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5: Aseptic Technique and Contamination Control

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    222958

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    Contamination can enter a culture through materials, handling, equipment, or another cell population. Some problems are visible, while others remain hidden even when the cells appear healthy. This chapter explains how aseptic technique, workspace organization, and appropriate cleaning and disinfection reduce contamination risks. It also examines contamination tests and documented responses to handling errors. The central idea is that a clear culture is not proof of freedom from contamination; dependable decisions require both careful practices and valid evidence.

    Learning Objectives
    • After completing this chapter, you should be able to:

      1. Explain how aseptic technique protects cultures and identify common routes of contamination.

      2. Distinguish cleaning, disinfection, sterilization, and aseptic handling.

      3. Evaluate handling practices that protect sterile surfaces and cabinet airflow.

      4. Compare visible microbial contamination, mycoplasma contamination, and contamination by another cell line.

      5. Interpret contamination tests using appropriate controls and explain the limits of a negative result.

      6. Describe a documented response to a handling error or suspected contamination.

    This page titled 5: Aseptic Technique and Contamination Control was last modified on Wed, 21 Oct 2026 01:35:26 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Emalee MacKenzie.