Laboratory Glassware
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary difference between a centrifuge tube and a test tube?

  • Shape of the bottom (correct)
  • Material used to manufacture them
  • Calibration marks
  • Resistance to high temperatures

    • Which type of glassware is recommended for critical measurements?

  • General glassware
  • Centrifuge tubes
  • Erlenmeyer flasks
  • Volumetric glassware (correct)

    • What is the main purpose of a centrifuge tube?

  • To mix and heat liquids
  • To estimate liquid amounts
  • To store many substances
  • To separate liquids from solids during centrifugation (correct)

    • Which of the following is a characteristic of beakers?

    <p>Have a wide mouth and straight sides</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between an Erlenmeyer flask and a Florence flask?

    <p>Shape of the sides</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common feature of general containers?

    <p>Manufactured from either glass or plastic</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of a volumetric flask?

    <p>To prepare solutions when the accuracy of the concentration is critical</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the meaning of the abbreviation 'TD' on a pipette?

    <p>To deliver a designated volume</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the recommended way to hold the pipette when delivering the liquid?

    <p>In a vertical position to the side of the container</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a biological safety cabinet in pipetting?

    <p>To protect the user from biohazard materials</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the recommended way to dry glassware after manual cleaning?

    <p>Inverted glassware is placed in a hot air oven</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using a pipette aid when pipetting?

    <p>To draw the liquid up past the calibration mark</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of a centrifuge in a laboratory setting?

    <p>To separate blood cells from plasma and serum</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the recommended temperature for drying pipettes, cylinders, and volumetric flasks?

    <p>60°C</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term for the revolutions per minute of a centrifuge rotor?

    <p>Revolutions per minute</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of centrifuge is used to concentrate cells in fluid specimens onto a microscope slide?

    <p>Cytocentrifuge</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the recommended procedure for rinsing glassware after cleaning?

    <p>Rinse with tap water and then distilled water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of balancing a centrifuge?

    <p>To prevent damage to the equipment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of the coarse adjustment knob on a compound microscope?

    <p>To focus the low power lens</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the recommended way to clean the lenses and objectives of a compound microscope?

    <p>With lens paper</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the condenser in a compound microscope?

    <p>To focus the light source</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is it important to clean the oil immersion lens immediately after use?

    <p>To prevent oil from contaminating other lenses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the recommended posture when using a compound microscope?

    <p>Sit back with your feet flat on the floor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of the iris diaphragm in a compound microscope?

    <p>To control the amount of light that hits the object being viewed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of a laboratory refrigerator?

    <p>To maintain a defined, internal storage temperature for secure storage and protection of temperature-sensitive products</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the recommended temperature range for storing molecular testing specimens (RNA testing)?

    <p>At -80°C</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of adding an antibacterial agent to the water bath?

    <p>To prevent microbiological contamination</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the function of a sampler probe in an automated analyzer?

    <p>To automatically pick up the needed volume of sample from the specimen, dilute it, and carry it into the tubing needed for the requested tests</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why should 'frost-free' freezers not be used in medical laboratories?

    <p>Because they allow samples to partially thaw and refreeze</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How often should the temperatures of all fridges and freezers be checked?

    <p>Daily</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main advantage of using an electron microscope?

    <p>It can examine specimens as small as 0.001 um.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using a vortex mixer in a laboratory?

    <p>To mix solutions in a beaker.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of sterilization in a laboratory?

    <p>To destroy spores and bacteria.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the operating temperature of an autoclave?

    <p>121°C</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of using indicators in an autoclave?

    <p>To determine if the autoclave is operating effectively.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the pH of a neutral solution?

    <p>Equal to 7</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the unit of measure that describes the degree of acidity or alkalinity?

    <p>pH</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of deionized water?

    <p>To remove impurities from water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the concentration of salt in normal saline?

    <p>0.9%</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the formula for calculating pH?

    <p>pH = -log10 c</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the difference in strength between pH 2 and pH 5?

    <p>1000 times stronger</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is tap water rarely used in the lab?

    <p>It contains organic and inorganic contaminants</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the description of a funnel?

    <p>An object with a wide round opening at the top, sloping sides, and a narrow tube at the bottom</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of a solution with a salt concentration similar to bodily fluids?

    <p>Isotonic solution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of distilled water?

    <p>To remove impurities from water</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Laboratory Glassware

    • General glassware:
      • Not calibrated to hold or measure exact volumes
      • Not recommended for critical measurements
      • Can be made of glass or plastic
    • Types of general glassware:
      • Centrifuge tubes: designed to withstand centrifugation, have calibration marks, and a pointed bottom
      • Beakers: wide mouth, straight sides, and a pouring spout; used to estimate liquid amounts and mix and heat
      • Erlenmeyer flasks: used for holding and mixing liquids, have measurement marks, and a flat bottom with sloping sides
      • Cylinders: marked with calibrated volumes, but not for precise measurements
      • Bottles: hold various reagents, made of polypropylene or clear plastic, some may be brown to protect from light
    • Volumetric glassware:
      • Made with a rigorous calibration process for accurate measurements
      • More expensive than general glassware
      • Used for critical measurements, with temperature calibration (usually 20°C) and TD/TC labels

    Pipettes

    • Types of pipettes:
      • Volumetric pipettes: used for accurate measurements
      • Graduated pipettes: not accurate enough for critical measurements
      • Automatic pipettes: designed to pick up and dispense preset volumes
    • Proper pipetting technique:
      1. Select the correct size pipette
      2. Place the tip below the surface of the liquid
      3. Attach a pipette aid and draw the liquid up past the calibration mark
      4. Adjust the meniscus to the calibration mark
      5. Deliver the liquid by holding the pipette vertically
    • Precautions:
      • Use a biological safety cabinet or fume hood when handling biohazardous materials
      • Use plastic pipettes when possible
      • Clean and disinfect pipettes after use

    Centrifuges

    • Types of centrifuges:
      • Fixed head centrifuges: blood separates in a slanted form
      • Horizontal head centrifuges: blood separates straight across
    • RCF (relative centrifugal force) and g-forces:
      • 1000g for 10 minutes for blood centrifugation
      • 1000-1300g for gel-containing tubes
    • Cytocentrifuge: used to concentrate cells in fluid specimens onto a microscope slide

    Balances

    • Analytical balance:
      • Very sensitive and accurate (0.0001g)
      • Used for chemical analysis
    • Other types of balances:
      • Triple beam balance
      • Top-loading balance
    • How to operate an electronic balance:
      1. Place the balance on a flat surface
      2. Press the "ON" button and wait for zeroes
      3. Place an empty container on the balance
      4. Press the "Tare" or "Zero" button
      5. Carefully add the substance to the container

    Incubators and Water Baths

    • Incubators:
      • Used to keep specimens at body temperatures (e.g., 37°C)
      • Examples: CO2 incubators, blood culture incubators
    • Water baths:
      • Steel container filled with water and antibacterial agent
      • Used to maintain specimens at 37°C
      • Precautions: check equipment, add disinfectant, and avoid sodium azide

    Electronic Cell Counters

    • Analyze whole blood:
      • Count RBC, WBC, and platelets
      • Measure hemoglobin content and hematocrit
      • Perform automated differential count

    Refrigerators and Freezers

    • Laboratory refrigerators:
      • Maintain internal temperature between 2°C and 8°C
      • Used to store temperature-sensitive products
    • Laboratory freezers:
      • Maintain internal temperature between -15°C and -25°C
      • Used to store blood, chemicals, and medical samples
    • Ultra-low freezers:
      • Maintain internal temperature between -40°C and -86°C
      • Used for molecular testing specimens

    Microscopes

    • Compound microscope:
      • Used for many tasks (e.g., evaluating stained blood smears, examining urine sediment)
      • Has low power, high power, and oil immersion lenses
    • Adjustment knobs:
      • Coarse adjustment for low power lens
      • Fine adjustment for high power and oil immersion lenses
    • Care of the microscope:
      • Clean the microscope regularly
      • Avoid jarring the microscope
      • Use the coarse adjustment only with the low power lens

    Automation and Safety

    • Laboratory automation:

      • Coagulation instruments
      • Microbiology instruments
      • Blood type determination
      • Slide stainers

    • Safety precautions:

      • Handle equipment with care
      • Avoid physical strain when working with equipment
      • Take regular breaks
      • Rotate tasks to avoid repetitive strain injuries### Autoclave and Sterilization

    • Use thermal gloves and eye protection when removing containers from an autoclave.

    • There are different types of autoclaves, including:

      • Dry heat autoclaves, which heat up to 150-160°C for 1 hour.
      • Moist heat autoclaves, which use boiling water for sterilization.
      • Ethylene Oxide autoclaves, which are used for devices and plastic containers that cannot withstand high-temperature steam sterilization.

    pH Measurement

    • A pH meter is an instrument used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of a solution.
    • pH is measured on a scale of 0 to 14.
    • A pH value less than 7 indicates acidity, while a value greater than 7 indicates alkalinity. A pH of 7 is neutral.
    • The pH value expresses the degree of activity of an acid or base in terms of hydrogen ion concentration.
    • pH = -log10 c, where c is the hydrogen ion concentration in moles per liter.

    Laboratory Equipment and Materials

    • A funnel is an object with a wide round opening at the top, sloping sides, and a narrow tube at the bottom, used for pouring liquids or powders into containers.
    • Distilled water is water that has been processed to remove impurities.
    • Deionized water is distilled water that has been further treated through cooling, condensation, and membrane filtration.
    • Tap water is rarely used in laboratories due to the presence of organic and inorganic contaminants that may interfere with testing.

    Normal Saline

    • Normal saline is a mixture of salt and water with a salt concentration similar to that found in tears, blood, and other body fluids (0.9% saline).
    • It is also known as an isotonic solution.

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    Description

    This quiz covers the basics of general and volumetric glassware, including their uses and differences. Learn about the types of containers used in laboratory settings.

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