COMMONLY USED MICROBIOLOGICAL EQUIPMENT AND INSTRUMENTS
1. Microscope - This equipment allows for bacteria, based on the principle of turbidity
magnification and visualization of cells and cellular determination.
components that cannot be seen with the naked eye. 19. Centrifuge - This equipment may be used for
2. Glass Slide - It is a thin, flat, rectangular piece of sedimentation of cells and viruses or to isolate
glass that is used as a platform for microscopic macromolecules such as DNA by spinning at high
specimen observation. speed and using g-force to separate particulates in
3. Cover Slip - It is a small square of glass that covers suspension according to their density.
the specimen placed on the microscope slide. 20. Laminar Air Flow - This is a carefully enclosed
4. Petri Dish - This is a shallow cylindrical container bench that is designed to prevent contamination of
with fitted lid that is designed specifically for biological samples or any particle- sensitive device.
microbiology or cell culture use. The cabinet is usually made of stainless steel with no
5. Erlenmeyer Flask - This is a laboratory glass gaps or joints where spores might collect.
container characterized by its narrow cylindrical
mouth and cone- shaped main body and is often used
for stirring or heating solutions.
6. Test Tubes - These are slender containers that hold
small amounts of liquid and are used in various
scientific experiments.
7. Culture Tubes - These are used to handle and
culture all kinds of living organisms (e.g. bacteria,
fungi, protists, etc.)
8. Dropper - This is used to transfer small quantities of
liquids.
9. Inoculating Loop - This is a tool usually made of
platinum or nichrome wire in which the tip forms a
small loop with a diameter of about 5 mm, and is
used to smear, streak, or take an inoculum from, a
culture of microorganisms, usually in liquid media.
10. Inoculating Needle - This is a tool used to retrieve
solid or dense media from a culture of
microorganisms.
11. Coplin Jar - It is wide-mouthed glass jar with
vertical grooved interior walls. It is used to store
and/or hold microscopic slides vertically during
staining procedures.
12. Staining Racks - This is usually made of stainless
steel and holds multiple microscopic slides
simultaneously during the staining process.
13. Bunsen Burner - This is a laboratory apparatus that
consists of a flat base with a vertically extending
straight tube, called a barrel or chimney. It produces
a safe, smokeless, hot, non-luminous flame that can
be used for various scientific experiments.
14. Autoclave - This equipment is characterized as a
cylindrical metal vessel having double walls (except
at the opening) and can withstand high pressure with
superheated steam. It is used for sterilizing media,
solid and liquid heat- stable liquids, heat resistant
instruments, glassware, etc. However, it is not used
for volatile oils, powders, heat-sensitive fluids such
as serum.
15. Hot Air Sterilizer / Oven - The instrument is
usually used for drying autoclaved materials,
powders, waxes, metal equipment at temperature
range of 160-180 °C for 1 to 1/2 hr.
16. Incubator - It is an apparatus with a chamber used
to provide controlled environmental conditions (such
conditions as temperature and humidity) usually for
the cultivation of microorganisms.
17. Analytical Balance - It is a highly sensitive lab
instrument that contains a draft shield or weighing
chamber to prevent the very small samples from
being affected by air currents. It is designed to
accurately measure mass with readability at a range
between 0.1mg-0.01mg.
18. Spectrophotometer - This is a microbiology
instrument used for counting the population of
