Biotech Materials & Lab Equipment

BEAKER

Used to hold LIQUIDS or SOLIDS. When graduated, it can be used to make APPROXIMATE measurements of the volume of liquids.

GRADUATED CYLINDER

It can be used to make ACCURATE measurements of the volume of liquids.

Lab space; grey cabinet

TEST TUBE

Used to hold LIQUIDS, SOLIDS or GASES (hint: it cannot stand on the table by itself).

Lab space; tan bookshelf, 3rd shelf down

TEST TUBE RACK

Used to hold test tubes.

Lab space; tan bookshelf, 3rd shelf down

TEST TUBE HOLDER

used for holding test tubes when heating or pouring items.

Lab space; tan bookshelf, top shelf

BEAKER TONGS

used for picking up beakers when they are too hot to touch

Lab space; tan bookshelf, 1st shelf

GLASS STIRRING ROD

Used to stir material in test tubes, beaker, dishes.

Lab space; tan bookshelf, top shelf

FUNNEL

Used to pour liquids into containers with small openings.

MORTAR AND PESTLE

Used to grind and crush substances to very small pieces or to a powder.

ALCHOHOL LAMP

Ethanol is burned to produce a flame used for sterlization

LIGHTER

Used to make sparks which are used to light the gas burner.

Clean lab; hanging on side of laminar flow hood

THERMOMETER

used to measure temperature.

DIGITAL SCALE

Used to measure mass. Mass is the amount of matter in something. It works electronically.

Lab space; table to left of entrance

METRIC RULER

Instrument used to measure length. Length is often measured in centimeters.

Classroom; near office supplies (under side counter)

RUBBER STOPPER

Used to cap test tubes, flasks and bottles. Some have one or more holes for inserting glass tubes, thermometers, ...

HOT PLATE

Used to heat materials

DISPOSABLE PIPETTE

used draw-up and dispense liquids

SCOOPULA

Concave scoop used to dispense solids/powders.

SPATULA

Flat instrument used to dispense small amounts of solids/powders.

TEST TUBE BRUSH

Small brush used to clean test tubes

Lab space; tan bookshelf, 2nd shelf down

WASH BOTTLE

used to dispense distilled water when rinsing down the inside of a beaker or Erlenmeyer flask

Clean lab; tan shelf under micropipettes

WEIGHING BOAT

Used to hold substances to be weighed on a balance. Never place chemicals directly on a balance pan.

Clean lab; in right blue cabinet, bottom shelf

Lab space: grey shelf above digital scale

MICROPIPETTE

Used to measure extremely small yet exact quantities.

Clean lab; tan shelf to right of entrance

MICROPIPETTE TIPS

Sterile plastic calibrated chamber into which small quantities of liquid are suctioned.

MICROCENTRIFUGE

Used to spin samples for mixing.

PARAFILM

A plastic paraffin film with a paper backing . It is commonly used for sealing or protecting vessels.

Lab space; on gray shelf above digital scale

Clean lab; right blue cabinet, bottom shelf

PETRI DISH

A shallow, circular, transparent dish with a flat lid, used for the culture of microorganisms.

AUTOCLAVE

A device used to sterilize equipment and materials using heat and pressure.

Clean lab; to left of microwave on grey table

AUTOCLAVE TAPE

An indicator used to show whether equipment and/or materials have been brought to appropriate temperature and pressure for necessary amount of time to be sterile.

Clean lab; on top of microwave

INCUBATOR

An apparatus used to grow microorganisms under controlled conditions.

Lab space; on black table to left of tan bookshelf

INOCULATING LOOP

Used to introduce or transfer bacteria from one environment to another.

Lab space: tan bookshelf, top shelf

Clean lab; in top drawer of organizer between laminar flow hoods

STIR PLATE

Uses a magnetic field to agitate liquids

MAGNETIC STIR BAR

Plastic coated rods that are put in liquids sitting on top of stir plates

ELECTROPHORESIS CHAMBER

When an electric current is applied, this device allows larger molecules move more slowly through a gel while the smaller molecules move faster.

AUTOCLAVE BAG

Used to sanitize several instruments at once that will be used in same procedure/process

LAMINAR FLOW HOOD

A carefully enclosed bench designed to prevent contamination of biological samples or any particle sensitive materials. Air is drawn through a HEPA filter and blown in a very smooth flow towards the user.

COMPOUND MICROSCOPE

Instrument used for viewing very small objects, such as bacterial cells, typically magnified several hundred times.

Lab space; tan bookshelf, bottom shelf

STIR BAR RETRIEVER

Gets magnetic bars out of solutions in a way that avoids contamination

SCALPEL BLADE

For cutting plant tissue for transfer

SCALPEL HANDLE

Locks blade in place for cutting

AGAR

Semi-solid media for bacterial or plant culture

CELL SPREADER

Introduces bacteria on a plate for growth

MICROSCOPE SLIDE

Used to hold and view specimen under compound microscope

pH METER

Used to determine how acidic or basic a liquid is

NALGENE BOTTLE

Plastic bottles that can be autoclaved

SHARPS CONTAINER

Used to store used needles and scalpel blades until disposal (these items should not be placed into trash)

TEST TUBE CAPS

Covers top of tubes to prevent contamination

Clean lab; drawers below microwave

WASH BOTTLE

Used to supply a stream of water (tap or distilled)

Clean lab; below micropipettes

AUTOCLAVE GLOVES

Used to unload autoclave

COVERSLIPS

Used to prepare wet mounts on microscope slides

Lab space; in white basket on shelf above digital scale

LAB COATS

Used to protect the wearer's body from chemicals during lab

On door between classroom & clean lab space

LATEX GLOVES

Used to protect the wearer's hands from chemicals and specimen during lab

Lab space: on side of grey cabinet

DISTILLER

Separates liquids based on boiling points

ALUMINUM FOIL

Prevents autoclaved items (beakers, forceps, etc) from becoming re-contaminated when removed from autoclave

Clean lab; on table below blue cabinets

VORTEX MIXER

Gently mixes small quantities of liquid (<5 mL)

SEPARATORY FUNNEL

Allows liquids of different densities to be separated

MICROCENTRIFUGE TUBES

Holds small quantities of liquid (<5 mL)

Clean lab; basket inside or on top of right blue cabinet

NALGENE BOTTLE

Plastic containers that can be autoclaved (use for sterilizing media)

FLASK

Holds approximate volumes of liquid

Lab space; grey cabinet, top shelves

FORCEPS

Transfer tissues to sterile environments for growth (decreases contamination)

Clean lab (sterile): in organizer between laminar flow hoods

Lab space: tan bookshelf, top shelf

HOT WATER BATH

Used to hold samples at a constant warm temperature

Clean lab; bottom of grey cabinet

PIPETTE PUMP

Used to draw liquid or media into serological pipettes

Clean lab; on top of flammable cabinet

RING STAND

Used to hold and support equipment for extended periods of time

RING STAND CLAMP

Attaches to stand to hold or support equipment

Lab space; tan bookshelf, red bin by test tubes

SEROLOGICAL PIPETTE

Used to measure mid-sized volumes of liquid (20 mL to 1 mL)

SAFETY GLASSES

Protects eyes from injury