a. Specimen bottles—with top screws, e.g. the

universal type containers.

b. Reagent bottles—have ground glass or plastic

stoppers, available in different sizes and may be

made of amber colored glass (Figs 1.21A and B).

c. Drop bottles—fitted with special tops through

which drops can be delivered (Fig. 1.22).

4. Funnels—used to hold filter papers when filtering fluids

or for pouring liquids into narrow neck containers

(Figs 1.23A and B).

5. Cylinders—used for measuring liquids, they have a

pouring spot (Fig. 1.24).

6. Tubes—are of various sizes; of the test tube or

centrifuge (conical) type, with or without a top rim

(Figs 1.25 and 1.26).

7. Pipettes—are used to measure and deliver a given

volume of fluid.

FIG. 1.17: Conical flasks

FIG. 1.18: Volumetric flasks

FIGS 1.19A AND B: (A) Round bottomed flask and

(B) Flat bottomed flask

FIG. 1.20: Beakers

A B

Laboratory 25

FIG. 1.21A AND B: (A) Specimen bottles and (B) Reagent bottles

A B

FIG. 1.22: Drop bottles

a. Volumetric pipettes—have a bulb shape in the

stem. Each pipette is marked to show the given

volume of fluid, it contains or delivers (Figs 1.27A

and B).

b. Graduated pipettes—are of various sizes. They

may be of the non-blow out or the blow out

type.

c. Blood pipettes—have a white back and include

the 0.02 mL pipette used for hemoglobin, red cell

and platelet counts, and also the 0.05 mL pipette

for white cell counts (Fig. 1.28A).

 FIGS 1.23A AND B: (A) Separating funnel and (B) Funnel

A B

FIG. 1.24: Measuring cylinder

d. Pasteur pipettes—have multiple uses. They are

not graduated or marked. These can be bought

or made in the laboratory (Fig. 1.28B).

Other Necessary Equipments

Serological Water Bath

It is electrically heated and has a thermostatic temperature

regulator. It can provide temperature ranging from room

temperature to 100°C. Various sizes to suit various

workloads are available (Fig. 1.29).

26 Concise Book of Medical Laboratory Technology: Methods and Interpretations FIG. 1.25: Test tubes

FIG. 1.26: Centrifuge tubes

FIGS 1.27A AND B: (A) Volumetric pipette and (B) Measuring pipette

A B

FIGS 1.28 A AND B: (A) Blood pipettes and (B) Pasteur pipttes

A B

Incubator

Works on electricity and regulates temperature thermostatically. Necessary for various investigations where body

temperature 37°C (or otherwise) incubation is required

(Fig. 1.30A).

Hot Air Oven

This is used for drying and sterilizing glassware. This too

is thermostatically controlled and electrically heated. It

looks like an incubator (Fig. 1.30B).

Reporting Laboratory Tests and Keeping Records

Standardization

Standardization in the reporting of laboratory tests

contributes to the efficiency of the laboratory service

and is of great value when patients are referred from one

place to another. Whenever possible, request forms and

other laboratory printed stationery should be prepared

and issued by a central stationery office.

Laboratory 27

Use of Rubber Stamps

When stationery is not supplied from a central source,

standardization in presenting and reporting results can be

achieved by the use of rubber stamps. Adequate ink must

be used and the stamp must be positioned carefully.

Format

The top part of the report card must prominently give the

name, address and telephone numbers of the laboratory. It

should then have place for printing the patient’s name, age,

sex, name of the referring doctor, the laboratory reference

number and date. Next, the title of the report should be

mentioned, e.g. urinalysis, stool examination, hematology,

biochemistry, etc. After this, print the investigation name,

leave space for patient’s values, print normal values

followed by the units. The report must end with the

signatures of the person in-charge of the laboratory.

Keeping Records in the Laboratory

A record of all test results must be kept by the laboratory

as carbon copies, work sheets, or in simple exercise books.