3.4 Using controls
A
Microbiology laboratories need to maintain a stock of control organisms, with known characteristics, to provide QC for different tests. For example, when checking the reagents used for an oxidase test, laboratories should use a known oxidase positive organism (usually Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and an oxidase negative organism (such as E. coli). Control strains should be obtained from a reliable source, for example the American Type Culture Collection or the UK National Collection of Type Cultures, and stored and cultured according to the provider’s instruction. Control strains are also used to ensure that selective or indicator media have been prepared correctly.
Activity 6: Using control organisms and quality checks
3.3 Quality procedures to identify and minimise errors