Science
Fact-checked

At AllTheScience, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is a Microbiology Lab?

Brad Cole
Brad Cole

A microbiology laboratory, or lab, is the primary place that a working microbiologist not in the field can be found. It is in the lab that most of the testing, culturing, and research that they do occurs. This location contains the supplies and equipment needed for these activities, as well as provide an extremely clean, and sterile place to work.

In order to understand what occurs in a microbiology lab, what a microbiologist does should be understood. A microbiologist studies very small life forms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. These life forms live everywhere — in the soil, in the air, in the water, and even inside animals. Many of these life forms are so small that they can not be seen by the unaided eye, and are called microorganisms. Often, a microbiologist will have to separate and grow the microorganisms in order to better see, study, and experiment on them. All of these activities occur in the lab.

Common equipment found within a microbiology lab include beakers, microscopes, and computers.
Common equipment found within a microbiology lab include beakers, microscopes, and computers.

Most look like any other biology or chemistry lab. They will probably have long lab benches where scientists can easily set up their equipment and work. Large, partially clear fume hoods will be present in order to keep the scientists safe from any dangerous experiments, though the fume hoods in a microbiology lab may contain special ultraviolet (UV) lights that hinder and kill some microorganisms.

A microbiology lab often looks similar to a chemistry lab.
A microbiology lab often looks similar to a chemistry lab.

A large device called an autoclave that sterilizes equipment will be located somewhere in or near the lab so that the scientists can do their work without contaminating their samples. Common lab equipment like microscopes, test tubes, balances, Bunsen burners, desiccators, heating pads, pipettes, vortexes (vortices), books, and computers will also be there. Some labs will have special venting and seals on them to keep them clean. These labs may even require those entering them to wear special clean suits, though this type will not be encountered by most entry-level microbiologists.

A microbiology lab may contain fume hoods to protect scientists from hazardous experiments.
A microbiology lab may contain fume hoods to protect scientists from hazardous experiments.

Microbiology labs usually have specialized supplies and equipment in them beyond what is in traditional labs. It will often have multiple types of refrigerators, some of which store samples and others of which store nutrients and “clean” supplies. Large, sealed buckets called fermentors that are used to culture yeast might be present. Different types of nutrient gels called agar will be in the lab.

A microbiology lab may contain an autoclave for sterilizing equipment.
A microbiology lab may contain an autoclave for sterilizing equipment.

The gel will eventually be poured into sterile petri dishes in order to create agar plates upon which microorganisms can be grown. Large devices called incubators that warm their contents and may even gently stir them will probably be present. Specialized microbiology labs for the study of viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other areas will all have additional pieces of specialized equipment. This equipment can include cell counters, centrifuges, microplate readers, and scanning electron microscopes (SEMs).

Discussion Comments

anon326531

What are the typical pieces of equipment found in a laboratory?

anon325419

Are bacteriology hoods mandatory in clinical labs in the state of Florida?

anon146072

What facilities will be in this lab?

anon144561

can a microbiology lab that analyses food samples, analyze waste water samples at the same time?

anon66484

What are the typical culture media used for identifying the following Bacteria,fungi and coliforms? Please give a list of the same.

1.Staphylococcus 2.Streptococcus 3.Pseudomonas 4.Mycobacterium 5.Escherichia coli 6.Coliforms 7.Yeast and Mold of various types 8.Salmonella 9.Shigella 10.Enterobacter, etc.

catapult43

A big part of the lab will be a microscope. All of the microorganisms are invisible to the naked eye, so the microscope becomes a very necessary tool.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Common equipment found within a microbiology lab include beakers, microscopes, and computers.
      By: perfectmatch
      Common equipment found within a microbiology lab include beakers, microscopes, and computers.
    • A microbiology lab often looks similar to a chemistry lab.
      By: luchshen
      A microbiology lab often looks similar to a chemistry lab.
    • A microbiology lab may contain fume hoods to protect scientists from hazardous experiments.
      By: Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection
      A microbiology lab may contain fume hoods to protect scientists from hazardous experiments.
    • A microbiology lab may contain an autoclave for sterilizing equipment.
      By: katrin_timoff
      A microbiology lab may contain an autoclave for sterilizing equipment.
    • Bunsen burners may be found in a microbiology lab.
      By: ggw
      Bunsen burners may be found in a microbiology lab.
    • A microbiology lab may contain refrigerators for storing samples.
      By: lightpoet
      A microbiology lab may contain refrigerators for storing samples.
    • Much of the research performed by microbiologists occurs in the lab.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      Much of the research performed by microbiologists occurs in the lab.
    • A microbiologist may use Petri dishes to study bacteria.
      By: ggw
      A microbiologist may use Petri dishes to study bacteria.