What is a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)?

In this short video from Advanced Technological Education Television (ATETV), the term SOP, or Standard Operating Procedure, is discussed. In the biotechnology lab, SOP's define how you perform every procedure, from how you use a scale to the processing of biopharmaceuticals. Required by the FDA, they are necessary for all production of biologics. 

The video run-time is 01:22.