Techniques in Microbiology Lab

GRAM STAINING TECHNIQUE

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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LAMINAR FLOW BIOLOGICAL SAFETY CABINET

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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ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE

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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MICROBIAL COUNT: Total Count & Viable Count

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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PETRI DISHES

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

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PREPARATION OF BACTERIAL SMEAR & HEAT FIXING

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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PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES TO OBSERVE WHILE WORKING IN THE MICROBIOLOGY LABORATORY

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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Introduction to Microscopy and Microscope

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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Centrifuge

Centrifuge is an instrument is used to separate suspensions or particulate matter in a liquid based on their different sedimentation properties or densities. The centrifuge machine is generally used in the microbiology laboratory to sediment or separate different macromolecules (especially particulate matter) in a solution. Liquid specimens such as urine and blood can be spinned

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