CLINICAL LAB SCIENEC

CHAPTER 7: MEDICAL ECONOMICS AND LABORATORY EQUIPMENT 179
Autoclave for Sterilizing Certain Pieces of Equipment
Much of the supplies and some equipment components used in the clinical laboratory
are sterile if necessary on receipt. To sterilize materials and devices, autoclaves
range in size from simple desktop machines to large floor models that will
hold large racks of items. Few pieces of equipment require sterilization, but in
a few cases pieces of reusable equipment or even reagents that must be sterile
require the use of an autoclave (Figure 7-12).
Safety Cabinets and Fume Hoods
These items of equipment are used in the same way, and are similar, except
for modifications that better equip them for the purposes for which they are
intended. A fume hood (Figure 7-13) is used when working with chemicals that
may be toxic if inhaled. A biological safety cabinet (Figure 7-14) is used for
working with microorganisms that have the potential of infecting the laboratory
worker.
Laboratory Need for Water
Water is the chief solvent in use for a clinical laboratory. Many reagents require
dilution of a freeze-dried or dehydrated solute, or reagents may be concentrated
and require dilution before use. Several grades are used in the laboratory, and
are designated as Type I, II, and III. These three types are recommended by
the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and the College of American
Pathologists (CAP), the latter of which also inspects and accredits laboratories.
Type I water is the purest of the three, and all three types are prepared through
use of deionizers, distillers, or reverse osmosis. Water from the public water
FIGURE 7-12 Table-top autoclave for sterilizing small items.
Source: Delmar/Cengage Learning.
FIGURE 7-13 Fume hood used for working with toxic chemicals
that are volatile.
Source: Delmar/Cengage Learning.
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