Sample contamination can skew experiment results, waste resources and time, and pose significant health and safety risks. Fortunately, sample contamination is largely preventable when laboratory personnel adhere to proper practices and protocols. To learn some practical tips for preventing sample contamination in your laboratory, consult this guide.

Acquire Specialized Equipment

Using the incorrect equipment for a given task often results in sample contamination. When working with a sample, make sure to use the right type of equipment for that specific application. While investing in specialized equipment may cost more than just trying to use the equipment you already have, doing so may pay off by preventing costly samples from unnecessary contamination.

Properly Maintain Your Equipment

Once you’ve acquired the appropriate equipment for your application, it’s crucial to maintain it properly. Failing to perform regular maintenance on your laboratory equipment can cause operational errors. In some cases, such malfunctions may result in sample contamination. As such, you should create a rigorous lab equipment maintenance schedule and adhere to it strictly to prevent any issues.

Thoroughly Clean and Sterilize Equipment and Work Surfaces

Another important tip for preventing sample contamination is to thoroughly clean and sterilize your lab instruments and all work surfaces. Certain types of equipment like glassware will require sterilization once or multiple times throughout the day, depending on how frequently you use them. Other types of equipment, however, may only need weekly sterilization. Make sure to check your manufacturer’s guidelines and consider factors such as frequency of use and the materials you’re using when determining how frequently you should sterilize a piece of equipment.

Wear Proper Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, lab coats, and goggles, are beneficial for more than just preventing harmful substances from coming into contact with your skin. Such gear also helps to prevent sample contamination. By covering your skin, PPE prevents particles and bacteria from your body from falling into sensitive samples and corrupting them.

Automate Processes When Possible

Human error is one of the leading causes of sample contamination. By automating processes when possible, you can significantly reduce the amount of human error that your samples experience. In doing so, you can minimize your sample’s potential for contamination.