ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF MICROORGANISMS FROM INDOOR AND OUTDOOR AIR OF SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY LABORATORIES IN FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC OFFA

ABSTRACT Laboratories are rooms designed for scientific investigation. Monitoring of bio-aerosols in laboratories will aid in estimating the health risks presented by airborne microorganisms and developing air quality management guidelines. The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify microorganisms found in the indoor and outdoor air of the Science Laboratory Technology laboratories at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, in order to assess the laboratory's microbiological quality. Air samples were collected and tested using standard microbiological procedures, such as plate counting, culture characterization, biochemical testing for bacterial identification, and microscopic and macroscopic exams for fungi. The total aerobic plate count (TAPC) ranged from 1.7 × 10¹ to 2.2 × 10¹Cfu/ml, while the total fungal count (TFC) ranged from 4.0 × 10¹ to 5.0 × 10¹Sfu/ml. Identified bacterial species included Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Bacillus cereus were among the bacterial species identified, with Aspergillus niger being the most common fungal isolate. The comparatively low bacteria counts detected in this investigation indicate that the laboratory air is rather clean, most likely due to appropriate ventilation and regular cleaning. This implies that the working environment is safe for students and staff, although frequent monitoring is also necessary to ensure ideal air quality and prevent contamination.