Hi, my name is Nesrine. I work in a laboratory, and I am taking DEC at Rosemont College. I have been studying Biomedical Laboratory Technology for 1 year. I made this glossary to introduce my field of study to people who are interested in laboratory analysis. The glossary gives an idea about the terms and instruments we use in this field of study.
bacteria
plural noun
A member of a large group of unicellular microorganisms which have cell walls but lack organelles and an organized nucleus, including some that can cause disease.
Example: Endocarditis is most commonly caused by bacteria such as streptococcus viridans.
fr: bactéries
bacterial Colony
noun
Bacteria grow on solid media as colonies. A colony is defined as a visible mass of microorganisms all originating from a single mother cell, therefore a colony constitutes a clone of bacteria all genetically alike.
Example: A minute quantity of the yellow bacterial colony was extracted from this plate, with a small metal wire, and streaked over a sterile nutrient agar plate.
fr: colonie bactérienne
blood sugar
noun
The concentration of glucose in the blood.
Example: Hypoglycaemia generally means a deficiency of blood sugar.
fr: glycémie
cell
noun
The smallest structural and functional unit of an organism, typically microscopic and consisting of cytoplasm and a nucleus enclosed in a membrane.
Example: Histology: No trophoblastic cells present, only a blood clot.
fr: cellules
centrifuges
plural noun
A machine with a rapidly rotating container that applies centrifugal force to its contents, typically to separate fluids of different densities or liquids from solids.
Example: The butyrometer was centrifuged in a Gerber centrifuge at speed 8( 1000rpm) for 5 minutes.
fr: centrifugeuses
cholesterol
noun
A compound of the sterol type found in most body tissues. Cholesterol and its derivatives are important constituents of cell membranes and precursors of other steroid compounds, but a high proportion in the blood of low-density lipoprotein is associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.
Example: Macronutrients Protein, carbohydrate (sugar, starch, fibers), total fats (saturated, monosaturated, polysaturated, cholesterol) and alcohol are the main contributions to the total energy intake
fr: cholestérol
complete blood count (CBC)
phrase
The complete blood count (CBC) is a group of tests that evaluate the cells that circulate in blood, including red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), and platelets (PLTs). The CBC can evaluate your overall health and detect a variety of diseases and conditions, such as infections, anemia and leukemia.
Example: Monitoring full blood count is also useful as a leucocytosis is common following acute MI.
fr: formule sanguine complète (FSC)
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
noun
A self-replicating material that is present in nearly all living organisms as the main constituent of chromosomes. It is the carrier of genetic information.
Example: Evidence for the theory is relatively strong, particularly the finding that mitochondria and chloroplasts have circular DNA similar in form to that of bacterial DNA, and that they contain prokaryotic type ribosomes.
fr: acide désoxyribonucléique (ADN)
gram staining
noun
A common technique used to differentiate two large groups of bacteria based on their different cell wall constituents. The Gram stain procedure distinguishes between Gram positive and Gram negative groups by coloring these cells red or violet.
Example: Gram stain of Staphylococcus aureus is a gram-positive.
fr: coloration de Gram
incubator
noun
An apparatus used to hatch eggs or grow microorganisms under controlled conditions.
Example: A large-scale producer will tend to use an artificial incubator to rear chicks.
fr: incubateur
microbiology
noun
The branch of science that deals with microorganisms.
Example: Costo-phrenic angle obscured microbiology results showed no growth after 48 hours.
fr: microbiologie
micropipette
noun
Micropipettes are precision instruments that are designed to accurately and precisely transfer volumes in the microliter range. You may use microliters or milliliters as the units of volume in your lab notebooks and lab reports, but be careful to always state the volume unit that you are using.
Example: The MiniPet®, one of TriContinent’s OEM micropipettes, is the world’s best-selling micropipette.
fr: micropipette
microscope
noun
An optical instrument used for viewing very small objects, such as mineral samples or animal or plant cells, typically magnified several hundred times.
Example: Cells are large enough to be seen under a light microscope, but a detailed examination can only be carried out using an electron microscope.
fr: microscope
molecular biology
noun
The branch of biology that deals with the structure and function of the macromolecules (e.g. proteins and nucleic acids) essential to life.
Example: Estimation of protein concentration is necessary in protein purification, electrophoresis, immuno-analysis, cell biology, molecular biology, and other research applications.
fr: biologie moléculaire
plasma
noun
Plasma is a yellowish liquid component of blood that holds the blood cells, proteins and other constituents of whole blood in suspension. It makes up about 55% of the body's total blood volume.[1] It is the intravascular part of extracellular fluid (all body fluid outside cells).
Example: Optimum plasma concentration is 10-20mg litre Co-dydramol 10 500 qds (Dihydrocodeine and paracetamol for arthritis).
fr: plasma
red blood cell
noun
Red blood cell, also called erythrocyte, cellular component of blood, millions of which in the circulation of vertebrates give the blood its characteristic colour and carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues.
Example: When EPO is released it acts by binding to a specific receptor (EpoR) found on the surface of red blood cell precursors in the bone marrow, this causes them to convert into mature red blood cells.
fr: globule rouge
Spectrophotometer
noun
A spectrophotometer is a device measures the intensity of electromagnetic energy at each wavelength of light in a specified region.
Example: A spectrophotometer is a popular glucose measurement device.
fr: Spectrophotomètre
urinalysis
noun
Analysis of urine by physical, chemical, and microscopical means to test for the presence of disease, drugs, etc.
Example: Urinalysis: bHCG:Positive Ketones + Leucocytes ++ Protein + These results are suggestive of a pregnancy.
fr: analyse d'urine
virus
noun
An infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by light microscopy, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host.
Example: The current scientific consensus is that the virus (COVID-19) is most likely of zoonotic origin, from bats or another closely-related mammal.
fr: virus
white blood cell
noun
A type of blood cell that is made in the bone marrow and found in the blood and lymph tissue. White blood cells are part of the body’s immune system. They help the body fight infection and other diseases. Types of white blood cells are granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils), monocytes, and lymphocytes (T cells and B cells). Checking the number of white blood cells in the blood is usually part of a complete blood cell (CBC) test. It may be used to look for conditions such as infection, inflammation, allergies, and leukemia. Also called leukocyte and WBC.
Example: A slower resting heart rate and a decreased white blood cell count that leads onto a suppressed immune system.
