Dealing with accidental sample contamination or distraction in the lab

 

Have you and your lab partners ever used manipulation techniques? Yes sometimes! A portion of it falls under political action, and people with technical expertise may occasionally get trapped in these prearranged circumstances. Why am I conducting this assessment? The reason is that people who are genuinely working using their own methods and experience are caught off guard in these circumstances. In order to earn a lot of credits based on manipulation, some of the lab partners pressure the supervisor to add those items. They stole an idea from the earnest individual and exploited him without getting his consent. 

A friend of mine was employed at the chemical laboratory. While other labmates were working with him or her, he or she did his or her best work without telling his or her supervisor. They made a change to his sample collection; he now has characterisation or analysis files, but he has no proof of his efforts. He had previously worked on the same route under the same conditions, but this time he received nothing. As a result, he or she is unable to trust their lab partners and cannot continue working in the same lab as them. 

Trust*, the issue is extremely straightforward. It is a crucial term to follow when working in the lab. Without wasting time, get in touch with your supervisor right away if they have done the same thing. Your supervisor has extensive knowledge of this situation. Additionally, you should ask your lab partners why. Do you have any idea who did this? Try to find a simple solution to the issue. If not, inform your seniors. 

This is an extremely uncommon occurrence in the context of study because everyone under your supervision has distinct ideas, and your supervisor also gives his or her approval if the person has a different topic than the others, preventing everyone from working on the same issue. They will be able to attain less resemblance in the future if they produce a review or research piece. As a result, everyone can do their degree-related work quickly and without anyone objecting. However, it appears that my friend is trapped in a political situation! 

According to some research, "To shoot arrows at someone else’s strength" is the most frequent occurrence. People may be doing this for a variety of reasons, such as encouraging you, validating your main topic, lowering your political status, or improving your reputation with a superior. There are many different situations, but don't criticise him or her or your lab partners if they aren't taking or conducting work that is similar to yours unless they take data. To preserve your data or method, directly complain to your supervisor if your ideas or efforts have been stolen. Due to the fact that he is the only one who is aware of your skills, work ethic, and the process you are pursuing. Stop working under the supervisor's supervision if they are creating a similar situation. Take your data and present it to another supervisor. (But mostly this is the rare case.) 

To put in place efficient procedures for detecting, managing, and avoiding chemical contamination brought on by lab members, protecting employee safety, maintaining the integrity of experiments, and adhering to safety rules. Chemical contamination mostly happens based on storage time. If you store organic solvents, can absorb moisture from air (hydroscopic) or undergo oxidation (e.g., ethers forming peroxides). Acids and bases can react with container materials like HCl fumes, corroding metal caps, or absorb Carbon dioxide from the air, changing concentration. Hydroscopic salts like NaOH, CaCl2 absorb water and lead to dilution and clumping. Light-sensitive chemicals are silver nitrate, diazonium salts, which decompose under light, forming impurities. Biopolymers and enzymes lose activity over time due to denaturation. Culture media are susceptible to microbial growth if not sealed properly. Metal catalysts are oxidised or lose surface activity. Powers pick up moisture or dust, altering purity. Compressed gases may contain moisture, rusting cylinder interior, or degrade. These things can immediately reduce your material purity. But if your partners are jealous of your behalf or if he/she has been exposed to mixed acid/base solutions in your sample/materials, then verify the pH using pH paper or a meter. Look for physical changes like colour, precipitation, fuming or gas release. Determine if the contamination is minor or severe, so through into to waste tank. If it is possible to neutralise the solutions before, or it may go under controlled conditions, then purity using filtration, distillation, recrystallisation, etc. 

If credit misallocation continues, speak candidly and non-aggressively with your PI about the issue. To ensure that credit is distributed equitably, find out who actually performed the lab work and who escalated the matter. Stress that your lab work should be cooperative; while troubleshooting, support calls, and physical labour are all beneficial, accurate acknowledgement is essential to preserving confidence. 

Note: The purpose of this blog is to discuss general observations and predictions, not to do harm to anyone.