Bunsen burner is practically a tube or hosepipe that is connected directly to a steady supply of flammable gas contained in a gas cylinder. It is primarily used to achieve aseptic technique in the microbiology laboratory. Usually, a blue flame from the Bunsen burner is used to sterilize the mouth of glass wares, needles, inoculating […]
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Techniques in Microbiology Lab
Gram staining is a general purpose bacteriological identification technique used in the bacteriology section of the microbiology laboratory to identify and differentiate bacteria into two groups i.e. Gram-positive and Gram-negative. It was discovered by Christian Gram (1853-1938), a Danish scientist in 1884. Christian Gram showed that the cells of some bacteria could be easily decolorized
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Microbe Lab, Bacteriology, Techniques in Microbiology Lab
Laminar flow biological safety cabinet is an air filtration system which protects a laboratory worker from microorganisms or contamination by cells being handled within the cabinet. The laminar flow biological safety cabinet also protects the laboratory room or environment where the work is done from potential danger and aerosols emanating from harmful microorganisms. Work done
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Techniques in Microbiology Lab
Aseptic technique refers to all the quality control and precautionary measures taken by microbiologists in the laboratory in order to ensure that all working apparatuses are germ-free. It involves numerous processes taken to reduce or prevent the contamination of microbial cultures, reagents and culture media. Aseptic techniques also include all other precautionary measures taken to
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Techniques in Microbiology Lab
Viable cell count: Viable cell count gives an estimate of the total number of living cells present in a given volume of a sample. Viable cell count can be determined by automated machines and with the use of counting chambers such as the haemocytometer (Figure 1) in the microbiology laboratory. Haemocytometers are routinely used in
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Microbe Lab, Microbial Physiology & Metabolism, Techniques in Microbiology Lab
Slide rack is a piece of vessel used for packing and storing clean glass slides after they have been used for staining. After staining, it is important to wash the glass slides with soap/detergents under running water. The washed glass slides are carefully inserted into the slide rack (Figure 1) where the excess water on
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Microbe Lab, Techniques in Microbiology Lab
Petri dishes are shallow glass or plastic plates that are cylindrical in shape, and which are used to cultivate microorganisms in the microbiology laboratory. Glass Petri dishes are heat-stable and can be sterilized in the autoclave and re-used over a long period of time. But plastic Petri dishes (disposable) cannot be re-used or autoclaved because
Bacterial smear is defined as a dehydrated or dried preparation of a bacterial suspension (cells) on a clean glass slide. The source of bacteria for the preparation or making of a smear can be from an agar slant, broth (liquid) culture and from a culture plate. A smear is simply a bacterial preparation made on
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Medical Microbiology, Microbe Lab, Techniques in Microbiology Lab
REFERENCES Atlas R.M (2010). Handbook of Microbiological Media. Fourth edition. American Society of Microbiology Press, USA. Balows A, Hausler W, Herrmann K.L, Isenberg H.D and Shadomy H.J (1991). Manual of clinical microbiology. 5th ed. American Society of Microbiology Press, USA. Beers M.H., Porter R.S., Jones T.V., Kaplan J.L and Berkwits M (2006). The Merck Manual
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Microbe Lab, Safety tips in Microbiology Lab, Techniques in Microbiology Lab
The history of microbiology will be incomplete without first mentioning the discovery and development of the microscope. Microscopes are indispensable tools for studying microorganisms because without the invention of microscopes man will find it difficult to see microbes (which are microscopic in nature and are too small to be seen with the naked or unaided
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Microbe Lab, Microscopy & Microscope, Techniques in Microbiology Lab