Investigating the Oral Glucose Tolearnce Test

Investigating the oral glucose tolerance test

Aim: To carry out glucose tests on stimulated blood plasma samples if glucose is present in blood plasma.

Risk Assessment:

Hazardous chemical or microorganism being used or made, or hazardous procedure or equipment. Nature of the hazard(s) Source(s) of information Control measures to reduce the risks

Sulphuric acid - Irritant

- Very corrosive CLEAPS Wear eye protection & wear lab coat. Try not to spill chemical.

Potassium manganate - Harmful over 1 ml

- Danger to environment

- Oxidising agent CLEAPS Wear lab coat & wear eye protection. Wash hands thoroughly at the end of the experiment.

Glassware

(glass stirring rod, boiling tubes) - Can break if dropped and could cause bleeding or other damage to skin. Experience in situation Try not to drop glassware and wear eye protection. Keep working area clear at all times.

Method:

1) Measure 10cm3 of 4 mol dm-3 glucose solution into the first boiling tube

2) Measure 5cm3 of 1 mol dm-3 sulphuric acid and add to the boiling tube from 1

3) Reset the stop clock

4) Use a dropping pipette to take 2cm3 potassium manganate VII solution from a measuring cylinder

5) Add the potassium manganate to the boiling tube and starting the stop clock at the same time

6) Stir the contents of the boiling tube with a stirring rod and stop the clock as the solution becomes colourless

7) Record the time taken to go colourless in a results table

8) Wash boiling tube and dropping pipettes thoroughly

9) Repeat steps 2-8 for the remaining glucose solutions.

Glucose concentration

(gdm-3) Time to decolourise

(secs) Mean time

(secs)

2 242 242

4 112, 124 118

6 91 91