Safety Procedures for Equipment Handling

Safety Procedures for Equipment Handling

General Comments:

Keep the equipment in good working condition. Don't use anything (any instrument) unless we have been instructed in its proper use. Report any malfunction immediately. Rinse out all centrifuge rotors after use, in particular if anything spills. Please do not waste supplies—use only what you need. If the supply is running low, please notify the instructor before it is completely exhausted. Occasionally, it is necessary to borrow a reagent or equipment from another lab; notify the instructor.

Micropipettors:

Most of the experiments we will conduct in the laboratory will depend on our ability to accurately measure volumes of solutions using micropipettors. The accuracy of our pipetting can only be as accurate as our pipettor, and several steps should be taken to ensure that our pipettes are accurate and maintained in good working order. Then they should checked for accuracy following the instructions given by the instructor. If they need to be recalibrated, do so. There are 2 different types of pipettors, Rainin pipetmen and Oxford benchmates. Since the pipettors will use different pipette tips, make sure that the pipette tip you are using is designed for your pipettor.

Using a pH Meter:

Biological functions are very sensitive to changes in pH and hence, buffers are used to stabilize the pH. A pH meter is an instrument that measures the potential difference between a reference electrode and a glass electrode, often combined into one combination electrode. The reference electrode is often AgCl2. An accurate pH reading depends on standardization, the degree of static charge, and the temperature of the solution.

Autoclave Operating Procedures:

Place all material to be autoclaved on an autoclavable tray. All items should have indicator tape. Separate liquids from solids and autoclave separately. Make sure the lids on all bottles are loose. Make sure the chamber pressure is at zero before opening the door.