100 Terms Every Lab Technician Should Know

No.	Term	Definition
1.	AAS	Atomic absorption spectroscopy technique.
2.	Accuracy	Closeness to true value.
3.	Aliquot	Measured subvolume of a sample.
4.	Analyte	Substance being measured.
5.	Analytical balance	High-precision mass measurement scale.
6.	Anion	Negatively charged ion.
7.	Antibody	Protein binding specific antigen.
8.	Antigen	Molecule triggering immune response.
9.	Aseptic technique	Methods preventing contamination.
10.	Assay	Test to measure a substance.
11.	Autoclave	Steam sterilizer under pressure.
12.	Bacteria	Single-celled microorganisms.
13.	Biosafety cabinet	Ventilated enclosure for safe handling.
14.	Blank	Control without analyte present.
15.	Buffer	Solution resisting pH change.
16.	Calibration curve	Signal versus known concentrations plot.
17.	Calibrator	Standard used to set instrument response.
18.	Capillary action	Liquid movement in narrow spaces.
19.	Cation	Positively charged ion.
20.	Centrifuge	Spins samples to separate components.
21.	CFU	Colony-forming units estimate viable cells.
22.	Chain of custody	Documented sample handling history.
23.	Chromatography	Separation by differential partitioning.
24.	CLSI	Clinical lab standards guidelines.
25.	Coefficient of variation	Relative variability; SD divided by mean.
26.	Cold chain	Temperature-controlled sample transport.
27.	Concentration	Amount per unit volume.
28.	Contamination	Unwanted material introduced into sample.
29.	Control chart	Graph tracking QC over time.
30.	Coulter counter	Counts cells via impedance changes.
31.	Critical value	Result needing urgent notification.
32.	Cross-contamination	Transfer between samples.
33.	Culture	Grow microorganisms under controlled conditions.
34.	Cuvette	Cell holding sample for optics.
35.	Cytology	Study of cells for diagnosis.
36.	Data integrity	Accurate, complete, consistent records.
37.	Decontamination	Remove or neutralize contaminants.
38.	Deionized water	Water with ions removed.
39.	Dilution	Reduce concentration by adding solvent.
40.	Disinfectant	Chemical reducing microbes on surfaces.
41.	Distilled water	Purified by vaporization and condensation.
42.	Documentation	Recorded procedures, results, and actions.
43.	Dose-response	Effect changes with dose level.
44.	Dry ice	Solid CO2 used for cooling.
45.	EDTA	Chelator; anticoagulant in blood tubes.
46.	ELISA	Enzyme-linked immunoassay method.
47.	Endpoint	Final measurable reaction state.
48.	Enzyme	Biological catalyst speeding reactions.
49.	External QC	Quality checks using outside standards.
50.	Extraction	Isolate analyte from matrix.
51.	False negative	Test misses a true positive.
52.	False positive	Test indicates positive when absent.
53.	Fermentation	Microbial metabolism producing acids or gas.
54.	Fixative	Preserves cells or tissues.
55.	Fluorometer	Measures fluorescence intensity.
56.	Fume hood	Ventilated enclosure for chemical fumes.
57.	GHS label	Globally harmonized hazard labeling.
58.	GLP	Good Laboratory Practice standards.
59.	Gram stain	Differential bacterial staining method.
60.	Hazardous waste	Waste posing health or environmental risk.
61.	Hemolysis	Rupture of red blood cells.
62.	Homogenize	Make sample uniform throughout.
63.	Incubator	Maintains controlled temperature for growth.
64.	Inhibition	Reduced reaction rate or signal.
65.	Internal QC	Routine in-lab quality checks.
66.	ISO 15189	Medical laboratory quality standard.
67.	Karyotype	Chromosome number and structure profile.
68.	Labeling	Identify samples and reagents clearly.
69.	Laminar flow	Unidirectional clean airflow.
70.	Limit of detection	Lowest reliably detectable amount.
71.	Limit of quantitation	Lowest reliably quantifiable amount.
72.	Linear range	Range where response is proportional.
73.	LOD	Lowest detectable analyte level.
74.	LOQ	Lowest quantifiable analyte level.
75.	Lot number	Identifier for production batch.
76.	LSIMS	Liquid secondary ion mass spectrometry.
77.	Lysis	Breakdown of cell membrane.
78.	Matrix	Sample components excluding analyte.
79.	Mean	Average value of measurements.
80.	Media	Nutrient material for culturing organisms.
81.	Micropipette	Adjustable small-volume liquid dispenser.
82.	Microscope	Instrument magnifying small objects.
83.	Molarity	Moles per liter solution.
84.	MSDS/SDS	Safety data sheet for chemicals.
85.	Negative control	Control expected to show no effect.
86.	Normal range	Typical values in healthy population.
87.	Osmolality	Solute particles per kilogram solvent.
88.	Outlier	Value far from others.
89.	PCR	Amplifies targeted DNA sequences.
90.	pH	Measure of acidity or alkalinity.
91.	Positive control	Control expected to produce signal.
92.	PPE	Personal protective equipment.
93.	Precision	Closeness among repeated measurements.
94.	Proficiency testing	External assessment using unknown samples.
95.	Protocol	Written procedure for a task.
96.	QC	Quality control of test performance.
97.	Quarantine	Hold items pending verification.
98.	Reagent	Chemical used in a reaction.
99.	Reference interval	Expected range for healthy individuals.
100.	Reproducibility	Agreement across different conditions.