Laboratory Assessment
Laboratory Assessment - Related Videos
09:12
Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats
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Cited by 3 •
2019
We present three protocols that assess different forms of impulsivity in rats and other small mammals. Intertemporal choice procedures evaluate the tendency to discount the value of delayed outcomes. Differential reinforcement of low rates and feature-negative discrimination evaluate response inhibition capacity with and without punishment for inappropriate responses, respectively.
05:21
Training Laboratory Rabbits to Refine Routine Husbandry Procedures
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Cited by 2 •
2024
Training protocols involving positive reinforcement for routine husbandry procedures in rabbits were developed and proved to be successful, as the rabbits reliably showed the trained behaviors at the weekly general examination. Picking the rabbits up with the transport box was less aversive than the conventional handling technique.
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
Calibration standards provide reference points for relating measured responses to known values. Analysts use them to support quantification of substances or properties in environmental samples. This helps distinguish a measured signal from an interpreted concentration or other reported result. Without appropriate calibration, numerical findings may be less dependable when comparing samples or supporting environmental decisions.
Blanks and quality controls help analysts evaluate whether testing conditions may affect reported results. Blanks can indicate contributions from the testing process, while quality controls provide checks on the reliability of measurements. Used together with calibration standards, they help identify potential problems before results are interpreted for contamination, ecosystem changes, remediation, or regulatory decisions.
Validated analytical methods provide a consistent basis for testing and interpreting environmental samples. Applying a validated approach helps analysts generate results that can be evaluated systematically rather than relying on uncontrolled procedures. This strengthens confidence in measurements of physical, chemical, or biological properties and supports comparisons used in monitoring, risk evaluation, and environmental management.
Laboratory assessment can examine physical, chemical, and biological properties in water, soil, sediment, and air samples. The property being investigated determines what measurements and interpretations are relevant. This range allows testing to address different environmental questions, from identifying contamination to tracking ecosystem conditions and evaluating whether remediation has produced the expected changes.
The workflow begins with collecting an appropriate water, soil, sediment, or air sample, followed by sample preparation and controlled testing. Analysts then apply a validated analytical method, use calibration standards, blanks, and quality controls, and interpret the measurements. Each stage contributes to data quality and helps ensure that reported findings can support scientific or regulatory decisions.
Environmental laboratory assessment is useful when researchers need evidence about contamination, changing ecosystem conditions, remediation progress, or compliance with environmental standards. Results can support risk evaluation and guide management decisions, while repeated testing can help track changes over time. Its value depends on careful analysis and interpretation of the resulting measurements.