Experiment. No 2

Common materials, apparatuses and equipment used in Serology laboratory

Done By: Thamer HamdanM.Sc. Clinical Microbiology and Immunology

The following items are used in serology lab:

• Centrifuge: a piece of laboratory equipment, driven by a motor, which spins liquid samples at high speed.

• The rate of centrifugation is specified by the angular velocity measured in revolutions per minute (RPM), or acceleration expressed as g.

• There are multiple types of centrifuge, which can be classified by intended use or by rotor design.

• Ultracentrifuge, micro centrifuge, multipurpose bench top centrifuge AND capillary centrifuge.

• Refrigerators: preservation of kits, and reagents that require cold temperature

• Shaker: It is used for blending, mixing or agitating liquid samples in test tubes, flasks, bottles and bowls. A typical lab shaker consists of a housing and control panels.

• Orbital Shaker• Magnetic Stirrer• Wrist Action Shaking Machine• Rotary Flask Shaker• Vortex Shaker• Metabolic Shaker

• Water bath: is a scientific instrument used for regulating the temperature of substances subjected to heat, which can't be heated directly on Bunsen burner or hot plate or any other such media.

• Thermometer: is a device that measures temperature using a variety of different principle (bulb, digital and infra red)

• Incubator: is a device used to grow and maintain of course microbiological cultures or cell cultures and to provide maintain the optimal temperature for some serological reactions.

• Hot plate: In laboratory settings, hot plates are generally used to heat glassware or its contents. Some hot plates also contain a magnetic stirrer, allowing the heated liquid to be stirred automatically.

• Micropipette is used to transfer small volumes of liquid ranging from 1000 ul to as little as 0.1 ul. When working with small volumes of liquid it is essential that the micro pipetting technique is performed properly. Different types are present: fixed or adjustable, single-channel or multi-channel (repeater), manual or electronic.

Consumables and glassware• Volumetric flask : a piece of laboratory glassware that is used to

measure a very accurate and precise amount of a liquid ( flatter bottom and long neck) with stopper or cap

• Erlenmeyer flask: is a widely used type of laboratory flask which features a flat bottom, a conical body, and a cylindrical neck.

• Beaker is a simple container for stirring, mixing and heating liquids commonly used in many laboratories. Beakers are generally cylindrical in shape, with a flat bottom.

• Test tubes (and racks): plastic (polystyrene and polypropylene) or glass.

• Graduated cylinder: is a piece of laboratory glassware, cylindrical in shape and graduated, used to accurately measure out volumes of liquid reagents for use in reactions. They are generally more accurate and precise for this purpose than beakers or Erlenmeyer flasks, although not as precise as a volumetric flask or volumetric pipette.

• Cards for agglutination: ceramics or paper or plastic.

• Pasteur Pipettes (dropper): plastic or glass.• Glass slides (and covers slips): standard slides,

concavity slides and frosted slides.

THE END