Practices and procedures used to prevent contamination from pathogens; routines to keep cultures/media free of unwanted microbes.
Aseptic Technique
Process that renders an item safe to handle by reducing microbial contamination to a level that poses no infection risk (includes sterilization, disinfection, antisepsis).
Decontamination
Procedure that kills all microorganisms and viruses on an object or surface; methods include heat, gas, plasma, radiation.
Sterilization
Process that eliminates most pathogens but not necessarily all microbes (chemical disinfection often does not kill spores); examples: 10% bleach, 70% ethanol.
Disinfection
Introducing microorganisms or a suspension of microorganisms into a culture medium.
Inoculation
Providing proper conditions (temperature, time, etc.) for growth and development of bacterial or tissue cultures.
Incubation
Precision weighing device enclosed to prevent dust/air currents from affecting measurements.
Analytical Balance
Pressurized chamber that sterilizes by combining time, pressure, and steam; used for sterilizing lab/medical equipment.
Autoclave
Gas-fueled open flame used for heating, combustion, and sterilization (e.g., loop flaming).
Bunsen Burner
Small flame source (alcohol-fueled) used for simple heating/sterilization tasks.
Alcohol Lamp
Device that spins samples around an axis to apply centrifugal force for separating suspended particles.
Centrifuge
Tabletop heating device used to heat glassware and solutions.
Hot Plate
Electrical dry-heat sterilizer used for glassware, metal instruments, powders; destroys microbes and spores by dry heat.
Hot Air Oven
Apparatus for growth and maintenance of microorganisms/cultures under controlled conditions; used across cell culture and microbiology.
Incubator
Enclosed workspace that provides a contamination-free environment for sensitive processes by moving filtered air in a unidirectional flow.
Laminar hood
Device that mixes liquids using a rotating magnetic field and a stir bar—used for homogenizing solutions.
Magnetic Stirrer
Instrument for magnified visualization of minute particles/cells not visible to the naked eye.
Microscope
Also called smear loop or wire loop; tool used to pick up and transfer small amounts of cultures for streaking plates.
Inoculation Loop
Shallow, lidded dish for culturing bacteria and fungi (invented by Petri).
Petri Dish
Glass tube used for preparing media (slant/butt) and holding bacterial suspensions.
Test Tube
Conical flask used for preparing and mixing culture media.
Erlenmeyer Flask
Tool for transferring specific volumes of liquids from one container to another.
Pipette
Simple container for holding samples and reagents.
Beaker
Glass rod used to manually mix solvents and samples.
Stirring Rod
