What Are The Main Principles Of Good Laboratory Practice?

In any pharmaceutical or chemical development company, one of the most important aspects of drug development is good laboratory practice. It is important to realize that the lab is an integral part of any such operation, since it is here where the drugs are developed. When the wrong practices are used in the lab, this could result in lowering the quality of the drug, and may jeopardize the entire project as well.

One of the principles of good laboratory practice is ensuring that processes and machines are checked and calibrated regularly. In some labs, this is the first thing that is done each morning before the lab is used. The accuracy of all the machines in the lab should be monitored to ensure that any work falls within acceptable standards of quality as well.

Regular training of laboratory staff is also important. Taking them for refresher courses ensures that they not only retain their knowledge of laboratory practice, but that they also get to learn new things as well. This results in laboratory staff who keep abreast with all the developments in the field. This makes them more valuable during research and development.

Good laboratory practice also involves following all the set protocols when doing different things in the lab. For instance, when handling dangerous chemicals, it may be necessary to use fume cupboards rather than working with them in open air. These protocols need to be clearly defined for the relevant staff. If possible, systems should also be put in place to monitor the lab to make sure that the protocols are followed.