Most Useful Medical Equipment for Medical Lab Technicians

Medical equipment is used in a clinical setting for the diagnosis, treatment or repurposing following a disease or injury. Medical equipment are used in laboratories in hospitals or individually in path labs for the diagnosis of certain conditions, examples can be Microscope, different types of analyzers, centrifuge, etc.

Medical equipment are very essential as they limit the possibility of human error and give out results rapidly. The knowledge of these equipment is required by the personnel who are handling them. Here in this blog we provide the Medical Equipment List that are most useful in a laboratory setting.

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Microscopes are used for viewing minute objects that are too small to be seen by an unaided eye. The microscope produces an enlarged image allowing technicians to view the minute structures closely.

Microscopes may be used for different purposes:

• To view different types of blood cells – These cells can be counted and are categorized in case of abnormalities. 
• Used to identify different types of microorganisms like bacteria and parasites that are too small to be seen with the naked eye.   
• To check the presence of different types of crystals, example – white blood cells present in urine, indicating a bladder infection.

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A haemoglobinometer is a medical equipment used for haemoglobin estimation in a blood sample.  The medical equipment operates via spectrophotometric measurement of haemoglobin concentration. The device is very easy to use and is portable, thus can be used in areas where clinical laboratories may not be available.

The device has a haemoglobin tube, pipette, stirrer, a comparator and hydrochloric acid. The blood sample turns brown when added to the acid and the colour of the solution is matched to the colour of the comparator by adding distilled water. The final level of solution on scale gives the quantity of haemoglobin.

The results are expressed as grams of haemoglobin per 100 ml of blood.

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This medical lab equipment is used to count and identify blood cells with accuracy. Haematology analyzer is a highly specialized and automated computerized machine. The analyzer has a very high level of precision for cell counting by techniques such as – Flow cytometry, Use of fluorescent dyes, Light scatter method, Radiofrequency, Electrical impedance method.

The haematology analyzer is used for:

• White blood cell count 
• Complete blood count 
• Reticulocyte analysis  
• Coagulation tests

The analyzer can be used to monitor diseases such as- leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, as well as types of bleeding disorders such as blood clotting – measuring blood cells and blood cell count can help diagnose these disorders properly as these disorders affect several properties of the blood.

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The medical equipment uses electrodes to determine the partial pressure of gases like carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood. It determines concentrations of ions such as sodium, potassium or chloride. Blood gas analyzer detects abnormal acid-base balance and even abnormal levels of oxygen or carbon dioxide exchange.

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Centrifuge is a very important medical lab equipment used for the separation of mixtures with relative densities, insoluble particles, sediment suspended solids, blood and immiscible liquids. The equipment is used in both research and clinical laboratories and comes equipped with a rapidly rotating container which works on the centrifugal force acting on the contents i.e. the centrifuge tubes containing fluids and liquids.

In the laboratory the centrifuge can be used to separate blood components: Red blood cells, White blood cells and platelets to finally carry out tests and treatments on individual components.

There are many types of centrifuges being used in different laboratory that serve different purposes:

• Benchtop Centrifuges 
• Refrigerated Benchtop Centrifuges 
• Clinical Benchtop Centrifuges 
• Microcentrifuges  Vacuum Centrifuges / Concentrators

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Cryostat is a medical device which is used to maintain very low temperatures close to -50°C

The device is used for storing samples, devices and slides to make them remain viable for a long time. The device uses liquid cryogens such as nitrogen and helium for maintaining the viability of the materials. Cryostat is also used for cutting tissues hence preparing tissue samples for research – this is done by a microtome to slice the samples extremely thin.

After preparing the samples, they can be observed under a microscope. Cryostat is useful in a laboratory as it provides a quick diagnosis of the condition of the tissue sections, it is also used to study margins of cancer, and section samples for enzyme histochemical analysis. It is often used to help diagnose and treat autoimmune and neuromuscular diseases.

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Autoclaving is the most widely used method of sterilization of samples used in a clinical laboratory. Autoclave is an electrical device which is used to sterilize or disinfect materials through physical means. Autoclave uses pressure, temperature and steam for sterilization.

The principle on which the autoclave works is downward displacement of air by gravity.

Typically the parameter for steam sterilization are :

• Pressure: 15 psi 
• Steam Température: 121°C  
• Time: 15 minutes

The device is used to disinfect and sterilise medical, laboratory, and industrial equipment such as pipette tips, plastic tubes, glassware, surgical instruments and settings. Autoclave uses moist heat to destroy microorganisms via irreversible coagulation and denaturation of enzymes and structural proteins.

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Cell counters are used in medical and research laboratories

Uses of cell counter:

• Count cells in blood or urine samples to determine the number and types of cells present.  
• Check the viability of a cultured cell line for research purposes. 
• Perform medical diagnoses 
• Perform cell therapy 
• Perform microorganism research 
• Count cell types, particles, and small organisms  
• Determining cell concentration

Cell counters are very essential in clinical laboratories and cell therapies as they help the physicians and doctors find out the count of blood cells – dead or alive

Cell counters consist of microchannels that separate two chambers where fluid containing particles or cells is drawn through each microchannel. The microchannel consists of electrolyte solution where each particle causes a slight change in the electrical resistance of the liquid. This electrical resistance is detected by the counter.

Many types of cell counters are available one of which is:

Differential counter that measures the number of red blood cells, types of white blood cells, and platelets in the blood sample. Following centrifugation, cells get removed and plasma-like supernatant remains.

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Incubators are mainly used for microbiological purposes.

These are environmentally-controlled chambers that control factors such as temperature and humidity, Carbon dioxide levels within a closed area. The environment of an Incubator is such that it promotes the growth of different cells and tissue cultures.

Microbiological incubators are used for many purposes such as:

• Growth and storage of bacterial cultures or cell cultures 
• Maintain the culture of organisms that can be used later 
• Increase the growth rate of organisms, maintaining the condition improves the growth rate 
• Reproduction of microbial colonies and determination of BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) 
• Storing the samples in a laboratory before they can be processed

There are numerous other pieces of equipment that are used in a medical laboratory. There is a wide range of laboratory equipment designed to serve a specific purpose, such as:

Medical laboratory equipment is vital to perform most of the tests in the laboratories. A medical laboratory technician counts on these to provide the reports of investigations. These reports form the basis of the final diagnosis of the health condition of a patient by a physician/doctor.

It is important to always use the various instruments with care, precaution and standard mode of operation.

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Here is a basic medical equipment list with medical equipment names and uses as well as the list of top manufacturers of the equipment.

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