Top 8 reasons why do we use distilled water in the laboratory

Distilled water is commonly used in clinical laboratories for various purposes due to its purity and lack of contaminants.

Here are the top 8 reasons why distilled water is preferred.

• It is free from impurities, ensuring that it doesn’t introduce any unwanted substances into the samples. This is crucial for accurate and reliable laboratory test results.
• It is often used in the preparation of chemical reagents. Its purity ensures that the chemical reactions are not affected by impurities, which could alter the expected outcomes.

• Precision instruments in the laboratory, such as spectrophotometers and analytical balances, require calibration with a standard substance. Distilled water serves as a clean reference substance for calibration purposes.
• In certain tests, samples may need to be diluted for accurate measurements. Using distilled water ensures that the diluent does not introduce any contaminants that could interfere with the analysis.
• Distilled water is used for rinsing and cleaning laboratory glassware to prevent any contamination from tap water impurities or residues from previous usage.
• In laboratories conducting analyses related to electrolytes, such as blood chemistry tests, distilled water is often used in the preparation of electrolyte solutions to maintain the integrity of the measurements.
• Distilled water is preferred in controlled experiments where researchers need to eliminate variables. Its purity allows for a baseline condition without interference from external substances.
• Distilled water is used for various applications, including DNA and RNA extraction, PCR (polymerase chain reaction), and other molecular techniques.