CLIN CHEM LECTURE STANDARD FLINT GLASS OR SODA-LIME GLASS

OLFU PAMPANGA  used for the manufacture of weighing bottles because it

develops less static surface changes
LABORATORY SUPPLIES  composed of a mixture of the oxides of silicon, calcium and
GLASSWARES sodium

HIGH THERMAL RESISTANT GLASS

 Usually a borosilicate glass with low alkali content.
 Resistant to heat, corrosion and thermal shock.
 Used when heating or sterilization is required
 Most common Resistant Borosilicate:
o beakers
o flasks
o pipettes
SPECIAL GLASSES
COLORED AND OPAL GLASSES
 used in light fitters, lamp bulbs and lightning lenses

HIGH SILICA GLASS

 made by removing all elements from borosilicate glass
 has good optical qualities, temperature capabilities and is
radiation-resistant COATED GLASSES
 used for high precision analytical work and for optical  have thin metallic oxide permanently fine-bonded to the
reflectors and mirrors surface of the glass
 not used for the type of glassware generally used in the  have electronic applications as heat shield to protect
laboratory against infrared light

HIGH ALKALI-RESISTANT GLASS OPTICAL GLASSES

 partially used for strong alkaline solutions  mostly soda-lime, lead and borosilicate of high optical purity
 often referred to as “soft glass” as its thermal resistance is  used in making prisms, lenses and optical mirrors
much less than of borosilicate glass; used primarily
whenever digestion with strong alkali is made

LOW ACTINIC GLASS

 has materials that usually impart or red color to the glass
that reduce the amount of light passing through substance
inside the glassware
 provides protection to reagents highly sensitive to light GLASS CERAMICS (PYROCERAM)
ranging from 3,000-5,000 Angstrom (A)  have high thermal resistance, chemical stability and
 used for substances that are particularly sensitive to light corrosion resistance like borosilicate glasses
such as bilirubin or Vitamin A  useful in hot plates, table tops and heat exchanges

RADIATION-ABSORBING GLASSES
 made of soda-lime and lead
 useful in preventing transmission of huge energy radiation
as gamma rays and X-rays

PLASTIC WARES
 Beginning to replace glassware in the laboratory setting.
 Its unique high resistance to corrosion and breakage as well
as its varying flexibility, had made it most appealing.

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 It is relatively inexpensive, allowing for most items to be
completely disposable after each use.
POLYOLEFINS
 unique group of resins with relatively inert properties
 unaffected by acids, alkalis, salt solutions and aqueous
solutions
 can be autoclaved
TEFLON-FLUOROCARBON RESIN
 pure translucent white and inert to corrosive reagents
boiling agua regia, nitric and sulfuric acids, boiling
hydrocarbons, ketones, esters and alcohols
 can resist extreme temperatures ranging from -270*C
work at
temperatures over extended periods
 used for self-lubricating stopcocks, stirring bars, bottle cap
liners and tubing because of its anti-adhesive properties
COMMON LABORATORY EQUIPMENTS

TYPES OF PIPETTE ACCORDING TO CALIBRATION

TC (TO CONTAIN) PIPETTE
 holds a particular volume but does not dispense that exact
volume
 calibrated by introducing the exact weight of mercury
TWO TYPES OF POLYOLEFINS: required to give the desired volume at a specific
POLYPROPYLENE temperature
 more vulnerable to attack by oxidizing agents  mercury does not wet glass and pipettes calibrated this way
 can withstand higher temperatures will contain but not deliver the stated volume

POLYETHYLENE
 both polypropylene are used primarily to fabricate bottles,
beakers, jars jugs, funnels pipette jars, pipette baskets,
tanks, burette covers, check valves, disconnect valves, TD (TO DELIVER) PIPETTE
twistcock connectors, needle valves, hollow stoppers,  dispense the indicated volume
dropping pipettes, hydrometer jars, stirring rods, tubings  calibrated by weighing the volume of water that will flow
and reagent dispensers from them by gravity
 rate of delivery must never be hastened by blowing
POLYCARBONATE RESIN
 twice as strong as polypropylene and may be used at
temperatures ranging 100oC to 160oC
 unsuitable for use with bases such as amines, ammonia,
alkalies and oxidizing agents
 dissolved by chlorinated aliphatic and aromatic
hydrocarbon
 insoluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons, some alcohols and
dilute aqueous solutions and salts
 used extensively in centrifuge tubes and graduated cylinder
“TO BLOW-OUT” PIPETTE
 same as TD pipette but drops remaining at the tip after
delivery is blown out to receiving vessel
TYGON
 an etched ring is seen near the mouthpiece
 non-toxic, clear plastic of modified plasticized polyvinyl
chloride
 can be used to handle most chemicals but should not be
subjected to prolonged immersion in aliphatic or aromatic
hydrocarbons, ketones and esters
 flexible at 30oC, brittle at 45oC and resists dry heat to 95oC
 can be steamed, autoclaved or chemically sterilized
 used for the manufacture of tubing (i.e., tubing used in Auto-
Analyzers)
TYPES OF PIPETTE ACCORDING TO USE
VOLUMETRIC OR TRANSFER PIPETTE
 has the greatest degree of accuracy and precision
 designed to dispense one volume c/o further subdivisions
 calibrated to deliver a fixed volume of liquid
 has a bulb between mouthpiece and tip that decreases
surface area/unit volume and diminished error from water
film
 self-draining

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 AUTOMATIC PIPETTE (MACRO- > 1 ML; MICRO- < 1
ML)
 is by far the most routinely used pipette
 Advantages:
o time savings
o safety
o stability
o ease of use
o increase in precision
o lack of required cleaning
 tips (contaminated) are often disposable
OSTWALD-FOLIN PIPETTE  Types:
 used in measuring viscous fluids such as whole blood o Air Displacement
 measures smaller volume (2.0 mm or less) o Positive Displacement
 has a bulb near the tip o Dispenser/ Dilutor
 etch mark, ring near mouthpiece
 used with biologic fluids having a viscosity greater than that
PASTEUR PIPETTE
of water  no calibration
 blow-out pipette  for biologic fluid w/o specific volume

PIPETTING TECHNIQUE:

GRADUATED OR MEASURING PIPETTE

 used to deliver an amount of liquid contained between two
calibration on marks

TWO TYPES OF GRADUATED PIPETTES

SEROLOGIC PIPETTE
 the rate of fall of liquid is much too fast
 has an etched band on the suction piece
 has calibration marks to the tip
 blow-out pipette

MOHR PIPETTE
 calibration lies between two marks on the stem
 no graduations to the tip
 self-draining pipette

 Micropipettes
 “To contain” pipette which is calibrated with mercury
 entire content of the pipette must be emptied
 used when small amount of blood or specimen is needed
(< 1 ml)

MICROPIPETTES
 “To contain” pipette which is calibrated with mercury
 entire content of the pipette must be emptied
 used when small amount of blood or specimen is needed
(< 1 ml)

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 B. BEAKERS EQUIPMENTS USED FOR MEASURING MASS
 should be made of glass that is resistant to many chemicals ANALYTICAL BALANCE
used and resistant to heat  precision is up to 1/1000 of a gram
 used for general mixing and reagent preparation
 wide, straight-sided cylindrical vessels and are available in
many sizes in several forms

ROUGH OR PLATFORM BALANCE

 precision is up to 0.1 gram
C. GRADUATED MEASURING CYLINDERS  Examples:
 used to measure volumes of liquids when high degree of o Torsion Balance- for weighing chemicals
accuracy is not essential o Triple Beam Balance- three beams are present in the
balance

CENTRIFUGE
 1. RELATIVE CENTRIFUGAL FORCE (RCF): force acting
on sample being centrifuged; in grams (g)
D. VOLUMETRIC FLASKS o Obtained by using NOMOGRAM
 pear-shaped flasks o RFC = 1.118 x 10-5 x r x (rpm)2
 have one calibration mark on narrow part of the neck  2. REVOLUTION PER MINUTE (rpm) : speed of
centrifugation; determined by TACHOMETER or STROBE
 used to contain a specific amount or volume of liquid
LIGHT
 3. RADIUS (r) : distance in cm from center of rotation to
bottom of the tube when rotating
 4. CAP recommends:
o DAILY: cleaning of any spills or debris such
as blood, and glass
o EVERY THREE MONTHS: timer brushes
and speed be checked

CENTRIFUGE
 1. HORIZONTAL-HEAD (SWINGING BUCKET): tubes are
DESICCATORS AND DESICCANTS in horizontal position when rotatin; recommended for serum
MOST COMMON DESICANTS separator tubes; produces a tightly packed, flat sediment
surface
 ANHYDROUS CALCIUM CHLORIDE
 2. ANGLE-HEAD: tubes are at fixed angle (25-40˚) when
 MAGNESIUM PERCHLORATE
rotating; capable of higher speeds; produces a slanted
 MAGNESIUM SULFATE
sediment surface that isn't tightly packed; decantation is not
 SODIUM SULFATE recommended
 CALCIUM SULFATE  3. ULTRA-CENTRIFUGE: high-speed, capable of 100,000
 ACTIVATED ALUMINA (Al2O3) rpm; refrigerated to reduce heat

THERMOMETER
 TEMPERATURE MONITORING DEVICES: 6 or 12 months
interval
 TYPES OF THERMOMETER:
o TOTAL IMMERSION: used for refrigerators and
freezers
o PARTIAL IMMERSION: used for heating blocks and
water baths
o SURFACE THERMOMETER: used for incubators and
heating oven

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 Fixed-angle head
 Swinging-bucket type
 Microfuge

 Tachometer
 Strobe light

BALANCE
 ANALYTICAL WEIGHTS: used to verify the performance of
analytical balance
 FIVE CLASSES OF WEIGHTS:
o CLASS M WEIGHTS: are primary standard quality;
used only to calibrate other weights
o CLASS S WEIGHTS: are used for calibrating balances
o CLASS S-1 WEIGHTS: have greater tolerance than
Class S weights; are used for routine analytic work
o CLASS P WEIGHTS: have greater tolerance than
Class S-1
o CLASS J WEIGHTS: are intended for micro analytical
work and range from 50 to 0.05 mg

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