Title: 1.3 Equipment Training
Course: ATEP - Biotechnology Module B > Section: Course Safety and Training

1.3.1 Equipment Orientation

Before beginning to work in a laboratory, you must first review what equipment you will be using, where it is stored and locations of disposal containers just as you did in the Technology Park. You will learn to use, calibrate and troubleshoot many pieces of equipment used in biotechnology labs. Some of this equipment, you will already know how to use from your science courses. Others may be new to you.

Begin this lesson by getting out your safety location map from Lesson 1.1. Remember, in this lesson you were asked to identify the location of all safety equipment. Now you will add the locations of the classroom lab equipment to your map. For equipment, use numbers to create a key for equipment locations.

Let’s begin with some General Equipment Procedures:

  - Lab Courtesy - Always clean bench tops as directed by your instructor at the beginning and at the end of each lab session. Finally, always make sure to turn off equipment when you leave the lab.
  - Glassware - During and after class, please place dirty glassware in the designated area. Mark this area on your classroom safety map. Never use a pen or permanent marker to write on the white marking area of the glassware, since these residues are impossible to remove. The best method for labeling glassware is to mark it with label tape.
  - Broken Glass - Please use the blue broken glass boxes for broken glass disposal (used slides and cover slips, Pasteur pipettes, broken glassware). Mark this box on your classroom safety map.

Labeling

- Labeling is very important in any lab. It is critical that you label every tube, bottle, flask, cuvette or other container you use in the lab, whatever its contents. This is especially important for any hazardous chemicals or pathogens, but be just as thorough with something as harmless as saltwater.

You must label all containers with

:
  - the identity of the contents and its concentration
  - your initials
  - the date (and time, if applicable)
  - your class
  - OR, a number or letter corresponding to a detailed description containing the above information in your lab notebook

1.3.2 Measuring Volume

Volume is simply the amount of space a liquid or solid takes up and can be measured using many different types of vessels in the laboratory. Below are three vessels that may be used to measure volume. Pay attention to which ones are the most precise and accurate.

Beakers

A beaker is a simple container for stirring, mixing and heating liquids commonly used in many laboratories. Beakers are available in a wide range of sizes, from one milliliter up to several liters. They are not used for precise or accurate measurements.

Graduated Cylinder

A graduated cylinder, measuring cylinder or mixing cylinder is a piece of laboratory equipment used to measure the volume of a liquid. Graduated cylinders are generally more accurate and precise than laboratory flasks and beakers. Measurements should be made at eye level and at the bottom portion of the meniscus. In this image, the bottom of the meniscus reads a volume of 6.6 ml.

Transfer pipette

A transfer pipette is used to transfer smaller amounts of liquid with more precision, usually between 1-2 ml. Some pipettes have graduated marks along their sides to allow for easier measurement. In this image, there are four graduations. The middle marked as 0.5 ml and the fourth one marked as 1.0 ml.

1.3.3 Measuring Mass

Mass is the amount of matter that makes up an object. Review the equipment you may use to measure mass.

The Triple Beam Balance

The triple beam balance is a very accurate balance that determines the mass of an item. Its margin of error is only .05 grams, making it the go-to balance beam for a variety of purposes. It's relatively easy to use and, chances are, you have seen and even used one in school during a science class.

The Electronic Balance

Electronic balances can be used when the amount to be measured is too small to register in the triple beam or a more precise measurement is needed.

1.3.4 Other Equipment and Consumables

Hot plates will be used to heat the solutions.

Bunsen burners may be used to heat glass rods to create the holes in your bioreactor.

1.3.5 Microbiology Equipment

One you have grown your bacterial cultures in your bioreactor, you will need a way to transfer and isolate individual cells to determine quantity. This can be done with the aseptic technique using the equipment below.

Petri Dish

A Petri dish is a shallow glass or plastic plate that scientist use to culture, or grow, cells. Agar media, food for the cells, is pored into the Petri dish and allowed to sit until it solidifies into a solid-jello like substance. Bacteria can then be transferred and spread on top of this medium using a sterile inoculating loop.

Colonies will eventually appear on top of the agar plate, as seen below, depending on amount of bacteria, incubation temperature and duration of incubation. They can then be counted to collect quantitative data. Contamination can also be assessed by seeing if more than one type of cell appears.