Glossary
- Page ID
- 106961
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)| Words (or words that have the same definition) | The definition is case sensitive | (Optional) Image to display with the definition [Not displayed in Glossary, only in pop-up on pages] | (Optional) Caption for Image | (Optional) External or Internal Link | (Optional) Source for Definition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Eg. "Genetic, Hereditary, DNA ...") | (Eg. "Relating to genes or heredity") |  |
The infamous double helix | https://bio.libretexts.org/ | CC-BY-SA; Delmar Larsen |
|
Word(s) |
Definition |
Image | Caption | Link | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| accuracy | True or target value determined by comparing results to accepted correct results or by comparing to results from another laboratory using a comparable method | ||||
| analyte | A substance or constituent for which the laboratory conducts testing | ||||
| balance | A laboratory instrument used to measure the mass of substances. Analytical balances provide high precision measurements, often to the nearest 0.0001 g. | ||||
| beaker | A cylindrical container with a flat bottom, commonly used for mixing, heating, and holding liquids. Beakers are typically made of glass or plastic and come in various sizes. | ||||
| binocular | Refers to instruments, such as microscopes, that are designed for use with both eyes simultaneously. | ||||
| biological hazards | Microorganisms or biological materials that pose a threat to human health, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. | ||||
| Blood Borne Pathogen (BBP) | Microorganisms present in human blood that can cause disease in humans, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV. | ||||
| Borosilicate glass | A type of glass resistant to thermal shock and chemical corrosion, commonly used in laboratory equipment like test tubes and beakers. | ||||
| Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) | A U.S. government agency overseeing the administration of national health programs including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act. | ||||
| centrifuge | A device that uses rapid spinning to separate components of a mixture based on their density, commonly used in blood and urine analysis. | ||||
| chemical hazards | Substances that pose a risk to health or the environment, including corrosive, flammable, toxic, or reactive chemicals. | ||||
| chemical hygiene plan | A written program developed and implemented by a laboratory to ensure safe handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous chemicals. | ||||
| Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) | U.S. federal regulations that establish quality standards for laboratory testing to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of patient test results. | ||||
| combining form | A word root combined with a combining vowel, forming a component of a medical term. | ||||
| combining vowel | A word component, typically the letter “o,” that helps with pronunciation. A combining vowel can connect a word root and a suffix or two word roots. | ||||
| condenser | A component of a microscope that concentrates and directs light onto the specimen, enhancing contrast and resolution to reveal finer details of the microscopic specimen | ||||
| course focus | A microscope adjustment used to bring objects into focus when using lower-power objective lenses. | ||||
| critical measurement | A measurement that directly impacts the accuracy and reliability of test results, often requiring precise calibration and technique. | ||||
| disposable pipette | A single-use instrument for transferring small volumes of liquids, typically made of plastic, to prevent cross-contamination. | ||||
| engineering controls | Physical modifications to the workplace that reduce or eliminate exposure to hazards, such as fume hoods or safety shields. | ||||
| fine focus | A microscope adjustment used to bring objects into sharp focus, particularly when using high-power objective lenses. | ||||
| flask | A type of laboratory glassware with a narrow neck and wide body, used for mixing, heating, or storing liquids. | ||||
| flint glass | A type of optical glass with a high refractive index, often used in lenses and prisms due to its dispersion properties. | ||||
| Food and Drug Administration (FDA) | A U.S. government agency responsible for regulating food, drugs, medical devices, and other health-related products to ensure safety and efficacy | ||||
| graduated cylinder | A tall, narrow container with marked increments, used to measure the volume of liquids accurately. | ||||
| graduated pipette | A pipette marked with graduations along its length, allowing for the measurement and transfer of specific volumes of liquid. | ||||
| Hazard Communication Standard | Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulation requiring employers to inform and train employees about hazardous chemicals in the workplace through labeling, safety data sheets, and training programs. | ||||
| healthcare associated infection | Infections acquired by patients during the course of receiving treatment for other conditions within a healthcare setting | ||||
| Hepatitis B virus | A virus that causes liver infection, transmitted through contact with infected blood or body fluids. Vaccination is available and recommended. | ||||
| Hepatitis C virus | A bloodborne virus that can cause chronic liver disease and is primarily transmitted through blood-to-blood contact. | ||||
| highly complex | Laboratory tests that require specialized knowledge, training, and equipment, often involving multiple steps and quality control measures. | ||||
| Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) | A virus that attacks the immune system, leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Transmitted through contact with certain body fluids. | ||||
| iris diaphragm | A component of a microscope that adjusts the amount of light passing through the specimen, enhancing contrast and resolution. | ||||
| meniscus | The curved surface of a liquid in a container, such as a graduated cylinder, where measurements are read at the bottom of the curve. | ||||
| micropipette | A precision instrument used to measure and transfer very small volumes of liquids, typically in microliters. | ||||
| moderately complex | Laboratory tests that require some specialized knowledge and training but are less intricate than highly complex tests. | ||||
| noncritical measurement | A measurement that does not significantly impact the accuracy or reliability of test results, often requiring less stringent controls. | ||||
| objective lens | The lens in a microscope closest to the specimen, responsible for gathering light and resolving details of the sample. | ||||
| Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | A U.S. government agency that ensures safe and healthy working conditions by setting and enforcing standards and providing training and assistance. | ||||
| ocular | Relating to the eyes; in microscopy, it often refers to the eyepiece through which the specimen is viewed. | ||||
| other potentially infectious material (OPIM) | Any bodily fluids (other than blood) that may contain pathogens, including semen, vaginal secretions, cerebrospinal fluid, and materials contaminated with these fluids. Defined by OSHA to include materials that pose a risk of infection. | ||||
| Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) | Specialized clothing or equipment worn by an employee for protection against a hazard. Examples of PPE are gloves, respirators, lab coats, and safety glasses. | ||||
| physical hazards | Sources of potential harm due to environmental or mechanical conditions, such as noise, radiation, extreme temperatures, sharp instruments, or slips and falls in the laboratory. | ||||
| pipette | A laboratory tool used to measure and transfer precise volumes of liquid. Pipettes come in various types, including manual, electronic, graduated, volumetric, and serological. | ||||
| point of care testing (POCT) | Diagnostic testing performed at or near the site of patient care rather than in a central laboratory. Examples include glucose testing, pregnancy tests, and rapid strep tests. | ||||
| precision | The degree to which further measurements or calculations show the same or similar results. This is also called reproducibility or repeatability. | ||||
| prefix | A word component that appears at the beginning of the medical term and adds meaning to the word root. Prefixes often indicate number, position, direction, time, or negation. | ||||
| proficiency testing (PT) | A method used to evaluate the accuracy and reliability of a laboratory's test results by comparing them to those from an external source or standard. Required under CLIA for many types of testing. | ||||
| quartz | A hard, chemically resistant, and heat-tolerant mineral often used in laboratory instruments like cuvettes and specialized glassware due to its optical clarity and durability. | ||||
| rheostat | An adjustable resistor used to control the intensity of electrical current in devices like microscope light sources or incubators. | ||||
| Safety Data Sheet (SDS) | A document that provides detailed information on the properties, hazards, safe handling, and emergency measures related to a chemical substance. Formerly called Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). | ||||
| serological pipette | A graduated pipette used to measure and transfer liquid volumes in a lab. These pipettes are typically calibrated to deliver a specific volume including the tip. | ||||
| stage | The flat platform of a microscope on which slides are placed. The stage often includes clips or a mechanical stage to hold the slide in place during observation. | ||||
| standard precautions | A set of infection control practices used to prevent transmission of diseases through contact with blood, body fluids, non-intact skin, and mucous membranes. These precautions include hand hygiene, use of PPE, and safe needle practices. | ||||
| suffix | A word component at the end of the medical term that usually indicates a procedure, condition, or disease. | ||||
| test tube | A cylindrical piece of glassware used for holding, mixing, or heating small quantities of liquids. Test tubes are commonly used for chemical reactions and biological samples. | ||||
| transfer pipette | A simple pipette, usually plastic and disposable, designed for one-time use in transferring small, approximate volumes of liquid. Common in point-of-care and general lab use. | ||||
| volumetric pipette | A precision pipette calibrated to deliver a single, specific volume of liquid. Used when high accuracy is required. | ||||
| waived tests | Tests determined by the FDA to be simple with low risk of an incorrect result or with no reasonable risk of harm | ||||
| word root | A word component that is the core of many medical terms and refers to the body part or body system to which the term is referring. | ||||
| workplace controls | Procedures and practices implemented to reduce or eliminate exposure to hazards. Examples include handwashing protocols, proper disposal methods, and training in spill response. |