of Salmonella during a nationwide outbreak and sending it to another laboratory for further evaluation. The user must properly triple package the specimen and safely transport it to the Specimen Receiving area for air shipping, then apply the proper marks and labels in the proper locations to the package and seal it. The Pack and Ship scenario is performed in the Core and Specimen Shipping & Receiving laboratories. For this scenario, the user will wear a gown, disposable mask, face shield, and gloves.

Worksheet to list essential functions, key personnel, and their successors.

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.

Table to list names and contact information for each employee.

Instructions and list of supplies (with images) for preparing a wet mount.

Tool to help identify and prioritize essential laboratory functions.

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.

This booklet outlines recommended practices for physicians, nurses, medical assistants, pharmacists, and others testing patients under a CLIA Certificate of Waiver. The booklet contains tips, reminders, and resources along with forms and examples for use in your testing site.

Job aid for the specific steps needed to safely remove the regulator from a compressed gas cylinder.

This job aid is a downloadable and printable results log for reporting qualitative testing.

This job aid is a downloadable and printable results log for reporting multiple types of testing.

This job aid is a downloadable and printable results log for reporting quantitative testing with quality control.

Demonstration of performing a direct smear from a specimen in the last step for culturing microorganisms.

Demonstration of the proper technique for performing an India ink stain.

Demonstration of how to perform a wet mount using a bright-field microscope and the proper equipment.

This job aid contains hands-on routine microscopy exercises that learners can use along with equipment in their laboratory to reinforce concepts from the associated eLearning course.

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.

This job aid will familiarize learners with the major sections of the microscope.

Job aid for the specific steps needed to safely set the regulator pressure for a compressed gas cylinder.

Job aid for the specific steps needed to safely shut down and remove the regulator on a compressed gas cylinder.

Instructions and list of supplies (with images) describing the process of making a smear preparation.

Flowchart (with images) that can be used to identify staphylococci.

Decision tree to help determine the classification for substance if shipping by air.

Reference table for labeling, marking, and documenting requirements for the various classifications and modes of transport.

Table summarizing recommended biosafety levels for infectious agents.

Worksheet that planners can use to list testing, training, and exercise requirements and the frequency that each should occur.

This job aid provides tips for Selecting and Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

Chart and images that can be used to interpret TSI reactions.

This job aid introduces clinical and public health laboratory professionals to the hazards they may encounter while working in a clinical or public health laboratory, ways to mitigate risks, waste disposal best practices, and the proper response to incidents.

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.

Yersinia pestis Characteristics Chart.