LABORATORY
EQUIPMENTS AND
THEIR USES
Dr. Swapnil Kumawat
Assistant Professor
Department of Pathology, PMCH
VACUTAINERS
1. EDTA TUBE - K2 and K3 EDTA 2. SODIUM CITRATE TUBE - (1:4 and
(Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). 1:9 ratios)
- Removes free calcium ions. - Binds loosely with calcium ions.
Uses - CBC, PBF, Wintrobe’s ESR & Uses - Coagulation studies (PT, INR,
Blood group estimation, HbA1C. APTT), Westergren's ESR, D-dimer,
Platelet counts.
VACUTAINERS
3. SODIUM FLUORIDE TUBE 4. PLAIN TUBE
- Inhibits enzyme enolase in - Doesn’t have anticoagulant, but
glycolytic pathway. contains clot activator.
Uses - Glucose estimation (FBS, RBS, Uses - Biochemical test (LFT, RFT,
PP-BS, GTT). etc.), Serology, Immunology, Blood
banking (Cross matching).
VACUTAINERS
5. HEPARIN TUBE 6. SERUM SEPARATOR TUBE
- Acts as antithrombin - Rapid separation of serum
Uses - G6PD and PK deficiency test, and reduces hemolysis.
Osmotic fragility test, ABG. Uses - Urea, CRP, Bone profile,
Tumor markers, Toxicology, Drug
levels, Immunology.
SAHLI’S HAEMOGLOBINOMETER
Principle - Hb is converted to acid haematin and measured against a
standard comparator box.
Uses - Haemoglobin estimation
Range - 3 – 14.5 gm%
Advantage - easy to use.
- no expertise required.
- cheap.
Disadvantage - inter-observer variability.
- less accurate.
- doesn’t measure all forms of Hb.
SAHLI’S HAEMOGLOBINOMETER
Parts -
• Comparator box
• Hb pipette
• Stirrer
• Sahli’s tube
IMPROVED NEUBAUER CHAMBER
Uses - RBC count, WBC Count, Size - 3 x 3 cm
Platelet Count, Fluid Cell count, Depth - 0.1 mm
Sperm count 4 corner squares = WBC count
Central 5 squares = RBC count
RBC PIPETTE
Uses - RBC counts. Identification - Red bead in the
Markings - 0.5 bulb and red mouth piece
1.0
101
Dilution - 200 times
WBC PIPETTE
Uses - WBC count Identification - White bead in
Markings - 0.5 the bulb and white mouth piece
1.0
11.0
Dilution - 20 times
ESR ESTIMATION
WINTROBE METHOD WESTERGREN METHOD
• Anticoagulated blood is centrifuged at • EDTA blood is filled upto 0
3500 rpm for 30 mins. mark.
• Tube - 110 mm in length, internal • Tube - 30 cm in length, 2.5
diameter 2.5 mm and marking at 1 mm. cm in internal diameter and
• Uses - Both ESR and PCV can be calibrated as 0-200 from top
calculated. to bottom.
• Buffy coat can be made - sub and • More sensitive as longer.
aleukemic leukemias and LE cell. • Cannot measure PCV and
buffy coat cannot be
obtained.
ESBACH’S ALBUMINOMETER
• 24 hour urine sample.
• Uses - to detect presence of
protein and albumin in urine.
• Esbach’s reagent - contains
picric acid and citric acid
dissolved in water.
BONE MARROW EXAMINATION
Salah’s bone marrow aspiration
needle
• Uses- Bone marrow aspiration Parts –
• Sites - PSIS, ASIS, Sternum, Iliac
crest, Upper end of tibia and • Stylet
Spinous process of vertebra. • Guard
• Typing of anemias especially
Aplastic and Megaloblastic. • Needle
• Leukemia, Platelet disorders and
Multiple myeloma.
• Metastasis to bone marrow.
• Storage disorders and Iron
stores estimation.
• Parasites like Leishmania,
Tuberculosis.
CSF EXAMINATION
LUMBAR PUNCTURE NEEDLE Parts -
• Stylet and needle
• Uses - CSF Examination in cases of
infections, meningitis (bacteria, viral
or tubercular).
• In ALL to rule out CNS involvement.
• Suspected metastasis, Spinal cord
tumors, GBS and encephalitis
• Subarachnoid haemorrhage.
• Therapeutic - Spinal anesthesia and
Chemotherapy.
• Site - L3- L4 intervertebral space.
CYTOLOGY
EXFOLIATIVE CYTOLOGY -
BODY FLUIDS, SURFACE EPITHELIUM AND BUCCAL SMEARS
CYTO BRUSH
• Uses - Gynaecological smear
examination in cases of • Both thinprep and
infections, detection and follow conventional.
up of malignancy of lower
genital tract.
• Cyto brush also for non
gynaecological sites like - Lung,
Bronchial, GIT and other sites.
AYRE’S SPATULA -
• Wooden / Plastic.
• Rotated through 360° to get material from ectocervix and
squamocolumnar junction.
• Can also be used for buccal smears.
URINOMETER
• Measure the specific gravity of
urine.
• Parts –
I. The float: the air containing part
II. Weight: the lower end of
urinometer
III. Stem: has calibrations marked
to measure the specific gravity
• Principle: Buoyancy
URINE CONTAINERS
• Sterile
• Wide mouth
• Plastic
URINE TEST STRIPS
Histopathology
L-mould / Leuckhart’s mould
Tissue cassettes
Paraffin blocks
Disposable blades
Microtome
Blood bags (Quadruple)
Antisera
