Manual of basic techniques for a health laboratory - libdoc.who.int

2. Setting up a peripheral health laboratory 332.5.2 Additional itemsAutoclaveIf the laboratory is in a hospital, the hospital sterilization service can be used. If thelaboratory is in a health centre one of the following is needed (see section 3.5.5):— a small autoclave (electric or heated by an oil stove or with butane gas)— a pressure cooker.Hot-air ovenIf the laboratory is fairly large, a small hot-air oven is useful for drying glasswareand for sterilization in conjunction with the autoclave (see section 3.5.5).Deionizer or water stillA deionizer is an apparatus for demineralizing water by means of cartridges filledwith ion-exchange resin (see section 2.4.3).If a deionizer is not available, a water still can be used (see page 25).2.5.3 Equipment and suppliesA list of equipment and supplies for a peripheral-level health laboratory is given inTable 2.2. The quantities proposed are sufficient to enable a laboratory with one ortwo technicians to perform 20–50 examinations per day for a period of 6 months.Glassware and small items of equipment for laboratory use are shown in Fig. 2.40.2.5.4 Making glass equipmentGlass is produced by the fusion at a very high temperature of sand and potassium(or sodium). This forms a silicate (ordinary soda-lime glass). Sometimes boric acidis added to the ingredients to produce borosilicate glass, which is less brittle andmore resistant to heat than ordinary glass. Certain pieces of equipment can bemade in the medical laboratory by heating ordinary glass.Materials●●●●●Hollow glass tubing with an external diameter of 4–8mm and 0.9–1.0mm thickGlass rods with a diameter of 4–8mmFile, glass cutter or diamond pencilClothBunsen burner (or a small gas or petrol blowlamp).Making a Pasteur pipette1. Take a piece of glass tubing 4–6mm in diameter. Using the file, mark off therequired lengths of tubing:— 14–15cm for small pipettes;— 18–25cm for large pipettes.Etch the mark right round the tube, forming a circle (Fig. 2.41).