Investigating the Efficacy of Disinfectants to Minimize Common Bacterial Contamination in Laboratories
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Authors
Wald, Elliot
Lepage, June
Date of Issue
2023-04-28
Type
Presentation
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Abstract
Maintaining laboratory safety requires an understanding of how to properly disinfect biological contaminations. Carroll College labs often work with common bacterial strains that need proper handling and effective disinfection in the event of contamination. Disinfectants vary in their ability to maintain a clean lab environment. This project compares the effectiveness of Vesphene III-se and bleach to disinfect some of the most common bacteria used in Carroll labs: Bacillus subtillis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The standard concentrations of Vesphene and bleach were tested with contact times of 5, 10, and 20 minutes. Cultures were incubated with the disinfectant, diluted, and plated. The viable bacteria were counted after treatment to determine the effectiveness of the disinfectant. We will present findings on the correlation between contact times and bacterial viability for different disinfectant concentrations. Our results will help update Carroll’s biological contamination protocol, to optimize safety and efficiency in Carroll labs.