Laboratory Environment
Laboratory Environment - Related Videos
09:30
A Protocol for Housing Mice in an Enriched Environment
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Cited by 70 •
2015
Environmental enrichment for mice requires a complex and challenging setup, as well as comprehensive husbandry and handling techniques to assure robust metabolic and anti-cancer effects in the mice. This protocol provides detailed procedures to reproduce the above mentioned effects in mice.
05:57
Collection, Isolation and Enrichment of Naturally Occurring Magnetotactic Bacteria from the Environment
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Cited by 17 •
2012
We demonstrate a method to collect magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) that can be applied to natural waters. MTB can be isolated and enriched from sediment samples using a relatively simple setup that takes advantage of the bacteria's natural magnetism. Isolated MTB can then be examined in detail using both light and electron microscopy.
06:19
Decontamination for Laboratory Biosafety
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2023
Robert M. Rioux and Zhifeng Chen, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA Decontamination is essential for laboratory biosafety, as the accumulation of microbial contamination in the laboratory can lead to the transmission of disease. The degree of decontamination can be classified as either disinfection or sterilization. Disinfection aims to eliminate all pathogenic microorganisms, with the exception of bacterial spores on lab surfaces or equipment. Sterilization, on the other hand,...
08:00
Measuring Mass in the Laboratory
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2023
The analytical balance is the common piece of equipment in the scientific laboratory. These highly precise instruments can measure down to ten thousandths or even hundred thousandths of a gram. The triple beam balance is a type of scale that uses counterweights on a three rider beams to counterbalance the sample in the pan. On the other hand, modern analytical balances use a complex system of electronic sensors to accurately mass a substance. The analytical balance is so sensitive that it...
07:27
Making Solutions in the Laboratory
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2023
The ability to successfully make solutions is a basic laboratory skill performed in virtually all biological and chemical experiments. A solution is a homogenous mixture of solute dissolved in bulk liquid known as the solvent. Solutions can be described by their solute concentration, a measure of how much solute is present per unit of solution. In this video, a step-by-step procedure for how to make a water-based, or aqueous, solution for biological applications is presented. The video...
FAQs
Ventilation controls the movement and removal of hazardous vapors generated during chemical work. A fume hood provides localized removal, reducing the chance that vapors spread through the workspace and expose personnel. Its role complements, rather than replaces, personal protective equipment, labeling, waste segregation, and standard operating procedures. Together, these controls support safer handling and more consistent laboratory operations.
Temperature can influence whether reaction conditions remain consistent, while cleanliness helps limit contamination that could alter measurements or chemical outcomes. Access control also supports reliable work by restricting equipment and procedures to trained or authorized users. Managing these variables gives researchers greater control over experiments, helping distinguish genuine chemical effects from changes caused by the surrounding laboratory environment.
These practices organize chemicals and waste so materials are identifiable and handled through appropriate streams. Clear labeling communicates what a container holds, storage arrangements reduce unintended contact between incompatible materials, and segregation keeps discarded substances from mixing improperly. In combination, they limit accidental interactions, support safer workflows, and make chemical handling more traceable during research, teaching, and quality-control activities.
Personnel follow standard operating procedures that describe expected practices for handling, equipment use, and waste management. They combine those instructions with suitable personal protective equipment, attention to labeling, and use of controlled work areas such as fume hoods when hazardous vapors are involved. Consistent procedures reduce avoidable variation, support training, and help laboratories meet safety and regulatory expectations.
Researchers should consider ventilation, temperature control, cleanliness, chemical storage, equipment access, and waste arrangements as interconnected features rather than isolated details. The setup must also support protective equipment and standard operating procedures. Evaluating these elements together helps maintain controlled reaction conditions, limit contamination and exposure, and provide a practical setting for accurate measurements and repeatable experimental work.
Controlled laboratory settings support several forms of chemical work, including research, education, industrial development, and quality control. In research and development, they help maintain reliable reaction conditions and measurements. In education, procedures and access controls support effective training. Industrial and quality-control laboratories benefit from reproducibility, organized chemical handling, regulatory compliance, and results that can be compared across activities.