Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) provide detailed step-by-step instructions for carrying out a laboratory activity in a manner that obtains accurate and reliable results and ensures biosafety. SOPs are used in the laboratory and written copies should be available (preferably displayed) at the work area or bench. They are important for the standardization of procedures, ensuring that every laboratory at each level of care performs national standard procedures and produces high quality results.
Introduction guidance
List of SOPs
Module 1: Master SOP for writing quality management documents
Safety
Module 2: Procedure in case of spill of specimens in an AFB microscopy laboratory
Module 3: Procedure in case of spill of infectious material within the biological safety cabinets
Module 4: Emergency procedure in case of major biohazard incident outside the biological safety cabinet
Module 5: Fumigation of a biological safety cabinet
Module 6: Emergency procedure in case of fire
Module 7: Use of personal protective equipment in an AFB microscopy laboratory
Module 8: Use of personal protective equipment for culture and drug susceptibility testing
Module 9: Use of disinfectants
Use and maintenance of equipment
Module 10: Use and maintenance of class I and class II biological safety cabinets
Module 11: Use and maintenance of an autoclave
Module 12: Use and maintenance of an electromagnetic balance
Module 13: Use and maintenance of a centrifuge
Module 14: Use and maintenance of a freezer
Module 15: Use and maintenance of a refrigerator
Module 16: Use and maintenance of an incubator
Module 17: Use and maintenance of an inspissator
Module 18: Maintenance of a light microscope
Module 19: Maintenance of a fluorescence microscope
Module 20: Use and maintenance of a pH meter
Module 21: Use and maintenance of a water distiller
Preparation of reagents
Module 22: Preparation of reagents for microscopy
Module 23: Preparation of reagents for culture and drug-susceptibility testing
Module 24: Preparation of plain egg-based media
Module 25: Preparation of Löwenstein-Jensen drug-containing media
Procedures
Module 26: Ziehl-Neelsen staining
Module 27: Auramine staining
Module 28: Rechecking acid-fast bacilli smears for external quality assessment
Module 29: Sample conditions and transport for culture procedure
Module 30: Specimen processing for culture
Module 31: Drug susceptibility testing, proportion method
Module 32: Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Module 33: Niacin test
Module 34: Catalase test
Module 35: Nitrate reduction test
Module 36: Growth on PNB medium
Module 37: Maintenance of mycobacterial strains