Lab Operations Flashcards
Red
No additive.
Biochemistry tests requiring serum.
Light Blue
Sodium Citrate.
Binds and removes calcium to prevent blood from clotting.
Coagulation tests.
Light Green
Lithium Heparin.
Anticoagulant that allows for plasma to be separated and used for chemistry assays.
Dark Green
Heparin additive (sodium, lithium, ammonium)
Used for biochemistry tests which require heparinized plasma or whole blood for analysis.
Lavender
EDTA
Removes calcium to prevent clotting. Used for hematology tests where whole blood is required for analysis.
Grey
Potassium Oxalate and sodium fluoride
Anti-glycolytic agent ensures no further glucose breakdown occurs. Calcium removed to prevent coagulation.
Royal (dark) Blue
EDTA
Inhibits thrombin formation to prevent coagulation.
Toxicology and chemistry trace elements as well as nutritional chemistry testing.
Black
Sodium citrate.
Removes calcium to prevent coagulation.
Used for pediatric ESR.
White
EDTA
Forms calcium salts to prevent coagulation.
Used in molecular PCR and bDNA testing.
Gold
Clot activator and silica gel.
Gel is used to separate blood cells from serum upon centrifugation after a clot is formed.
Pink
EDTA
Forms calcium salts to prevent coagulation.
Used in the blood bank.
Blotting techniques
Used to transfer macromolecules to a carrier (ie nitrocellulose) for detection and visualization by labeling, staining, etc.
Southern blot: DNA
Northern blot: RNA
Western blot: Protein
Compound microscope
Darkfield microscope
Electron microscope
Fluorescent microscope
Contrast/phase microscope
Two lenses (set of two). Objective and ocular, that use visible light for illumination.
Scatters light from the illuminator, specimen appears white against a black background.
Uses a flow of electrons to produce an image as opposed to light. Best for viruses, protein, lipids, ribosomes, and small molecules.
Use ultraviolet light to illuminate specimens that fluoresce.
Use compound light and a special condenser that allows for examination of structures inside a cell. Final image is a combination of light and dark.
Spectrophotometry
Measurement of light in a narrow wavelength range.
Uses Beer’s law A = abc
Usually rewritten as c = A/ab
A v concentration graph
Components: light source, monochromator, cuvette, photomultiplier tube detector, measuring device/meter.
Fluorometry
Measurement of emitted fluorescent light from a sample as it returns to a lower energy state from a higher state.
