Basic Laboratory Equipment Use Flashcards
6 cards from real BACE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Basic Laboratory Equipment Use flashcards as text
What is the correct procedure for calibrating a micropipette before use?
Answer: Pipette a known volume of water and weigh it on an analytical balance to verify accuracy
Gravimetric calibration — pipetting water and weighing it — uses the known density of water (1.0 g/mL) to verify that the delivered volume matches the set volume.
A centrifuge rotor becomes unbalanced during a spin. What is the most immediate risk?
Answer: Mechanical failure, rotor damage, or injury from rotor failure
An unbalanced rotor generates enormous centrifugal forces that can cause catastrophic rotor failure, potentially destroying the centrifuge and injuring nearby personnel.
Which type of balance should be used when accurately weighing 50 mg of a reagent for a critical buffer preparation?
Answer: An analytical balance with 0.0001 g (0.1 mg) readability
An analytical balance with 0.1 mg readability provides the precision needed for accurately measuring small quantities like 50 mg.
What is the proper disposal procedure for used sharps (needles, scalpel blades) in a biotechnology laboratory?
Answer: Dispose in a rigid, puncture-resistant sharps container
Sharps must be disposed of in rigid, puncture-resistant sharps containers to prevent needlestick injuries and comply with OSHA bloodborne pathogen standards.
When using a vortex mixer, what is the appropriate technique for mixing a small volume (100 µL) in a microcentrifuge tube?
Answer: Press the tube bottom against the vortex pad at a slight angle at medium-low speed
For small volumes, pressing the tube bottom onto the vortex pad at an angle at medium speed creates a whirlpool inside the tube without risk of tube breakage or splashing.
What does the abbreviation 'GLP' stand for in the context of laboratory equipment use and data recording?
Answer: Good Laboratory Practice
GLP stands for Good Laboratory Practice — a set of quality principles governing how non-clinical laboratory studies are planned, performed, monitored, recorded, and reported.