How to Improve Your Precision in the Lab

Precision is one of the marks of a good scientist.

In a scientific industry, precision is everything. People who work in laboratories and who aren't precise take a giant risk, because one tiny mistake can invalidate a lot of hard work. That aside, if a scientist working for a company makes a poor recommendation based on inaccurate lab results, the consequences could be costly or even dangerous. By being patient and ensuring that you take the required steps, you can excel at any job in a laboratory environment.

Instructions

1. Learn the procedures for a given experiment, text or process before you do them. Don't mix learning something new with executing a precise test.

2. Pay attention to everything that you're doing, and document it as soon as you can so the actions are easily replicated. Lab results are only taken as conclusive when the same result can be produced at will. Carefully replicating each element of your work increases the odds of replicating a result.

3. Follow instructions to the letter. Especially when starting in a lab, you should do some simple procedures that involve following a set of specific instructions. When a supervisor provides you with a procedure breakdown or list of instructions, get in the habit of not deviating from the instructions on the list in the slightest.

4. Ensure that any handwritten notes are neat, organized and legible when documenting procedures or results. If entering lab results by computer, do not make any typos. A bad keystroke could make it look like an experiment failed or did not provide the intended result.

5. Clean, calibrate and test your equipment before use in an important procedure or as outlined in the best practices or manual for that specific piece of equipment. In highly sensitive lab environments, a small difference in calibration or a machine contaminated with foreign substances or remnants of prior work can void the precision of an experiment.

References

• Lab Tests Online: How Reliable Is Laboratory Testing?
• Bureau of Labor Statistics; Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians; September 29, 2010
• The Ohio State University; The Laboratory Notebook; James Knox
• World Health Organization; Good Laboratory Practices; 2009
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services: Good Laboratory Practices

Resources

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Scientific Reports