Abstract:

Pharmacologists are responsible for the development and proper utilization of a documentation system in the laboratories where they work as analysts, developers or investigators. Pharmacologists must work with good laboratory practices (GLP), in accordance to national and international standards. They are also responsible for constant evaluation of equipment, instruments and procedures in order to secure that they function properly and the results obtained in the laboratory are correct. Therefore, we train our chemistry, pharmacology and biology (QFB) students at the Faculty for Higher Education Zaragoza (FES) of the National Autonomous University of Mexico to work with GLP and proper document everything they do in the biochemistry laboratory.

A good documentation system is important to standardize procedures, to work faster, with lower cost and without mistakes, increasing reproducibility and traceability, as well as improving quality and efficiency. Documentation must be also clear, simple and adequate to the circumstances and for the personnel working at particular laboratories [1, 2]. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) form part of the documentation system required to achieve precision and efficiency in the performance of activities that may be performed for any member of the personnel. Moreover, SOP are also useful as guide, consulting material and to control of every point of the procedure [3].

Here, we discuss SOP that were elaborated for the biochemistry laboratory dedicated to educate QFB students. First, we identified an adequate documentation system. Then, we organized the information required for good handling and maintenance of our equipment. Finally, we prepared SOP for every apparatus, submitted them to analysis by colleagues and authorities and made them available to every student and teacher working in the laboratory. Now, we have confirmed that the established documentation system is a valuable tool for both, teachers and students, helping them to take good care of equipment, to strictly follow the steps of various techniques and to work with GLP in order to obtain reproducible results and proper training.

Supported by DGAPA PAPIME PE206913

References:
[1] Edy V, Gamlen M. Standard operating procedures. In: Carson and Dent. Good clinical lab. and manufacturing practices, techniques for the QA professional. RSC Publishing: 2007; 387-396
[2] Documentacion. CIPAM. Guia de Buenas Practicas de Fabricacion. Monografia tecnica No. 13. 2nd. ed. México, D.F. 2004.
[3] BS EN ISO 9001:2008. Quality Management Systems. Requirements.

Keywords:

Curricular actualization, Standard operating procedures.