Laboratory Instrumentation - Part One
52 Questions
0 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

Which rotor type is the most widely used for centrifugation?

  • Analytical Balance Rotor
  • Swinging Bucket Rotor
  • Triple-Beam Balance Rotor
  • Fixed Angle Rotor (correct)

    • What do particles with higher density than the solvent do in a solution?

    sink

    Mass is dependent on the location where the measurement is taken.

    False

    What is the purpose of laboratory instrumentation?

    <p>All of the above</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In a spring balance, the stress in the spring is proportional to the _____.

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

    Laboratory equipment is generally electronic in nature.

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

    Match the water bath type with its description:

    <p>Unstirred Water Baths = Least accurate temperature control due to only convection circulation Circulating Water Baths = Ideal for critical applications requiring uniform temperature Stirred Water Baths = Have more accurate temperature control with possible in-built pumps/circulators</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a laboratory mixer?

    <p>Mixing smaller quantities of material, typically up to 100 gallons (380 liters) with viscosities up to 150,000 cps.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The first infant incubator, heated by kerosene lamps, appeared in 1884 in Paris.

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

    A ___________ is a device that measures a physical quantity such as flow, concentration, temperature, level, etc.

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

    What is the purpose of an autoclave?

    <p>To sterilize equipment and other objects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the principle of conductometry?

    <p>Measurement of electrolytic conductivity to monitor the progress of a chemical reaction</p> Signup and view all the answers

    A hot air oven is primarily used for sterilization by providing moist heat.

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

    It is suggested to operate a water bath involving fumes in a ______ or in a well-ventilated area.

    <p>fume hood</p> Signup and view all the answers

    It is recommended to use distilled water when filling the water bath.

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

    What are the components in a mechanical refrigeration system?

    <p>Condenser coils</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the laboratory type with its description:

    <p>Microcentrifuges = Devices for small tubes up to 2.0 ml Clinical centrifuges = Moderate-speed devices used for clinical applications like blood collection tubes Ultracentrifuges = Analytical and preparative models</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the anaerobic jar components with their descriptions:

    <p>Body = Made up of metal, airtight Lid = Metal lid placed in an airtight fashion Screw = Secures and holds the lid in place Thermometer = Measures internal temperature Pressure gauge = Measures internal pressure Wire cage = Holds a catalyst for reacting hydrogen with oxygen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of an incubator in a laboratory?

    <p>Regulating temperature and ventilation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Turbidimetry and nephelometry are techniques based on the scattering of __________ by a suspension of colloidal particles.

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

    What is the main application of lyophilization in the pharmaceutical industry?

    <p>To increase the shelf life of drugs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Ion-selective electrodes are used to determine the concentrations of various ions in _______ solutions.

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

    Electron microscopes equipped for X-ray spectroscopy can provide qualitative and quantitative elemental __________.

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

    What are the materials commonly used for the interiors of laboratory water baths?

    <p>Stainless steel</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of lyophilization?

    <p>To prevent the denaturation of proteins</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Osmometry is used to measure the osmotic strength of a substance.

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

    What is the purpose of using lift-off or hinged lids in laboratory water baths?

    <p>To prevent evaporation and help reach high temperatures.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the most commonly used microtome for routine histopathology?

    <p>rotary microtome</p> Signup and view all the answers

    X-ray microscopy has a lower resolution than light microscopy.

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

    What are the requirements for laboratory equipment?

    <p>Adequate benchtop or floor space, water supply, line power, biohazard disposal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    ELISA uses an enzyme system and immunosorbent to detect or quantify ______ or antigen.

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

    What is the working principle of polarography?

    <p>Study of solutions or electrode processes by means of electrolysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the principle of coulometry?

    <p>Measurement of the amount of matter transformed during an electrolysis reaction by measuring the amount of electricity consumed</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a pinhole in confocal microscopy?

    <p>Prevent out of focus light from reaching the detector</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of automated analyzers?

    <p>To measure different parameters and characteristics in a number of biological samples quickly and efficiently</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Radioimmunoassay (RIA) is a sensitive method for measuring small amounts of a substance in the blood.

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

    What is a common method used for staining structures or compounds?

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

    What is the purpose of lyophilization?

    <p>Concentrate samples</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is responsible for maintaining laboratory equipment?

    <p>Laboratory Scientist; biomedical or clinical engineer</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Match the following microscopy techniques with their respective descriptions:

    <p>Scanning probe microscopy = Sub-diffraction technique using physical contact with a probe tip Bright field microscopy = Simplest light microscopy technique using transmitted white light Fluorometry/Spectrofluorometry = Measurement of fluorescence intensity and wavelength distribution after excitation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the environment of use for laboratory equipment?

    <p>Clinical laboratory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the principle of immuno-based analysers?

    <p>Antibody-antigen reactions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are hematology analysers used for?

    <p>Complete blood counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rates (ESRs), or coagulation tests</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do automated cell counters work?

    <p>Electrical and optical techniques</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the Coulter principle?

    <p>Passing a dilute solution of blood through an aperture across which an electrical current is flowing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of a coagulometer?

    <p>To measure the ability of blood to clot</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of an automated Westergren-based ESR analyzer?

    <p>To measure erythrocyte sedimentation rates</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are some examples of miscellaneous analysers?

    <p>DNA labeling and detection, osmolarity and osmolality measurement, measurement of glycosylated haemoglobin (haemoglobin A1C), and aliquotting and routing of samples throughout the laboratory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is solvent extraction?

    <p>A technique for separating the components of a liquid solution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Soxhlet extraction?

    <p>A method of solvent extraction used for purification and analytical separations</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is chromatography?

    <p>A technique for analysis of chemical substances</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is flow cytometry?

    <p>A technology used to analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of particles in a fluid</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Laboratory Instrumentation

    • Laboratory instrumentation is the use of instruments for observation, measurement, or control in laboratory tests.
    • It involves the development or use of measuring instruments for observation, monitoring, or control.

    Laboratory Instruments

    • A laboratory instrument is any implement, tool, or utensil used for laboratory tests.
    • An instrument is a device that measures a physical quantity, such as flow, concentration, temperature, level, distance, angle, or pressure.
    • Medical instruments are devices used to diagnose or treat diseases.
    • Instruments may be simple or complex.

    Laboratory Equipment

    • Laboratory equipment refers to the various tools and equipment used by scientists working in a laboratory.
    • It involves the measuring tools used in a scientific laboratory, often electronic in nature.
    • Equipment is used to either perform an experiment or take measurements and gather data.
    • Larger or more sophisticated equipment is generally called a scientific instrument.

    Laboratory Techniques

    • Laboratory techniques are the sum of procedures used in pure and applied sciences to conduct an experiment.
    • All laboratory techniques follow the scientific method, while some involve the use of complex laboratory equipment, others require specific or expensive supplies.

    Laboratory Apparatus

    • Laboratory apparatus is a set of equipment or tools or a machine that is used for a particular purpose.
    • It involves the individual instruments or pieces of equipment, or the entire set of equipment, needed to conduct projects and experiments.
    • The laboratory apparatus depends on the type of laboratory and the experiment being conducted.

    Laboratory Tools

    • A laboratory tool is any physical item that can be used to achieve a goal, especially if the item is not consumed in the process.
    • Tools that are used in particular fields or activities may have different designations, such as "instrument", "utensil", "implement", "machine", "device", or "apparatus".
    • The set of tools needed to achieve a goal is called "equipment".

    Autoclave

    • An autoclave is a device that uses steam to sterilize equipment and other objects.
    • It is essentially a large steel vessel that can withstand extreme pressures.
    • Autoclaving is often used to sterilize medical waste prior to disposal.
    • Autoclaves are used in various fields, including medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science.

    Working Principle of an Autoclave

    • Autoclaves operate by using steam under pressure as a sterilizing agent.
    • Most of the heating power of steam comes from its latent heat of vaporization.
    • Steam at 100°C has almost seven times more heat than water at 100°C.

    How Does Killing Occur?

    • Moist heat kills microorganisms by causing coagulation of essential proteins.
    • When heat is used as a sterilizing agent, the vibratory motion of every molecule of a microorganism is increased, inducing the cleavage of intramolecular hydrogen bonds between proteins.

    Standard Temperature and Pressure for an Autoclave

    • Standard temperatures and pressures employed in autoclaving are 115°C / 10 p.s.i., 121°C / 15 p.s.i., and 132°C / 27 p.s.i.
    • Autoclaving generally involves heating in saturated steam under a pressure of approximately 15 psi to achieve a chamber temperature of at least 121°C.

    How Does the Autoclave Itself Work?

    • Steam enters the chamber jacket, passes through an operating valve, and enters the rear of the chamber behind a baffle plate.
    • It flows forward and down through the chamber and the load, exiting at the front bottom.
    • A pressure regulator maintains jacket and chamber pressure at a minimum of 15 psi.

    Test for the Efficacy of an Autoclave

    • Chemical indicators on medical packaging on autoclave tape change color to signify appropriate processing of items inside.
    • Autoclave tape is only a marker that steam and heat have activated the dye.
    • More difficult challenge devices, such as the Bowie-Dick device, are used to verify a full cycle.

    Application of an Autoclave

    • Autoclaves are widely used in microbiology, medicine, podiatry, tattooing, body piercing, veterinary science, mycology, funeral homes, dentistry, and prosthetics fabrication.
    • Autoclaves are also used to cure composites and in the vulcanization of rubber.

    Centrifuges

    • A laboratory centrifuge is a piece of laboratory equipment that spins liquid samples at high speed.
    • Centrifuges work by the sedimentation principle, where the centripetal acceleration is used to separate substances of greater and lesser density.

    Types of Centrifuges

    • Microcentrifuges are used for small tubes, clinical centrifuges are used for clinical applications, multipurpose high-speed centrifuges are used for a broad range of tube sizes, and ultracentrifuges are used for analytical and preparative models.

    Centrifugation

    • Centrifugation is used to separate particles or macromolecules, such as cells, sub-cellular components, proteins, and nucleic acids, based on their size, shape, and density.
    • The methodology involves artificially induced gravitational fields.

    Centrifuge Rotors

    • Fixed angle rotors are the most widely used rotor type, while swinging bucket rotors are used for density gradient centrifugation.

    Care and Maintenance of Centrifuges

    • Care and maintenance of centrifuges involve ensuring that loads are evenly balanced, observing manufacturer's maximum speed and sample density ratings, and regularly cleaning the rotor.

    Electronic Balance

    • An electronic balance is a device that measures the mass of an object with high accuracy and precision.
    • Electronic balances are used in various fields, including laboratory, clinical, and industrial applications.

    Mass and Weight

    • Mass is a constant unit of the amount of matter an object possesses, while weight is the heaviness of an object, dependent on the gravity and mass of the object.
    • The process of determining both mass and weight is called weighing.

    Balance and Scale Terms

    • Accuracy is the ability of a scale to provide a result that is as close as possible to the actual value.
    • Calibration is the comparison between the output of a scale or balance against a standard value.
    • Capacity is the heaviest load that can be measured on the instrument.
    • Precision is the amount of agreement between repeated measurements of the same quantity.
    • Readability is the smallest division at which the scale can be read.

    Balance and Scale Types

    • Analytical balances are used for high-precision measurements, equal arm balances are used for simple weighing applications, platform scales are used for heavy objects, spring balances are used for quick and easy measurements, top-loading balances are used for laboratory applications, torsion balances are used for microbalances, and triple-beam balances are used for educational applications.### Laboratory Equipment and Techniques

    Precision Weighing Balances

    • High precision laboratory balances with a maximum capacity and display increments of 0.001g (1mg)
    • Useful for applications that require more than standard balances, such as determining the difference between initial and residual weights
    • Features include protective in-use cover, security bracket, internal calibration, and LCD display with backlight

    Care and Use of Balances and Scales

    • Ensure items to be measured are at room temperature to avoid inaccurate readings
    • Clean balances regularly to prevent corrosion and contamination
    • Check previous usage of the balance to prevent contamination with harmful chemicals
    • Use the correct weight sets to calibrate the balance regularly
    • Keep the balance clean and avoid damaging it

    Laboratory Water Baths

    • Water baths are used for various applications such as sample thawing, bacteriological examinations, and warming reagents
    • Boiling baths can reach 100°C (under normal conditions), while baths that work above 100°C require a liquid such as oil
    • Baths that work below ambient temperature require an internal or external cooling system

    Types of Water Baths

    • Unstirred water baths: cheapest and least accurate temperature control
    • Stirred water baths: more accurate temperature control with an in-built pump/circulator
    • Circulating water baths: ideal for applications that require high temperature uniformity
    • Non-circulating water baths: less accurate temperature control, with optional add-ons for stirring
    • Shaking water baths: feature a speed-controlled shaking platform tray
    • Cooled water baths: available as integrated systems or with a separate cooling system

    Construction and Dimensions of Laboratory Water Baths

    • Typically made of stainless steel or chemically resistant plastic/epoxy coated steel
    • Controllers can be analogue or digital
    • Features include thermometer, pressure gauge, and side tubes for evacuation and gas introduction

    Care and Maintenance of Laboratory Water Baths

    • Monitor water level and refill with distilled water only
    • Disinfectants can be added to prevent growth of organisms
    • Raise the temperature to 90°C or higher for half an hour weekly for decontamination
    • Use water-resistant markers and operate in a well-ventilated area if necessary

    Anaerobic Jars

    • Used to create an anaerobic environment for bacterial culture
    • Method of use involves placing the culture media, indicator, and gas-pak sachet in the jar, evacuating and replacing the air with a mixture of gases
    • The jar is then incubated at the desired temperature

    Gas-Pak

    • A method used to create an anaerobic environment for bacterial culture
    • Commercially available, disposable sachets that produce an atmosphere free of oxygen
    • Constituents include sodium borohydride, sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, cobalt chloride, and a dicot catalyst

    Colorimeter

    • A device used to measure the absorbance of different wavelengths of light in a solution
    • Can be used to measure the concentration of a known solute
    • Works on the basis of Beer-Lambert's law, which states that the absorption of light is directly proportional to the concentration of the medium
    • Consists of a light source, filter, cuvette chamber, detector, and galvanometer

    Applications of Colorimeter

    • Monitoring the growth of bacterial or yeast cultures
    • Assessing the color of bird plumage
    • Measuring the color of foods and beverages
    • Testing water quality by screening for chemicals
    • Determining the concentrations of plant nutrients and hemoglobin in blood

    Flame Photometers

    • A technique used to quantify the concentration of certain elements, particularly alkali and alkaline earth metals
    • Involves the emission of radiation by neutral atoms, which is measured by a detector
    • The specificity of the wavelength of light emitted makes it a qualitative aspect, while the intensity of the radiation depends on the concentration of the element

    Ion-Selective Electrodes (ISEs)

    • Used to determine the concentrations of various ions in aqueous solutions
    • Applications include pollution monitoring, agriculture, food and beverage analysis, biomedical laboratories, and explosives

    Hot Air Oven

    • Used for sterilization by providing dry heat
    • Can be operated from 50 to 300°C (122 to 572°F)
    • Features include a thermostat, digital control, and double-walled insulation for energy conservation### Laboratory Ovens
    • Used in the sterilization of pharmaceutical products and other materials
    • Double-walled chamber made of steel
    • Types of ovens:
      • Laboratory Oven
      • High Temperature Lab Oven
      • Industrial Oven
      • Top Loading Annealing Oven
      • Pharmaceutical Oven
      • Vacuum Oven
      • Bench Oven

    Laboratory Ovens

    • Hot air ovens are used to attain constant temperatures inside every corner of the oven chamber
    • Most common size of Laboratory oven has inner chamber dimensions of 24 x 24 x 24 inches, although they can start from 12 x 12 x 12 inches
    • Maximum temperature for Laboratory Ovens can vary from 100°C to over 350°C, with 250°C being the most preferred range
    • Can also be termed as Clean Room Ovens

    High Temperature Lab Ovens

    • Advanced version of Laboratory oven with the same principle of operation
    • Temperature range is higher, classified as ovens having temperatures from 300°C to 550°C
    • Control unit ensures a homogenous temperature profile in the chamber
    • Suitable for simple process of drying and heating of common materials
    • Units work noiselessly

    Working Principle of Hot Air Ovens

    • Based on the principle of hot air circulation inside the chamber
    • Hot air rises to the top of the chamber and is circulated back to the bottom by a fan
    • Optimum amount of heat is achieved gradually inside the hot air oven

    Applications of Hot Air Ovens

    • Mainly used for sterilization of:
      • Glasswares (e.g. pestle and mortars, petri dishes, flasks, pipettes, bottles, test tubes)
      • Powders (e.g. sulphacetamides, sulphadiazines, kaolin, zinc oxide, starch)
      • Injections (e.g. fixed oils, progestrone, testosterone propionate, oestradiols dipropionate)
      • Surgical instruments (e.g. scalpels, scissors, spatula, blades, glass syringes)
      • Chemicals and glassware in laboratories, research institutions, industries, and hospitals

    Advantages of Hot Air Ovens

    • Used for sterilization of substances that get spoiled during moist heat sterilization
    • Suitable for sterilization of assembled equipment (e.g. all-glass syringes)
    • Not damaging to glass and metal equipment
    • Does not corrode or rust instruments or needles
    • Sterilizes instruments containing many parts that cannot be disassembled

    Disadvantages of Hot Air Ovens

    • Not suitable for sterilization of surgical dressings
    • Not suitable for most medicaments, rubber, and plastic goods
    • Dry heat penetrates slowly and unevenly
    • Requires long exposure times to achieve sterility
    • Requires higher temperatures that many items cannot be safely exposed to
    • Requires specialized packaging materials that can sustain integrity under high heat conditions

    Precautions for Hot Air Ovens

    • Glass apparatus must be wrapped with clean cloth or filter paper
    • Containers must be plugged with non-absorbent cotton wool
    • Avoid placing articles at the floor of the oven
    • Do not overload the oven with materials
    • Ensure sufficient space between the articles for uniform heat distribution

    Laboratory Refrigerator

    • Used for storage of:
      • Reagents
      • Stock cultures
      • Media
      • Patient specimens
      • Blood and its derivatives
      • Biological fluids
    • Never store food or drink for human consumption in a laboratory refrigerator
    • Always label and warn about potentially hazardous substances

    Laboratory Mixer

    • Allows for mixing of smaller quantities of material (up to 100 gallons or 380 liters)
    • Capable of handling solutions with viscosities up to 150,000 cps
    • Laboratory mixers are available with various options:
      • Speeds up to 10,000 rpm
      • Through-shaft design for easy shaft and propeller adjustment
      • Digital display of speed, torque, and timer functions
      • Sample light for easy viewing during low-light conditions
      • Remote controller for easy adjustment from up to six feet away
      • RS232 connectivity for easy data collection

    Blood Mixers/Rollers

    • Used for mixing and rolling blood samples

    Laboratory Incubator

    • Comprises a transparent chamber and equipment that regulates temperature, humidity, and ventilation
    • Used for:
      • Promoting pathogenic growth
      • Tissue culture
      • Genetic engineering
      • Storage of reagents and biological materials

    Microtome

    • Used to cut extremely thin slices of tissues (known as sections)
    • Types of microtomes:
      • Rotary microtome
      • Sliding microtome
      • Cryostat
      • Freezing microtome
      • Rocking microtome
      • Ultra-thin section microtome
    • Most commonly used microtome for routine histopathology is the rotary microtome

    Applications of Microtome

    • Traditional histology technique
    • Cryosectioning technique
    • Electron microscopy technique
    • Botanical microtomy technique

    Rotary Microtome

    • Most commonly used microtome
    • Operates with a staged rotary action
    • Knife is typically fixed in a horizontal position
    • Block holder or block is mounted on the steel carriage that moves up and down and is advanced by a micrometer screw

    Auto-Cut Microtome

    • Has a built-in motor drive with foot and hand control
    • Suitable for cutting thin sections of paraffin wax blocks and resin sections
    • Allows for adjusting cutting angle and knife angle

    Sledge Microtome

    • Used for preparing large samples
    • Typical cut thickness achievable is between 10 and 60 microns

    Microtome Types and Functions

    • Rotary microtome: Most common microtome, used for sectioning of paraffin embedded blocks
    • Base sledge microtome: Heavy-duty microtome, used for sectioning celloidin embedded tissue
    • Rocking microtome: Small microtome, used for sectioning small soft blocks
    • Sliding microtome: Unusual design microtome, used for celloidin sectioning
    • Ultramicrotome: Used mainly for electron microscopy
    • Hand microtome: Very early microtome, used for botanical specimens

    The Microtome Knives

    • Microtome knives are usually developed to fit a particular microtome and to cope with different degrees of hardness of tissue and embedding media
    • In modern laboratories, the most widely used knife is the disposable steel blade

    Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs)

    • Rapid test used for detecting or quantifying antibody or antigen against viruses, bacteria, and other materials
    • Makes use of basic antigen-antibody interactions to determine the presence or absence of a corresponding antibody or antigen in question in biological samples
    • Enzyme catalyzes the substrate to give a color end point
    • Intensity of the color gives an indication of the amount of bound antibody or antigen

    Types of ELISA

    • Direct ELISA
    • Indirect ELISA
    • Sandwich ELISA
    • Competitive ELISA

    Equipments Used in ELISA

    • Microwell plate
    • Multichannel micro-pipette
    • Microplate washer
    • ELISA reader

    Reagents Used in ELISA

    • Various reagents are used depending on the type of ELISA

    ELISA Reader

    • Used to measure the absorbance of the color produced in the ELISA reaction
    • Principle: measures the intensity of the color produced in the ELISA reaction
    • Difference between ELISA reader and spectrophotometer: ELISA readers are specifically designed for intensity measurements on a large number of samples, using a very small volume of sample

    Microscopy

    • Technical field of using microscopes to view objects and areas of objects that cannot be seen with the unaided eye
    • Three well-known branches of microscopy:
      • Optical
      • Electron
      • Scanning probe microscopy

    Stereo Microscope

    • Optical or light microscopy involves passing visible light transmitted through or reflected from the sample through a single or multiple lenses to allow a magnified view of the sample
    • Limitation: can only image dark or strongly refracting objects effectively

    Fluorescence Microscope

    • When certain compounds are illuminated with high energy light, they emit light of a lower frequency
    • Many different fluorescent dyes can be used to stain different structures or chemical compounds
    • One particularly powerful method is the combination of antibodies coupled to a fluorophore as in immunostaining

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Related Documents

    Laboratory Instrumentation - Part One (1) PDF

    Description

    This quiz covers the basics of laboratory instrumentation, including the use and application of instruments for observation, measurement, or control.

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser