School of Life Sciences · Research & professional skills
Good Laboratory Practice, Biosafety & Lab Quality
Research, testing and industry laboratories all depend on safety, quality and trustworthy records. This course teaches the principles and practices that employers and auditors expect.
Course overview
Good Laboratory Practice, Biosafety & Lab Quality covers the OECD principles of GLP, biosafety levels and biological risk assessment, chemical safety and waste management, and the data-integrity principles summarised as ALCOA+.
You also learn to write standard operating procedures, maintain equipment records, manage deviations and corrective actions, and prepare for audits under common quality frameworks.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Explain the OECD principles of GLP
- Perform a biological and chemical risk assessment
- Apply ALCOA+ data-integrity principles
- Write SOPs and maintain laboratory records
- Manage deviations and prepare for audits
Skills you will practise
Eligibility and prerequisites
Who can apply
- Undergraduate and postgraduate students in any life-science, health-science, agriculture or pharmacy programme
- Graduates preparing for research positions, higher studies or a move into biotechnology
- Professionals from adjacent fields (engineering, computing, chemistry) who need a working command of biology
Prerequisites
- None
Best suited to
- Students preparing for laboratory jobs in research, pharma and testing
- Laboratory staff and supervisors
- Quality and compliance trainees
Module-wise syllabus
4 modules. Each pairs instructor-led sessions with a hands-on lab on public data.
Topics
- Biosafety levels and containment
- Risk assessment
- Chemical and waste safety
Topics
- OECD GLP principles
- Roles and responsibilities
- Study plans and reports
Topics
- ALCOA+
- Notebooks and electronic records
- Equipment logs
Topics
- SOPs and document control
- Deviations and CAPA
- Audits and inspections
Practical sessions and projects
Capstone project
Final assessment
Prepare a risk assessment, an SOP and an audit response for a laboratory scenario.
Assessed on the correctness of the analysis, the quality of the code and the reasoning in the write-up. A pass is required for the certificate.
- Laboratory safety
Complete a risk assessment for a common laboratory procedure.
- Good Laboratory Practice
Review a study file against GLP requirements.
- Data integrity and records
Audit a set of laboratory records and correct the findings.
- Quality systems
Write an SOP and a CAPA report for a simulated deviation.
Software, tools and datasets
Software and tools
All software is free and open source or free for academic use. Recommended computer: 8 GB RAM, 30 GB free disk, Linux, macOS or Windows with WSL2.
Core reading
- OECD Principles on Good Laboratory Practice (OECD Series on Principles of GLP and Compliance Monitoring, No. 1).
- WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual, 4th edition. World Health Organization, 2020.
Duration, format and fees
- Next cohort
- Dates are sent with your admission offer
- Timetable
- Three evening or weekend sessions a week (IST), plus a lab clinic; intensive and weekend-only schedules on request
- Payment
- Secure online payment link with your admission offer (UPI, cards, net banking). Instalments on request for fees above ₹15,000.
- Refunds
- See the refund and cancellation policy.
Instructor
The instructor for each cohort is named in your admission offer and on this page when the cohort is announced. Vedicgen instructors are selected for hands-on research or industry experience in the subject they teach, and every course is reviewed by a second subject expert.
Questions about who teaches a cohort? [email protected]
Certificate
Learners who complete the course and pass its capstone receive a Vedicgen certificate of completion for Good Laboratory Practice, Biosafety & Lab Quality, issued by Vivofold, stating the guided hours and skills assessed. Each certificate has a unique ID and QR code that anyone can check.
Apply for Good Laboratory Practice, Biosafety & Lab Quality
Apply
Send the form below. It takes about five minutes.
Review
An adviser confirms your fit and format within two working days.
Offer
You receive dates, timetable and a secure payment link.
Onboard
Set-up guide, pre-reading and joining links.
Frequently asked questions
Online. The live cohort meets for instructor-led sessions with problem-solving in small groups; the self-paced format offers the same lessons with quizzes and a mentor-reviewed final assignment.
Yes. Learners who complete the course and pass its assessment receive a Vedicgen certificate of completion, issued by Vivofold. Every certificate carries a unique ID and a QR code that anyone, including an employer or admissions office, can check on the certificate verification page.
Apply with the form on this page. Live and in-person cohorts run through the year; the dates, timetable and joining details of the next cohort are sent with your admission offer and listed on this page once announced. Self-paced enrolment opens as soon as your application is accepted.
Yes. No course runs longer than four weeks, and the length is customisable: choose the standard schedule, an intensive one- to two-week schedule, weekends only, or a custom timetable. Pick your preference on the application form; colleges and teams can book their own dates.
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