Name of Laboratory : Chitungwiza Central Hospital

Department : Quality
Document Number :
Title : Use of Water Bath

Revision Number : 0
Effective Date : 26/09/2012
Page number
Authorized By :

1. PURPOSE:
To quickly establish a temperature equilibrium for optimum reactions where necessary
e.g. in Blood Bank, media preparation and Biochemistry.
2. RESPONSIBILITY :
Medical Laboratory Scientist/Medical Laboratory Technician.
3. METHOD

Fill the bath and maintain its level with distilled water of if unavailable with boiled
water preferably boiled filtered rain water.
N.B. : Necessary to minimize salt depositing on the heater. Fill with liquid leave at least
3cm without filing to avoid splashes.
To minimize the growth of micro-organisms in the water add a bactericidal agent to
the water such as (thiomersal) merthiolate if available as a dilution of 1 in 1000.
Turn on the main switch (1) the green indicator lamp will light up.
Turn on the temperature control thermostat (2) from low to high according to the
working temperature.
Before incubating samples check that the temperature of the water bath is correct.
4. REFERENCES :
(i)
(ii)

Water bath manual Pg 6.

District Laboratory Practice in Tropical countries Pg 150, part 1 (Monica
Cheesbrough).