Common Microbiology Laboratory Equipment, Apparatus, and Reagents

Flashcards summarizing key microbiology laboratory equipment, apparatus, and reagents.

Pipette

A laboratory tool used to precisely transfer small volumes of liquid.

Autoclave

A device that uses steam as a sterilization agent, ensuring that items come in direct contact with steam.

Biosafety Cabinets (BSCs)

Specialized equipment that protects researchers and the environment from exposure to biohazards.

Incubator

A heated, insulated container used to cultivate and preserve cell or microbiological cultures.

Refrigerated Centrifuge

A laboratory device designed to separate substances based on density while maintaining a low temperature.

Colony Counter

An instrument used to estimate the density of a liquid culture by counting colony forming units on agar plates.

Analytical Balance

A highly precise instrument used to determine the mass of small samples with high accuracy.

Heat Block (Dry Bath Incubator)

A microprocessor-controlled heating device used for consistent heating of samples in flasks and tubes.

Biofreezer

A device designed for freezing biomass or cell-suspensions in a laboratory under hygienic conditions.

Microscope

An essential instrument used to magnify objects too small to be seen with the naked eye.

Coverslip

A thin flat piece of glass placed over a specimen on a microscope slide to hold the specimen in place.

Alcohol Lamp

A laboratory tool used for heating, sterilization, and combustion, typically fueled by ethyl alcohol.

Petri Dishes

Flat glass or plastic containers used predominantly for the cultivation of organisms on solid media.

Culture Media

Gel or liquid that contains nutrients, used to grow bacteria or microorganisms.

Gram Staining Kit

A kit used to qualitatively stain and differentiate between gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.

Disinfectants

Substances used to kill germs on non-living objects, often composed of harsh chemicals.

Optical microscopes

utilize visible light to create images

electron microscopes

employ a beam of electrons to achieve significantly higher magnification, enabling the observation of even smaller structures

microscope slide

is a thin flat piece of glass, typically 76 x 26 mm (3 by 1 inches) and about 1 mm thick, used to hold objects for examination under a microscope