Airborne Contamination in Research Labs
Faculty Mentor
Fabrizio Spagnolo
Area of Research
Microbiology
Major
Pre-Medical Sciences, Biology
Description
INTRODUCTION: Microbiology research laboratories are consistently exposed to airborne contaminants, rendering extensive experimental work unusable or burdening research protocols with extensive requirements to maintain sterility.
METHOD: Our lab is working to quantify airborne fungal spore load in microbiological research environments using Soy Flour Mannitol Media (“SFM”) for settling plates. SFM acts as a highly efficient media through the combination of sugar alcohol mannitol and soy flour for the growth of fungal spores.
RESULTS: Fungal spore counts and species diversity are compared using Fisher’s exact test and ANOVA.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: By performing this experimental research, we expect to improve mitigation protocols and sterile technique in microbiology labs.
Airborne Contamination in Research Labs
INTRODUCTION: Microbiology research laboratories are consistently exposed to airborne contaminants, rendering extensive experimental work unusable or burdening research protocols with extensive requirements to maintain sterility.
METHOD: Our lab is working to quantify airborne fungal spore load in microbiological research environments using Soy Flour Mannitol Media (“SFM”) for settling plates. SFM acts as a highly efficient media through the combination of sugar alcohol mannitol and soy flour for the growth of fungal spores.
RESULTS: Fungal spore counts and species diversity are compared using Fisher’s exact test and ANOVA.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: By performing this experimental research, we expect to improve mitigation protocols and sterile technique in microbiology labs.