My Journey as a Microbiology Intern at SteriLabs: Gaining Hands-On Experience and Industry Insights. Blog post by Grace Woods

September 4, 2024

My name is Grace Woods, and over the last 4 months I have worked at SteriLabs as a microbiology laboratory intern. During this time, I have been given the opportunity to explore the various testing procedures offered at SteriLabs, which has provided me with hands-on experience and invaluable industry exposure.

Role and Responsibilities

During my internship, I worked on various independent projects, taking on several responsibilities within the lab. A key responsibility being performing monthly verification and calibration of lab equipment. This involved handling various instruments such as micropipettes, analytical balance, pH meter, and the table-top steam sterilizer. These tasks provided me with hands-on experience, allowing me to further practice and refine my laboratory skills, which will be beneficial for my future career. Additionally, I was able to practice documentation of calibration and verification results, adhering to the lab’s documentation procedures.

Learning Skills and Development

One of the most rewarding aspects of my internship was the opportunity to collaborate with the experienced professionals at SteriLabs. This allowed me to gain insight into various testing methods, enhancing my understanding of microbiological practices. Exposure to these methods expanded my knowledge in sterilization methods for medical devices.

Testing Methods Observed

1.      Steam Sterilization Validation- I developed an understanding of the principles of steam sterilization, specifically the half cycle overkill method, which demonstrates the ability to achieve a sterility assurance level of 10⁶ for the device. Additionally, I learned how to validate such processes through use of biological and chemical indicators, perform inoculation and sterility testing of medical devices along with proper documentation of the testing.

2.      Vaporized Hydrogen Peroxide Sterilization- I acquired knowledge in low-temperature sterilization methods, specifically the use of hydrogen peroxide vapor to sterilize heat-sensitive medical devices.

3.      Disinfection Validation- I gained an understanding of disinfection methods used to ensure microbial inactivation in reusable medical devices.

4.      Bioburden Testing- I developed an understanding for assessing population of microorganisms present on medical devices prior to sterilization validation.

5.      Neutralization Study- I learned how to assess the neutralizer effectiveness and neutralizer toxicity in disinfection validation studies.

Finally, my experience as a microbiology intern at SteriLabs has provided me with valuable hands-on microbiological and analytical skills and knowledge, which will be beneficial for my final year of study and future career endeavours. Beyond that, the mentorship and guidance provided to me from the SteriLabs team were pivotal in my professional development, making my time at SteriLabs extremely rewarding. I highly recommend SteriLabs to any student looking to pursue a microbiology internship.