BACE Lab Notebooks and SOPs

Laboratory Documentation
BACE Prep

Lab Notebooks

"Commit nothing to memory, write everything down"

Written documentation is often standard operating procedure

Write the purpose, procedure, protocols, results, observations, and any thoughts or ideas

May include tables, graphs, drawings, etc.

Lab Notebooks

Bound notebook -- so pages cannot be added or removed

Number the pages, indicate if this experiment goes on to different pages

Include title, hypotheses, materials, procedures, results, conclusions
Sign your name at the end of each experiment to wrap it up

If you make an error, cross it out and initial it; never use white out, etc.

Multiple Choice

Lab notebooks can include computer-generated graphs and printouts from equipment such as plate readers and probe wear.

• true

• false

Multiple Choice

If you mess up a lab notebook page (big time), it's ok to tear out the page.

• true

• false

ISO 8601

International Organization for Standardization (ISO)

Sets standards for all kinds of things in industries (25,000+)

ISO time format: year, month, day, hour, minute, second, millisecond

Use 24-hour time (military time?) and your time zone



E.g. 2024-03-07 09:19:20:00 UTC

Open Ended

ISO time format: year, month, day, hour, minute, second, millisecond

Write today's date and the time this class ends in ISO format.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

A document that describes how to perform a common tasks in a lab.
Must follow company policy, industry standards, and any applicable laws.
Must be approved by a manager, supervisor, or board.
Usually written on a standard template and filed in a common area or shared electronic file.
Anyone should be able to follow the SOP to perform a task.

Range from calibration of equipment to lab protocols to accounting practices.

SOP Sections

Header:

• SOP Title

• Document number

• author's name, title, department

• date of creation, date of approval

• page numbers (range)
  
  
  
  

SOP Sections

Scope (purpose, standards, roles, etc.)
Purpose
Responsibility (all roles involved)
Definitions (esp acronyms)
Additional Documentation (list)
Procedure (step-by-step)
RevisionHistory
Appendices
Approvals

Open Ended

What kinds of things do you think are commonly included in appendices of a(n) SOP?