From: "Andrew Stodden" <eos@ghost.cc.cmu.edu>
   Date: Wed, 15 May 1996 00:07:12 +0000

   > >  The tube goes into a bath of alcohol.
   > >
   > >Why?  I could see him putting in the fridge or freezer, but the
   > >tube itself probably doesn't need *disinfection*, and if the
   > >alcohol gets inside the sample will be damaged if not ruined.
   > 
   > well, when doctors seal tubes, they seal 'em good.  a test tube is
   > not like a ziplock bag.
   > 
   > and, well, considering the mess of blood and other stuff that the
   > tube is taking in, if some of it got on the outside, it'd need to be
   > dis- infected, at least in my opinion.

   The tube and the sample jar are separate items.

   The tube in question is (basically) a glass straw, and functions in 
   much the same way. I assume that all of you have done the experiment 
   where one pulls some liquid into a straw, and plugs the end with 
   a finger to hold it there? This is the practical application of that 
   experiment.

The technical term is pipette:

  n. a slender tube for transferring or measuring small quantities of
     liquids esp. in chemistry.

  v.tr. transfer or measure (a liquid) using a pipette.

(Oxford American Dictionary).

I used them a lot back when I was doing molecular genetics (yes,
bacteria can be subjects of lemon fanfics!).

Although he might be more likely to use a swab.

   Think about it, and then get back to me.

You're right, although modern American pratice would be to use a
disposable plastic pipette, and to throw it in a biohazard box, the
contents of which would later be burned.  Dr. Tofu (and Nerima in
general, witness the tofu vendor's whistle) is a bit behind the state
of the art, though.

					- Harold