Biology Laboratory

Guidelines and Policies

Department of Biological Science, College
of Arts and Sciences, University of
Southern Mindanao
 I. Laboratory Class Setting
 Only officially enrolled students in the laboratory class are
legitimate to enter the laboratory room. The Instructors
shall check the student’s USM Form 6 whether he/she is
officially enrolled or not.

 Beforeleaving the room at the end of the lab class, all

gas/water outlets and electric lights, fans and equipment are
turned off, including switching off of DLP/OHPs, aircons,
and TV and other electrical equipment after use should be
checked.
 II. The Central Laboratory (bcl)
 Servesas repository and
sources of equipment,
apparatus and glasswares,
biological models, chemicals
and media, laboratory
specimens and other materials
needed in laboratory classes.
 III. Classification of Laboratory Materials

A. Materials of General Use

1. Regularly used equipment

2. Glassware and Non-electronic
apparatus.
3. Anatomical Model
III. Classification of Laboratory Materials
B. Special Equipment and Electronic Devices

1. Electronic Device: GPS, light meter, relative humidity

meter, soil pH meter, pH meters, balances, etc.

2. Special Equipment: any Electric microscopes, laminar

flow hoods, autoclave, oven, incubators, refrigerators,
colony counter, vortex mixer, centrifuge, gel electrophoresis,
kymograph, BSC, etc.
VI. Classification of Laboratory
Materials
C. Chemicals and Specimens

1. Reagent and Culture Media: Examples of this are

stains, salts, acids or bases, water, formalin, culture
media, etc.
2. Laboratory Specimen: Any live or fresh and dead
plant, animals and microbial samples and specimens. It
also includes prepared microscope specimen slides.
 VII. Organization in the Central
Laboratory

1. Equipment and
Microscopy
Section
VII. Organization in the Central
Laboratory
2. Glassware
and Other
Apparatus
Section
 VII. Organization in the
Central Laboratory

3. Chemical and
Specimens
Section
VIII. Laboratory Requisitions
A. Reservation.
This is mandatory and in first come first
served basis. Julie Kamamang is the In-charge.

 This is done by the faculty

 VIII. Laboratory Requisitions
B. Borrowing of Materials. Overnight borrowing of
any materials in the laboratory is not permitted. In case
overnight and/or outdoor usage is inevitable, they must
be formally communicated to the Department Head for
approval.
Borrower’s Slip
 VIII. Laboratory Requisitions
i. Staff checks if reservation was made
ii. Staff gives the student/faculty a borrower slip to fill up
iii. Student lists all laboratory items to borrow
iv. Instructor or faculty in-charge signs over his/her printed name
v. Student signs in the borrower’s section after reading the terms and
conditions
vi. Student gives the completed slip accompanied with the student ID
card.
vii. Staff gives the material, he/she marks the materials check as they
are released one by one witnessed by the student or faculty
him/herself.
viii. Upon releasing the item(s), the staff affixes his/her signature in the
“Released by” section
 VIII. Laboratory Requisitions
Returning Borrowed Items or Materials

1. All laboratory materials, apparatus or equipment shall be

returned also on the date they are borrowed.

a. Laboratory Materials of General Use.

i. All materials should be returned to the BCL 15 minutes before
the end of the laboratory session. This period is allotted for the
checking of the apparatus being returned.
VIII. Laboratory Requisitions
ii. All apparatus or materials should be CLEAN before they
are returned to the BCL.

iii. All members of the group or class are held responsible

for washing or cleaning the materials assigned to them.

iv. All listed materials shall be checked by the staff in-

charge one by one as to the condition of the item
(breakage, lost parts, cleanliness, functionality).
 VIII. Laboratory Requisitions
vi. Personnel must sign in the “Received by” section in the Return
Record Portion in the Requisition form.

iv. If borrowed materials are complete and all in good state, the
borrower may be cleared.
 VIII. Laboratory Requisitions
b. Equipment or Electronic Materials.

i. The staff in-charge shall check the equipment as to its condition

(damaged or lost parts, cleanliness, functionality).

ii. If borrowed material is in good state, the staff will sign in the
Received by column in the logbook.
 VIII. Laboratory Requisitions

iii. The borrower(s), including the adviser or faculty in-charge, whose name(s)
appears (appear) on the logbook (instrument/ research rooms) is (are)
responsible for any damage done to or loss of equipment due to carelessness.

iv. Delinquents are sanctioned accordingly. Likewise, they are reported to the
faculty concerned who reprimands or institutes the proper sanction.
 VIII. Laboratory Requisitions
c. Chemical/Reagents, Culture Media and Specimens.

i. Any unconsumed chemical/reagent, culture media and

specimens and unconsumable materials listed in the logbook
shall be returned by the borrower complete and in good
condition.

ii. The borrower(s), including the adviser or faculty in-charge,

whose name(s) appears (appear) on the logbook is (are)
responsible for any damage done to or loss of materials.
Use of Major Laboratory Equipment

1. Use of Major Equipment/Instruments

a. Pieces of equipment which are sensitive are limited

in number. They cannot be signed out and are secured
at the Microbiology, and Central Laboratory Rooms.
b. Using them may be allowed.
c. Students should not use any of the instruments
without approved reservation.
i. Regular Laboratory Class Use.
1. A maximum of two students are allowed to
work on one equipment at a time.
3. Usage of equipment by student should be
watched over and guided and under close monitoring
by the laboratory instructor and/or faculty in-charge.
A borrower may be considered
delinquent when:
i. not returning the equipment on schedule,
ii. damaged or lost the borrowed item,
iii. bringing home or using any material outside the
building/off-campus without permission,
iv. lending/letting other person to use the borrowed item,
v. not signing in the record books when using any
equipment or entering a research facility or room,
vi. not cleaning the workplace, sink or leaving any items or
laboratory property unattended,

vii. not closing the laboratory room when leaving,

viii. not turning off any equipment or any facility after use, and

ix. other unwanted behavior in the lab (eating, drinking,

playing, littering, and standing by).
 VIII. Laboratory Requisitions
Delinquent users shall be sanctioned as follows:

i. First offense: Warning

ii. Second offense: Disallowance to borrow materials for

2 weeks.

iii. Third Offense: Notice to faculty/adviser, guidance

counselor concerned and parent or guardian, disallowance
to borrow materials for one month.
 Wearing of Laboratory Gowns
 Wearing of laboratory gowns during laboratory classes while
performing experiments is required unless doing field
activities.
 Bring your own laboratory gowns.
 In case you cannot provide your lab gown, you can rent one
from the BCL.
 Students should write their request to rent lab gowns in their
Requisition Form as they borrow materials from the
Glassware and Other Apparatus Section.