INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENTS & ACCESSORIES USED IN MICROBIOLOGY

Analytical Balance

• Microbiology lab balances ideal for executing routine weighing procedures for microbiology testing applications including
• Media preparation
• Bacterial endotoxin testing
• Microbial limits testing.
• Calibration of balances shall be performed daily

Autoclave

• Steam sterilizer
• Autoclaves use steam as their sterilization agent.
• The basic principle of an autoclave is that all the items within the autoclave come in direct contact with the steam for a particular period.
• They are commonly used for the preparation of culture media during laboratory applications.

Colony Counter

• A colony counter is used to estimate counting the number of CFU (colony forming units) on culture plates.
• A colony counter is primarily used for counting the number of colonies present on a culture plate.
• This instrument scanned on top with white light and/or fluorescent illumination.

Deep Freezer

• Maintains extreme low temperatures.
• Preserve cultures over a long period of time without any change in the viability of the microorganisms.
• Will preserve cultures more extended period of time.

Hot air oven

• An electrical device that is used for sterilization of medical equipment or samples using dry heat.
• A hot air oven is a type of dry heat sterilization which is performed on dry materials and on substances that do not melt or catch fire under high temperatures.
• A hot air oven can be used to sterilize materials like glassware, metal equipment, powders, etc
• Dehydrogenation can be done in DHS.

Laminar Air Flow/ Laminar Hood

• This device creates a sterile environment with the flow of sterile air through a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter and shortwave ultraviolet germicidal lamp that sterilizes the workstation.
• Laminar Air Flow has to turn on 15 minutes before to ensure complete sterilization and the workstation should be cleaned with ethanol before and after use.
• Laminar Hood is commonly used to conduct microbial analysis.

Biosafety cabinet

• A biological safety cabinet (BSC) is used to protect personnel against biohazardous or infectious agents and to help maintain quality control of the material being worked with as it filters both the inflow and exhaust air.
• It sucks the air in the biological safety cabinet outward to keep the biosafety cabinet in a negative pressure state, and to protect the staff through vertical airflow.
• It is mainly used in handling of microbial cultures.

Microscope

• Microscopes are primarily used for the observation of minute particles which cannot be observed with naked eyes.
• Main purpose is magnification.
• We can see microorganisms in microscope by staining.
• Based on the relative position of the object from the lens magnification of the image can be achieved.

pH Meter

• A pH meter is a device used in laboratories that measure the H-ion concentration in water-based solutions to determine the acidity or alkalinity of the solution.
• When the bulb with the electrodes is dipped into a solution, hydrogen ions in the solution exchange with positive charges on the electrode generating an electrochemical potential which is displayed in terms of pH units on display.
• It is mainly used to check the pH of culture media, Sample pH etc.

Spectrophotometer

• The spectrophotometer is an optical instrument for measuring the intensity of light in relation to wavelength.
• Based on the amount of light absorbed by a colored solution, a quantitative analysis of the solution can be done.
• In a microbiology laboratory, a spectrophotometer is applied for the measurement of the substance concentration, bacterial growth, and enzymatic reactions.

Vortex Mixture/ Vortexer

• A vortex mixture is one of the basic technologies used for the mixing of samples in glass tubes or flasks in laboratories.
• homogenization by agitating the mixture.
• Vortex mixer is mostly used for the mixing of various sample fluids in the sample tubes and also allows for the homogenization of cells and cell organelles.

Water Bath

• Water Bath is a conventional device that is used for chemical reactions that required a controlled environment at a constant temperature.
• Water baths are primarily used for heating samples under a controlled temperature.
• Heat labile media can be sterilized in water bath.

Incubator

• Incubator, an insulated enclosure in which temperature conditions can be regulated at levels optimal for culture growth.
• homogenization by agitating the mixture.
• The instrument works on thermo temperature mechanism. The set temperature is maintained by sensor and cooling system. The Instrument maintains the physical environment like temperature.
• Used in maintaining the temperature for growth of microorganisms.

Air sampler

• Microbial air samplers typically operate by drawing in a known volume of air and collecting the microorganisms on a surface of agar plate
• Active air sampling delivers quantitative data which can be analyzed.
• Air sampler models are portable, convenient, and easy to use and read.