General sterile checklist for working in a clean lab space:

  1. Personal hygiene: Make sure you are clean and healthy before entering the lab. Wear appropriate clothing, hair tied back, and remove jewelry that could come in contact with the work area.

  2. Disinfect your workspace: Clean your workspace with an appropriate disinfectant such as 70% ethanol or other approved cleaner.

  3. Use sterile equipment: All equipment should be properly sterilized and free of contaminants. Use only sterile tools and materials to avoid introducing any contaminants to your work area.

  4. Wear protective gear: Wear gloves, lab coats, and face masks to prevent the spread of microorganisms and other contaminants.

  5. Work in a laminar flow hood: A laminar flow hood provides a sterile environment and minimizes the risk of contamination during transfer of materials.

  6. Use aseptic techniques: When working with cultures, use aseptic techniques to prevent contamination. This includes sterilizing your workspace and tools, flame sterilizing equipment, and avoiding touching non-sterile surfaces.

  7. Keep the lab area clean: Wipe down all surfaces with an appropriate disinfectant after you finish working. Keep the lab area clean and organized.

  8. Monitor and maintain the environment: Monitor the temperature and humidity levels in the lab and ensure that all equipment is functioning properly.

  9. Properly dispose of waste: Properly dispose of all waste materials in the appropriate containers. Use biohazard bags for any contaminated materials.

  10. Regularly perform quality control checks: Regularly test the purity and sterility of your cultures to ensure they are free of contaminants.

Remember, maintaining a sterile lab environment is crucial to the success of your experiments and the safety of everyone in the lab.