1. Veterinary Practice Laboratory
General Laboratory Equipment
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2. In-House Veterinary Laboratories
A variety of equipment is need in an in-house veterinary laboratory
Factors that affect equipment needs
Size of the practice
Minimal equipment needs
Microscope
Refractometer
Microhematocrit centrifuge
Clinical centrifuge
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3. In-House Veterinary Laboratories (cont.)
Additional needs
Blood chemistry analyzers
Cell counters
Water baths
Incubators
Test tubes
Pipettes
Aliquot mixers
Heat blocks
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4. Test Tubes Glass or plastic Many sizes Microhematocrit Larger tubes
Packed Cell Volume
Larger tubes
Blood collection
Color coded
Conical Tubes
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5. Centrifuges Vital instrument
Separates substances of different densities
Spins at high speed
Heavier component pushed to the bottom of tube
Sediment
Liquid components above
Supernatant
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6. Centrifuges (cont.) Microhematocrit centrifuge Clinical centrifuges
Holds capillary tubes
Clinical centrifuges
Horizontal or swing arm
Angled
Designed for both hematocrit tubes and centrifuge tubes
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7. Swing Arm Centrifuges Tube holders swing out when in motion
Disadvantages
Heat build up at excessive speeds
Damage specimens
Mixing of sediment and supernatant when stops and reverts to vertical position
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8. Angled Centrifuge Fixed tube at about 52 degrees
Higher speeds than swing arm
Usually only one tube size
Adapter for smaller tubes
This centrifuge is designed for smaller tubes.
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9. Balancing Centrifuges
Tubes must be counter balanced
Same weight tube opposite
Water filled
Avoids
Wobbling
No liquid forced from the tubes
Damage to the instrument
Clean immediately if spills occur
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10. Routine Maintenance Follow manufacturer guidelines
Check lubrication of bearings
Check brushes
Confirm timing
Check speed
Tachometer
Prevents costly breakdowns
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11. Centrifuging Specimens
Follow guidelines
Too long or fast can result in
Ruptured cells
Changes in morphology
Too slow or short of time
Not complete separation
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12. Refractometer a.k.a. ‒ total solids meter
Measures the refractive index of a solution
Bending of light rays as they pass through from one medium to another with a different optical density.
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13. Refractometer (cont.) Measure the degree of refraction
The function of the concentration of solid material in the medium
Calibrated to Zero
Distilled water between 60° and 100° F
Measures
Specific gravity of urine and other fluids
Protein concentration of plasma (g/dL)
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14. Refractometer (cont.) A built in prism and scale
Read at the light-dark
interface
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15. Care and Maintenance Cleaned after each use Calibrate regularly
Prism cover and glass wiped with lens tissue
Follow manufacturers guidelines
Calibrate regularly
Adjusted by turning the adjusting screw
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16. Use of Refractometer
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17. Pipettes Most tests kits and analyzers come with pipettes
Most commonly used
Transfer
Graduated
TD pipettes
To deliver large amounts
Either TD or “TD with blowout”
TC pipettes
To contain
Microliter amounts
Use size closest to volume needed
Transfer pipettes are used when critical volume measurements are not needed. These pipettes may be plastic or glass, and some can deliver volumes by drops. Graduated pipettes may contain a single volume designation or have multiple gradations. Pipettes with single gradations are referred to as volumetric pipettes and are the most accurate of the measuring pipettes. It is important that the pipette be used correctly to ensure that the desired volume is measured. Always hold the pipette vertically, not tipped to the side. Larger volumetric pipettes are usually designated as TD pipettes, which means that the pipette is designed “to deliver” the specific volume. A small amount of liquid should remain in the tip of the pipette after the volume has been delivered. Volumetric pipettes that have been designed to deliver microliter volumes are designated as TC pipettes, which means that the pipette is designed “to contain” the specified volume. These pipettes must only be used to add specified volumes of substances to other liquids. The pipette then must be rinsed with the other liquid to deliver the specified volume accurately. The small volume of fluid left in the tip of the pipette is then blown out of the pipette. Pipettes that contain multiple gradations are marked as either “TD” or “TD with blow out,” depending on whether the fluid remaining in the tip of the pipette should remain or be blown out. TD with blow out pipettes usually contain a double-etched or frosted band at the top.
The pipette chosen for a specific application should always be the one that is the most accurate and that measures volumes closest to the volume needed. For example, a 1-mL pipette rather than a 5-mL pipette should be chosen if the volume needed is 0.8 mL.
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18. Incubators Microbiology Larger facilities
37° C best for incubating pathogenic bacteria
Fitted with a thermometer inside the chamber
May have built in humidity control
If not a small dish of water should be added
Larger facilities
Control CO2 and O2 levels as well
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19. Incubator
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20. Water Baths/Heat Blocks
Some assays, coagulation test and blood banking procedures require heat
Constant temperature of 37° C
Types
Simple water bath
Circulating water bath
Waterless bead bath
Heat blocks
One tube size
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21. Miscellaneous Equipment
Slide dryers
Coffee mug heaters
Aliquot mixer – Rockers
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22. Summary Test tubes Centrifuges Refractometers Pipettes Incubators
Water baths
Miscellaneous Equipment
Copyright © 2015 by Mosby, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.