Lab 1 & 2: Introduction to Lab Safety and Microscopy

Laboratory Safety

Key to reducing injury and illness in labs.

Proper Training

Essential for awareness of potential lab dangers.

Preventative Measures

Focus on preventing dangers rather than reacting.

Rules of Conduct

Guidelines students must follow in the lab.

Emergency Procedures

Instructions for handling emergencies in the lab.

Risk Assessment Statement

Document evaluating potential lab hazards.

Laboratory Safety Agreement

Form students must sign for lab participation.

High-Risk Release Form

Acknowledgment of risks in laboratory activities.

Pathogenic Microorganisms

Microbes that can cause disease in humans/animals.

Bio-safety Level 2

Safety level for handling moderate-risk pathogens.

Lab Coat Protocol

Wear lab coat upon entering, remove when leaving.

Closed-Toe Shoes

Required footwear to protect feet in lab.

Hand Washing

Mandatory before and after lab sessions.

Disinfecting Work Area

Clean lab counter before and after use.

No Eating or Drinking

Prohibited to prevent contamination in the lab.

Safety Glasses

Must be worn at all times in the lab.

Equipment Reporting

Report defects in lab equipment immediately.

Bacti-cinerator Use

Follow specific directions for safe operation.

Flammable Liquids

Keep away from heat sources in the lab.

Biohazard Disposal

Used cultures must be disposed of properly.

First-Aid Kit Location

Know where to find first-aid supplies in lab.

Glass Disposal Box

Designated container for discarded glassware.

Chemical Safety Shower

Emergency equipment for chemical exposure.

Contaminated Material Disposal

Follow protocol for disposing of hazardous waste.

Incident Report

Document detailing accidents or unusual events.

Risk Assessment Statement

Evaluation of potential hazards in lab activities.

High-Risk Release Form

Permission form for students with health risks.

Informed Choice

Decision-making based on understanding risks involved.

Opportunistic Pathogens

Microorganisms that cause disease in weakened hosts.

Standard Precautions

Guidelines to prevent transmission of infections.

Pathogenicity

Ability of an organism to cause disease.

Living Bacterial Cultures

Samples of bacteria used for laboratory exercises.

True Pathogens

Organisms that consistently cause disease in healthy hosts.

Environmental Cultures

Samples collected from surroundings for microbial analysis.

Body Specimen Samples

Biological materials collected for microbiological testing.

Escherichia coli

Common bacterium, often used in labs.

Staphylococcus aureus

Bacterium known for causing infections.

Bacillus subtilis

Bacterium used in laboratory studies.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Opportunistic pathogen, often found in hospitals.

Serratia marcescens

Bacterium associated with hospital-acquired infections.

Micrococcus luteus

Bacterium commonly found on skin.

Enterobacter aerogenes

Bacterium that can cause infections in humans.

Staphylococcus epidermidis

Skin bacterium, often non-pathogenic.

Proteus vulgaris

Bacterium associated with urinary tract infections.

Mycobacterium smegmatis

Non-pathogenic mycobacterium used in labs.

Citrobacter freundii

Bacterium that can cause infections in immunocompromised.

Laboratory Safety Rules

Guidelines for safe conduct in lab settings.

Lab Station Supplies

Items needed for conducting laboratory experiments.

Safety Violations

Non-compliance with established safety procedures.

Compound Light Microscope

Instrument for viewing small objects not visible to the naked eye.

Microscopy

Science of investigating small objects using microscopes.

Ocular Lens

Lens closest to the eye; magnifies up to 10x.

Objective Lens

Lenses closer to the specimen; primary image formation.

Condenser

Lens below stage; focuses light on specimen.

Diaphragm

Controls light amount passing to the specimen.

Mechanical Stage

Platform for placing microscope slides.

Stage Clips

Holds microscope slides in place during viewing.

Illuminator

Light source for the microscope; mirror or bulb.

Coarse Adjustment Knob

Moves stage for initial focusing at low power.

Fine Adjustment Knob

Used for precise focusing of the image.

Base

Supports all parts of the microscope.

Total Magnification

Calculated by multiplying ocular and objective lens powers.

Scanning Power Objective Lens

Red band; magnifies objects 4x.

Low Power Objective Lens

Yellow band; magnifies objects 10x.

Parfocal

Lenses remain in focus when switching objectives.

Body

Tube connecting eyepiece to objective lenses.

Nosepiece

Rotating part holding all objective lenses.

Left Ocular Adjustment

Adjusts for vision differences between eyes.

Field of View

Lighted circle seen through ocular lenses.

Parfocal

Maintains focus when switching objectives.

High Dry Objective Lens

Magnifies objects 40x; blue banded.

Total Magnification

Product of ocular and objective lens magnification.

Oil Immersion Lens

Highest magnification power at 100x.

Refractive Index

Measure of how light bends in materials.

Diaphragm

Controls light intensity reaching the specimen.

Rheostat

Adjusts light intensity for the microscope.

Condenser

Focuses light onto the specimen slide.

Coarse Adjustment Knob

Moves stage quickly for initial focusing.

Fine Adjustment Knob

Refines focus for clearer image details.

Mechanical Stage

Holds slides securely during observation.

Stage Clips

Secure slides on the mechanical stage.

Nosepiece

Rotates to switch between objective lenses.

Field of View

Visible area through the ocular lens.

Oil Application

One drop only for 100x magnification.

Cleaning Lenses

Use lens paper; dab, don't wipe.

Transporting Microscope

Hold base and arm; avoid scooting.

Light Bulb Care

Start with low light to prevent breakage.

Cleaning Slides

Use camp wipe for slides, not lenses.

Oily Stage Cleaning

Use kim-wipes to clean oily stages.

Objective Lens Order

Start with lowest magnification, then increase.

Image Centering

Adjust slide to center specimen in view.