MICROBIOLOGY AND PARASITOLOGY Laboratory Lab Lesson 1

Pipets and Pipetors are essentially a piece of glass tubing that has been calibrated and drawn out to a capillary-type tip. At the other end the pipette has a mouthpiece where suction is applied to draw the fluid into the pipette. This is used to deliver specified quantities of fluid from one container to another. Indicators are substances widely used in microbiological work, which by some visible change, such as a change of color indicates the condition of a solution as to the presence of free acid, alkali or other substances. All indicators change color depending upon the pH in which they are dissolved. Buffers are salts of either weak acids or weak bases that tend to resist a rapid change in pH from the pH at which the medium was originally set. Bacteriological incubator is very similar to an ordinary oven that is thermostatically controlled to maintain a constant temperature.

The Microbiology Laboratory

Like other laboratories, microbiology laboratory utilizes a number of apparatus and equipment pertinent to the nature of its discourse. Without these tools experiments and microbiological studies employing techniques like isolation of microbes and culturing. sterilization, media preparation and other protocols that could not be done

Sterile techniques

are always utilized in the laboratory. These techniques are used in the preparation of glass wares, apparatuses, and culture media so as to prevent the spread of microorganisms and contamination of materials and cultures. Familiarity of the apparatus, glass wares, equipment, culture media, and sterile techniques is crucial before any manipulation is undertaken.

Test tube

Is a common reaction vessel used in chemistry laboratory finds useful principally for growing microorganisms. It is somewhat analogous to the growing of animals in a cage or plant on a pot. This piece of glass tube is usually stopper with a plug of cotton. There are several types of test tubes utilized in culturing microorganisms.

Durham tube

is a small test tube placed inverted inside a large test tube. This serves to collect and makes visible any gas released by microorganisms during their growth.

Smith tube

is another piece of apparatus similar to a test tube that measures the quantity of gas released during microbial metabolism.

Screw cap test tube

is a test tube threaded at the top and a plastic cap screwed on it

Petri dishes

are made up of glass or plastic and provide a large place in which to grow microorganisms in artificial cultures. These were first utilized by Hans Petri using agar based culture medium. Each petri dish is consists of 2 disc-like parts that look alike except that one is slightly larger and fits over the smaller forming a cap.

Pipets and Pipetors

are essentially a piece of glass tubing that has been calibrated and drawn out to a capillary-type tip. At the other end the pipette has a mouthpiece where suction is applied to draw the fluid into the pipette. This is used to deliver specified quantities of fluid from one container to another.

Indicators

are substances widely used in microbiological work, which by some visible change, such as a change of color indicates the condition of a solution as to the presence of free acid, alkali or other substances. All indicators change color depending upon the pH in which they are dissolved.

Buffers

are salts of either weak acids or weak bases that tend to resist a rapid change in pH from the pH at which the medium was originally set.

Bacteriological incubator

is very similar to an ordinary oven that is thermostatically controlled to maintain a constant temperature.