Chapter 1

Fundamental Laboratory Skills

Marc Joseph H. Canindo

MSc. Candidate
College of Science and Computing Studies
De La Salle University - Dasmariñas
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS

An autoclave is a pressurized
chamber used for the process of
sterilization and disinfection by
combining three factors: time,
pressure, and steam.
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS

A Bunsen burner is commonly used

for processes like sterilization,
combustion, and heating. In medical
or microbiology laboratories, it is
commonly used for micro-loop
sterilization.
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS

A colony counter is primarily used

for counting the number of colonies
present on a culture plate to estimate
the concentration of microorganisms
in liquid culture.
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS
A deep freeze can be used for the
preservation of different things used in
the laboratories for a very long period.
Deep freezers are used in laboratories to
store and preserve medical equipment,
food items, blood samples, medicines,
and injections, etc. for a more extended
period.
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS

• A homogenizer is primarily used to

disrupt cells to acquire cell organelles for
different microbiological processes.
• It is used in the preparation step before
the extraction and purification of different
macromolecules like proteins, nucleic
acids, and lipids.
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS

Hot plates are used to heat

glassware and their components.
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS

A hot air oven is an electrical

device that is used for sterilization
of medical equipment or samples
using dry heat.
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS
• An incubator is a device that is used in
the laboratories for the growth and
maintenance of microorganisms and
cultures.
• Incubator provides an optimal
temperature, pressure, moisture, among
other things required for the growth of
microorganisms.
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS

Laminar Hood is a closed device

primarily for processes or instruments
sensitive to microbial contamination.
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS

Microscopes are devices that allow

the observer to an exceedingly close
view of minute particles.
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

LABORATORY INSTRUMENTS

Water Bath is a conventional device

that is used for chemical reactions that
required a controlled environment at a
constant temperature.
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

BASIC LABORATORY
TECHNIQUES FOR
ISOLATION,
CULTIVATION, AND
CULTURAL
CHARACTERIZATION
OF MICROORGANISM
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

PURE CULTURE

A culture containing a single,

unadulterated species of cells is
called a pure culture
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills
LABORATORY APPARATUS AND CULTURE
TECHNIQUES
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

CULTURE MEDIA
• All culture media are liquid,
semisolid, or solid.
• A liquid medium lacks a
solidifying agent and is called a
broth medium.
• broth medium is useful for
cultivating high numbers of
bacterial cells in a small volume
of medium.
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

CULTURE MEDIA
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE

• Sterility is the hallmark of

successful work in the microbiology
laboratory, and sterilization is the
process of rendering a medium or
material free of all forms of life. To
achieve sterility
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

STERILIZATION TECHNIQUES
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

CULTURE TUBES AND PETRI DISHES

CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

TRANSFER INSTRUMENTS

• Wire loops and needles are made

from inert metals such as
Nichrome or platinum and are
inserted into metal shafts that
serve as handles.
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

TRANSFER INSTRUMENTS

• A pipette is another instrument

used for aseptic transfers. Pipettes
are similar in function to straws;
that is, they draw up liquids.
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

CULTIVATION CHAMBERS
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills

EFFECTIVENESS OF HAND WASHING

How Germs Spread?
•Touch your eyes, nose, and mouth with
unwashed hands
•Prepare or eat food and drinks with
unwashed hands
•Touch a contaminated surface or
objects
•Blow your nose, cough, or sneeze into
hands and then touch other people’s
hands or common objects
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills
CHAPTER 1:
Fundamental Laboratory Skills