Introduction in Biomedical Laboratory Work and Equipment

The idea behind this collection of works was to collect information on the pieces of most important modern general equipment for laboratories, describe their purpose, scope, and operational principles and provide technical specifications. The book is designed to give readers an understanding of the general equipment that a laboratory in a specific field and for a particular purpose may be equipped with. Naturally, it is impossible to cover all possible pieces of such equipment and devices in a single publication, but those included here are among the most commonly used and I believe, will capture readers' interest.

This publication aims to strengthen competences and form both theoretical knowledge and practical skills of how to use, maintenance, service and carrying out minor repairs of laboratory instruments for qualified and accurate sample preparation, as well as for precise analyses and to provide valid measurement procedures. Studying the structure of the equipment, the principle of operation, application and the tasks they perform is also an important goal of this publication. The devices discussed are essential components of equipment for various types of laboratories, including medical, biomedical, diagnostic, dentistry, pharmacy and forensic laboratories and institutions, research centers, veterinary clinics, chemical, biological, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical facilities, blood centers, mining and processing enterprises, testing and calibration laboratories, certification and supervisory authorities, food industry companies, universities, colleges, and so forth.

Many laboratories utilize multiple types of equipment, so before ordering and purchasing a device, it is important to consider the specific tasks laboratory research involves and to consult manufacturers or distributors. Selecting the appropriate laboratory instruments for specific applications is crucial for ensuring accurate results and reliable operations. Before installing or operating any devices, it is mandatory to read the "operational manual" and accompanying documents. First of all, you should familiarize yourself with the safety rules.

This publication is intended for students of universities, higher education institutions, and colleges in the fields such as medicine, biomedicine, pharmacy, dentistry, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, microbiology, biotechnology, chemical technology, petrochemistry, laboratory work. It may also be useful for students in other disciplines, particularly in ecology, geology, new materials, modern technologies and related areas. Additionally, it will be of interest to postgraduate students, residents, teachers and laboratory assistants, including those in laboratory medicine.

The book is richly illustrated. The illustrations are selected based on the principle of analogy to the devices described in the book. The author thanks the equipment manufacturing companies OLIS (Ukraine, https://olis.com.ua), RADWAG (Poland, https://radwag.com), Biosan (Latvia, https://biosan.lv), BOECO (Germany, https://www.boeco.com), Witeg (Germany, https://www.witeg.de), C. Gerhardt GmbH & Co. KG (Germany, https://www.gerhardt.de), Retsch (Germany, https://www.retsch.com), Berghof (Germany, https://www.berghof.com), Martin Christ Gefriertrocknungsanlagen GmbH (Germany, https://www.martinchrist.de), Hercuvan Lab. Systems (UK, Malaysia, https://hercuvan.com/), Microlit (USA, www.microlit.com), HOMMAK (Turkey, www.hommak.com) and AHN Biotechnologie GmbH (Germany, www.ahn-bio.com) for kindly granting permission to include images of their products and other schemes in this book. Some diagrams and photos were sourced from freely available online sources.

The reader should bear in mind that the equipment discussed and displayed in this book may vary visually and in design depending on the manufacturer. This is the first book in the series and covers general laboratory equipment. The next volume will focus on measuring instruments and analyzers for performing a wide range of tasks. The idea for this book's publication was proposed on behalf of the laboratory of biomedicine, where the author works, and was supported by the School of Medicine at the University of Georgia. The book partially reflects the materials of lectures given to students of the School of Medicine.