Lab Equipment

• X100 objective lens 


  oil immersion, uses light refracted through an oil layer

  longer in length so care needs to be taken when positioning to prevent damage to slide or lens
• Incubator


  incubate samples for a bacterial culture

  double walled metal contained with insulation material e.g., fiberglass

  temps range from 25-100, usually maintained at 37

  wire shelvings allow for air circulation

  annual servicing and regular cleaning
• Why should a centrifuge be balanced?


  to prevent impacting the reliability of results, compromising the results and damage to the equipment
• Angled head centrifuge disadvantages


  supernatant collects at an angle so it is more difficult to retrieve
• X40 objective lens


  higher power, dry lens used for more detailed focusing
• Swinging arm centrifuge advantage


  results in supernatant that is uniformly distributed making it easier to remove with a pipette
• Binocular 


  two eye pieces
• Centrifuge


  spins a substance at high speeds using centrifugal force to separate the supernatant from the sediment
• Centrifuge health and safety


  flat and sturdy surface

  balance out the centrifuge

  ensure safety lid is secure

  never open lid while operating

  service regularly to ensure service control

  clean and disinfect at the end of each days use
• Swinging arm centrifuge


  moveable specimen cups are hung vertically from arms, as the rotor speed increases the cups swing out in a horizontal position
• Compound light microscope

  disease diagnosis

  3-4 objective lenses

  uses lenses and light to magnify to allow visualisation and identification

  monocular or binocular
• Angled head centrifuge


  tubes are placed at a 25-40 degree angle within the centrifuge
• X4 objective lens


  main focusing lens, used for the visualisation of macroscopic objects and overall scanning of the slide, not all microscopes have this lens
• Supernatant


  liquid portion of a substance
• Microhaematocrit centrifuge


  flat horizontal surface with slots for capillary tubes, rubber cushions places at the edge to prevent breakage of tubes, safety plate screwed on top of tubes to keep them in place
• Battlement technique


  the slide is examined systemically to ensure the whole slide is covered and to prevent the double counting of cells
• Bunsen burner uses 


  prepare agar plate for a bacterial culture

  heat liquid in a glass container

  fixing bacteria to a microscopic slide
• Sediment


  solid portion of a substance
• Angled head centrifuge advantages


  can achieve higher speeds
• Swinging arm centrifuge disadvantage


  heat builds up at higher speeds and can damage the sample
• How is a glucometer used?


  turn on the device and place a test strip into the bottom of the glucometer, a code should show and this should match the number on the box of test strips. A blood drop icon will flash, this indicated the machine is ready for the sample, place a small sample on the test strip until the machine beeps, a number will then show, this is the blood glucose
• Refractometer


  measures the specific gravity of urine and other fluids

  measures the protein concentration of plasma and other fluids

  needs to be calibrated using distilled water before each use
• Refractometer advantages


  cheap

  precise

  accurate

  only a small volume of sample is needed
• ELISA test


  contains appropriate antibodies for the antigen being tested for, the antibodies in the test bind to the viral antigens and a dye is activated, causing a colour change within the test
• Glucometer


  fast and reliable method of examining blood glucose levels, minimal trauma to patient and only a small volume of sample is needed
• Bunsen burner health and safety


  long hair tied back

  goggles worn at all times

  ventilation hole closed before lighting

  orange safety flame when not in use

  blue flame used only for direct heating

  serviced annually
• How is a glucometer calibrated?


  should be done once a month

  controlled solution used, refer to the numbers on the bottom of the vial

  place a test strip into the machine and place a small sample of controlled solution on the strip, a number will appear and this should coincide with the number on the vial
• Vernier scale


  a visual aid to take an accurate measurement reading between two graduation markings on a linear scale