Activity 1: QFR

A.​ Equipment
1.​ Analytical balance
a.​ An analytical balance is a highly precise laboratory instrument used to measure the mass of
small samples with exceptional accuracy, often up to 0.00001 grams (0.01 mg). These balances
are essential in various applications, including sample preparation, formulation, density
determination, and quality control in clinical chemistry.
REFERENCES: Bishop, M. L., Fody, E. P., & Schoeff, L. E. (2013). BASIC PRINCIPLES AND
PRACTICE. Clinical Chemistry: Techniques, Principles, Correlations. (6th ed., pp. 17). Jones &
Bartlett Learning.
2.​ Clinical centrifuge
a.​ Centrifuges are commonly used to separate serum or plasma from blood cells during the
processing of blood samples. They are also employed to separate a supernatant from a
precipitate in analytical reactions, to separate two immiscible liquids, such as lipid-rich samples,
and to remove air.
REFERENCES: Bishop, M. L., Fody, E. P., & Schoeff, L. E. (2013). BASIC PRINCIPLES AND
PRACTICE. Clinical Chemistry: Techniques, Principles, Correlations. (6th ed., pp. 18). Jones &
Bartlett Learning.
3.​ Hot air sterilizer
a.​ A hot air sterilizer uses high temperatures to sterilize laboratory equipment and materials by
circulating hot air, making it effective for decontaminating glassware and metal instruments.
REFERENCES: Tille, Patricia M., author. (2014). Bailey & Scott's diagnostic microbiology (13th ed.,
p. 40). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.
4.​ Interval timer
a.​ An interval timer is a device that accurately measures time intervals and can be set to count
down or count up, which is crucial for timing reactions and processes in clinical chemistry.
REFERENCES: McPherson, R. A., & Pincus, M. R. (2011). Henry's clinical diagnosis and
management by laboratory methods (22nd ed., p. 35). Elsevier.

5.​ Pipet washer

a.​ A pipet washer is designed to clean pipettes efficiently using jets of water or cleaning solutions
to remove residues, ensuring that pipettes are free from contaminants before use.
REFERENCES: Richter, H. (1961). A Simple, Effective Pipet Washer for the Clinical Chemistry
Laboratory. Clinical Chemistry, 7(3), 297–299. https://doi.org/10.1093/clinchem/7.3.297

6.​ Water bath

a.​ A water bath maintains samples at a constant temperature by immersing them in heated water,
providing a stable environment for incubating biological samples or conducting
temperature-sensitive experiments.
REFERENCES: Bishop, M. L., Fody, E. P., & Schoeff, L. E. (2013). Clinical Chemistry: Techniques, Principles,
Correlations. (6th ed., p. 176). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

B. glassware
1.​ Volumetric flask
a.​ A volumetric flask is a laboratory apparatus with a bulbous body and a long neck designed for
precise measurement and preparation of liquid solutions, essential for creating standard
solutions, preparing accurate dilutions, and facilitating precise measurements during titrations.
2.​ REFERENCES:Burtis, C. A., & Bruns, D. E. (2022). Tietz fundamentals of clinical chemistry and
molecular diagnostics (8th ed. p., 120).
 3.​ Centrifuge tube
a.​ A centrifuge tube is a small, cylindrical container used to hold samples during centrifugation for
separating components based on density, commonly utilized in clinical laboratories for
separating serum or plasma, aiding in precipitation reactions, and storing biological samples
prior to analysis.
REFERENCES: Bishop, M. L., Fody, E. P., & Van Siclen, K. D. (2018). Clinical chemistry: Principles,
techniques, and correlations (8th ed., p. 58). Wolters Kluwer.

4.​ Folin- wu tube

a.​ The Folin-Wu tube is a test tube designed for colorimetric assays, primarily used to measure
protein concentrations in serum or plasma and to facilitate reactions that produce color changes
measurable by spectrophotometry.
REFERENCES:McPherson, R. A., & Pincus, M. R. (2011). Henry's clinical diagnosis and management by
laboratory methods (22nd ed., p. 389).
5.​ NPN tube
a.​ An NPN (Non-Protein Nitrogen) tube is used to collect and analyze non-protein nitrogen
compounds in biological fluids, which helps assess nutritional status by evaluating non-protein
nitrogen levels in serum to indicate metabolic conditions and is important for clinical testing
related to liver function and kidney health.
REFERENCES: Bishop, M. L., Fody, E. P., & Schoeff, L. E. (2013). Clinical chemistry: Principles, Techniques,
and Correlations.(7th ed.,Chapter 11, pp.312-314). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
6.​ BUN tube
a.​ The BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) tube is specifically used for collecting blood samples intended
for BUN testing, which measures urea nitrogen levels to assess kidney function and hydration
status, and is commonly used in routine blood tests to evaluate metabolic health.
REFERENCES: Bishop, M. L., Fody, E. P., & Schoeff, L. E. (2013). Clinical chemistry: Principles, Techniques,
and Correlations.(7th ed.,Chapter 12, pp.328-329). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
7.​ Cuvet/ Stat fax tube
a.​ A cuvet, often referred to as a Stat Fax tube in automated systems, is a small container used to
hold liquid samples during spectrophotometric analysis, primarily for optical density
measurements in various assays and rapid testing applications in clinical settings due to its
compatibility with automated analyzers.
REFERENCES: Bishop, M. L., Fody, E. P., & Schoeff, L. E. (2013). Clinical chemistry: Principles, Techniques,
and Correlations. (7th ed.,Chapter 15, pp.450-453). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

C. pipette
1.​ Serological
a.​ Serological measuring pipettes are graduated for delivering multiple volumes, typically ranging
from 0.2 mL to 10.0 mL, with gradations extending into the tip. They are calibrated to deliver
(TD) and have a frosted or etched ring at the mouthpiece, indicating that the last drop should be
blown out. These pipettes are designed for making dilutions or titers of patient serum in
serological procedures and can also be used for diluting serum or plasma in clinical chemistry
applications.
REFERENCES: Sanders, E. R. (2012). Aseptic Laboratory Techniques: Volume Transfers with Serological
Pipettes and Micropipettors. Journal of Visualized Experiments, 63. https://doi.org/10.3791/2754
2.​ Ostwald folin
a.​ Ostwald-Folin transfer pipettes are designed for delivering small volumes of viscous solutions,
such as protein or whole blood standards. The mouthpiece features a frosted ring, which
indicates that the last drop should be blown out to ensure the complete volume is delivered
 accurately. This type of pipette can be distinguished from volumetric transfer pipettes by its
rounded bulb, which is located closer to the delivery tip.
REFERENCES: Bishop, M. L., Fody, E. P., & Schoeff, L. E. (2018). Clinical chemistry: Principles, techniques,
and correlations (8th ed.). Wolters Kluwer
3.​ T.C pipet
a.​ A T.C. (To Contain) pipette is a laboratory instrument calibrated to hold a precise volume of
liquid, primarily used in clinical chemistry for accurate measurement, dilution preparation, and
standard solution preparation to ensure precision in quantitative analysis.
REFERENCES: :Bishop, M. L., Fody, E. P., & Schoeff, L. E. (2018). Clinical chemistry: Principles, techniques,
and correlations (8th ed.). Wolters Kluwer

4.​ Volumetric pipet

a.​ Volumetric transfer pipettes are specifically designed to measure and transfer a single, fixed
volume of liquid accurately. The volume calibration mark is engraved on the neck of the pipette,
and there is no etched ring at the mouthpiece. This design indicates that these pipettes are
calibrated to deliver (TD) and that the final volume should not be blown out for accurate
measurements. The accuracy level is marked on the pipette, which is higher than that of
measuring pipettes. A distinctive feature of these pipettes is the cylindrical glass bulb located
near the center, setting them apart from other types of transfer pipettes.
REFERENCES: Bishop, M. L., Fody, E. P., & Schoeff, L. E. (2013). Clinical chemistry: Principles, Techniques,
and Correlations. (7th ed., pp. 99). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
5.​ Mohr pipet
a.​ Mohr pipettes are graduated, but their markings do not reach the tip. They are available in
volumes of 2.0, 5.0, or 10.0 mL, and the last drop should not be blown out to deliver the full
volume; instead, the fluid must be adjusted to a lower meniscus level. Due to the skill required
for their use, Mohr pipettes are rarely used in clinical laboratories. It is recommended to use
suction devices to retain fluid without fingertip contact.
REFERENCES: Bishop, M. L., Fody, E. P., & Schoeff, L. E. (2013). Clinical Chemistry: Techniques, Principles,
Correlations. (6th ed., p. 35). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
D. venipuncture set
1.​ Syringe, hypodermic needle, tourniquet
a.​ A syringe is a medical device used for injecting or withdrawing fluids from the body, consisting of
a hollow cylindrical barrel and a plunger, and is essential in clinical chemistry for administering
medications, drawing blood samples, and transferring precise liquid volumes; a hypodermic
needle, which is a thin, hollow tube attached to the syringe, is crucial for obtaining blood
samples and administering medications or vaccines directly into tissues; while a tourniquet is
used to apply pressure to a limb to restrict blood flow during venipuncture, making veins more
prominent for easier blood collection, ensuring efficient sample acquisition with minimal patient
discomfort.
REFERENCES: Turgeon, M. L. (2013). Immunology & Serology in laboratory medicine(5th ed., Chapter 2,
pp.33-36). Elsevier Health Sciences.
2.​ Vacutainer set ( adapter, two- way needle, tube)
a.​ The Vacutainer set consists of a Luer adapter that connects the blood collection system to
catheters for blood collection without additional venipuncture, a two-way needle designed for
drawing blood directly from the vein into vacuum collection tubes while minimizing patient
discomfort, and vacuum-sealed collection tubes pre-prepared with specific additives to ensure
optimal conditions for sample preservation and analysis in clinical chemistry.
Arneson W., Brickell J,(2007). Clinical Chemistry: A Laboratory Perspective. F.A. Davis Company.
QFR: Activity 2
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1.​ Why should mouth pipetting be avoided?
a.​ Mouth pipetting is a practice perform before, where the processionals used their mouth to such
liquid into a glass tube, and inhaled it to create a vacuum to transfer the liquid to another
container. Thus, mouth pipetting is strictly prohibited to perform in clinical laboratories due to
several significant safety and health concerns, including oral aspiration and ingestions of
hazardous material. As there was no barrier between the user and the potentially hazardous
substances being handled, which risks the health of the laboratory professionals to exposed or
inhaled pathogens, radioactive materials, and chemicals. Hence, Mouth pipetting reduces
measuring accuracy and precision due to inconsistent technique, increased risk of sample
contamination, and limited control over the volume of liquid being aspirated and dispensed.

“The History and Dangers of Mouth Pipetting | INTEGRA.” Www.integra-Biosciences.com, 3 Nov. 2023,
www.integra-biosciences.com/global/en/blog/article/mouth-pipetting-fully-automated-liquid-handlers.

2.​ In relation to pipetting, what is a parallax error?

a.​ Parallax error occurs when the position of an object appears when viewing it from an angle,
either under-eye level or above-eye level, instead of directly to the eye level. This misalignment
can cause inaccuracies in measurements, as the object's actual position may be
misrepresented. A typical example of this is in pipetting, where parallax errors can lead to
incorrect readings of liquid volume. Improper viewing of the meniscus, which is the curve at the
surface of the liquid at eye level, might lead to misinterpretation regarding how much liquid is
actually in the pipette.
Parallax error happens when the position of an object seems to shift when viewing it from an angle instead of
straight on. This misalignment can cause inaccuracies in measurements, as the actual position of the object
may be misrepresented. A common example of this is in pipetting, where parallax error can lead to incorrect
readings of liquid volume. Improper viewing of the meniscus, which is the curve at the surface of the liquid at
eye level, might lead to misinterpretation in terms of how much liquid is actually in the pipette. This highlights
the importance of using proper technique to ensure accurate results.
Harris, D. C. (2015). Quantitative Chemical Analysis (9th ed.). W.H. Freeman and Company.
“Parallax Error Definition | Element14 Philippines.” Element14.com, 2023,
ph.element14.com/parallax-error-definition. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
3.​ Differentiate gravimetric from spectrophotometric method of pipet calibration
a.​ Gravimetric analysis of a pipette involves determining the mass of highly pure distilled water
delivered by pipette using room-temperature water. The resulting mass is converted to volume
using a density conversion factor for pure water adjusted to the temperature. On the other
hand, The spectrophotometer measures the absorbance of light of one of the components of a
chemical reaction. There are three examples of common types of chemical reactions that are
measured by the spectrophotometer are endpoint colorimetric, endpoint enzymatic, and kinetic
reactions. Comparing the two methods, the gravimetric method provides more accurate and
precise application in clinical chemistry as it directly measures the mass of a liquid using a
calibrated balance. However, the spectrophotometer can be influenced by factors such as
light path length and sample turbidity
Arneson W., Brickell J,(2007). Clinical Chemistry: A Laboratory Perspective. (pp. 95). F.A. Davis Company.
4.​ Why should the pipette be drained in a vertical position?
To achieve accurate and consistent liquid delivery, it's important to drain the pipette while holding it vertically as
this position allows gravity to help the liquid flow completely, which reduces the chance of any leftover liquid in
the tip. It also keeps the meniscus level steady, ensuring that liquid dispense the same volume each time. In
addition, holding the pipette vertically minimizes the risk of air bubbles forming in the tip, which can result to
disruption of proper measurements. Overall, using this method enhances the reliability and precision of your
pipetting.

Emata, Kristen. “Guide to Pipetting Techniques | Pipette.com.” Pipette.com, 2024,

blog.pipette.com/guide-to-pipetting.