Assignment 3
Unit 4: Laboratory techniques and their applications
Understand how scientific information may be stored and communicated in a
workplace laboratory.
Storing and communicating information in a laboratory
How do workplace laboratories record and process large
datasets of scientific information?
It is important that records of all work that is carried out is kept in an
organisation. Organisations will have their own policy on how these
records are kept, nowadays, most records are kept on a computer,
although in some cases, for example, laboratory notes may still be
hand-written records, which are often transferred to computer
systems in order to keep them secure and safe. Any samples of
chemicals must be booked in when they are delivered to the lab and a
record is kept of all chemical substances stored in the lab and when
they are used, they are signed out of storage.
There should always be a record of where the chemical substances
are located, and when the chemical substances arrive at the lab, they
must also be clearly labelled following the COSSH guidelines. It must
also be clearly recorded of where the chemical substance originated
in case any issues are found with the sample, or if an identical sample
is needed, then the tracking is essential.
In addition, each sample must have a unique sample identification
number which is usually based on the date and time that the sample
was booked in and may have a randomly generated number at the
end, which should be recorded whenever the sample is being used –
This therefore allows for traceability of the sample.
Unit 4: Laboratory techniques and their applications
Understand how scientific information may be stored and communicated in a
workplace laboratory.
Storing and communicating information in a laboratory
How do workplace laboratories record and process large
datasets of scientific information?
It is important that records of all work that is carried out is kept in an
organisation. Organisations will have their own policy on how these
records are kept, nowadays, most records are kept on a computer,
although in some cases, for example, laboratory notes may still be
hand-written records, which are often transferred to computer
systems in order to keep them secure and safe. Any samples of
chemicals must be booked in when they are delivered to the lab and a
record is kept of all chemical substances stored in the lab and when
they are used, they are signed out of storage.
There should always be a record of where the chemical substances
are located, and when the chemical substances arrive at the lab, they
must also be clearly labelled following the COSSH guidelines. It must
also be clearly recorded of where the chemical substance originated
in case any issues are found with the sample, or if an identical sample
is needed, then the tracking is essential.
In addition, each sample must have a unique sample identification
number which is usually based on the date and time that the sample
was booked in and may have a randomly generated number at the
end, which should be recorded whenever the sample is being used –
This therefore allows for traceability of the sample.
