Abstract:

Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) embodies a set of principles that provide a framework within which laboratory studies are planned, performed, monitored, recorded, reported and saved. These studies are undertaken to generate data by which the hazards and risks to users, consumers and third parties, including the environment, can be assessed for pharmaceuticals (only preclinical studies), agrochemicals, cosmetics, food additives, feed additives and contaminants, novel foods, biocides and detergents, among others. GLP helps regulatory authorities to assure that the data submitted are a true reflection of the results obtained during the study and can therefore be relied on when making risk/safety assessments. In other words, GLP ensures the quality, integrity, and reliability of safety data. GLP can be easily confused with the standards of laboratory safety: wearing appropriate gloves, glasses and clothing.

The product of a laboratory can be defined as “the report issued as the result of an analytical, measurement, or testing activity conducted on a sample or samples received from a source”. The primary objective of a laboratory’s quality system is to improve and maintain a high level of the precision and accuracy of the laboratory’s “product”. To maximize the quality of the reported data, management, administrative, statistical, investigative, preventive and corrective techniques, among others, may be used.

Students should learn and follow the GLP rules to achieve quality laboratory work. A complete guideline about the GLP rules will be provided by the professor on the first teaching day. The need to follow these rules, which ensure and improve the quality of their results, will be explained. GLP is intended to facilitate the learning of the laboratory matter, and could help students to find work more easily once they finish their degree. The guideline comprises several sections: equipment and utensils, materials and products, and chemical products related to disinfection and cleanliness, energy and storage, among others. Since the complete rules cannot be applied in a teaching laboratory, this project focuses on 15 essential rules whose fulfilment is surveyed by the professor.

This study describes the results obtained in several analytical laboratories in the Chemistry Degree at the University Jaume I regarding laboratory work following the GLP rules applied in the academic years 2007-2008 and 2008-2009.

Keywords:

Chemistry Laboratory, Quality Rules.