8 Must-Have Items for Every Medical Laboratory

Medical equipment isn’t cheap nowadays, so professionals need to choose wisely how to furbish their laboratories. Furthermore, technology is advancing fast, so the laboratory should be as modern as possible, containing gadgets that speed up all sorts of analyses. In this sense, there are at least 8 must-have pieces of equipment every medical laboratory should feature.

1. All sorts of microscopes

A microscope is so essential, that even children in elementary school are taught how to use one (at the very least in theory). There is a wide array of microscopes that allow chemists and biologists to observe microorganisms.

Science labs have one type of microscopes, while research labs use a different type, so make sure you buy the correct microscopes for your laboratory. Without a powerful microspore, lab technicians are unable to observe samples and research them.

2. Hot plates (and stirrers)

At home we have stoves but laboratories are equipped with hot plates that are used to heat the contents of glassware containers. Technicians use these neat little devices to heat up samples to start a chemical reaction. Modern hot plates are easy to operate, as they feature a digital thermometer.

Some models come with magnetic stirrers, so the contents of a container are stirred at the same time, without the need to do it manually use another device. By stirring and heating at the same time, the glass container isn’t hot to touch and its contents are evenly heated.

3. Various containers

Speaking of glassware, a laboratory requires all sorts of receptacles and containers to conduct experiments. From blood and tissue samples to cultures, storage is no small part of lab work. That’s why you should equip the laboratory with various containers, from Petri dishes to test tubes (like the ones criminal scene investigators carry with them).

Also, containers need proper storage, so cabinets and freezers are a must. Moreover, the samples should all be properly labeled and stored in the right place for easy access. The last thing you want is to mix up samples!

4. The importance of running water

A laboratory cannot operate without running water. In this aspect, a laboratory isn’t much different from a typical household, as the water tap and a sink resemble the ones we have in our kitchen or bathroom.

However, the use of water inside a laboratory is different, as it is used to wash utensils, freeze samples, and dilute solutions.

The water from the tap isn’t used directly, as it first needs to run through a purifier. Incubators and water baths can only use purified water. A chemical reaction is virtually impossible to be induced using tap water.

Finally, water is used for sanitizing tools, instruments, tables, and other laboratory equipment used every day. The last thing technicians want is for germs and bacteria to infest their laboratory.

5. Live-preserving incubators

For most people, the word “incubator” is associated with childbirth. However, in a lab environment, an incubator is a device that allows technicians to work with cell and tissue cultures without contamination.

An incubator helps regulate CO2 levels, temperature, and humidity, so chemists can create any environment they like. For example, a microbiological incubator is used to grow and then store bacteria cultures.

6. Mandatory autoclaves

Although it resembles an oversized microwave, an autoclave isn’t something used in households. Essentially, an autoclave is a pressure chamber that is used for sterilizing glassware, tools, utensils, instruments, media, and waste.

In a laboratory, autoclaves are as essential as microspores, as they ensure that samples don’t get contaminated. Without an autoclave, it would be virtually impossible to eliminate infectious materials present in every lab.

Every type of container we have listed above (pipettes, Petri dishes, probes, tubes, gloves, etc.) is considered contaminated before they are treated inside of an autoclave. That’s why this machine is a mandatory piece of elaborator equipment.

7. Medical refrigerators and freezers for cold storage

We have mentioned earlier that a freezer is a mandatory piece of lab equipment. Cold storage is essential for a lab, as the example of the new COVID-19 vaccine shows (they need to be stored at minus 80 degrees Centigrade). Unlike incubators, freezers are used for storage purposes.

Nearly all biotic substances go off, sort to say, rather quickly unless they are stored properly. Refrigeration is as important for a laboratory as running water, so your lab will need medical freezers and fridges. These devices maintain a consistent temperature, so samples don’t get contaminated by bacteria.

8. PPE

Last but definitely not least, personal protective equipment lies at the core of every laboratory’s operations. Lab technicians can contract any of the infectious diseases while handling samples. Their protection is, therefore, paramount if you wish to boast with a safe working environment. From latex gloves to face masks, good-quality PPE is a true life-saver in the lab!

We have listed only 8 items every laboratory needs to own (or lease). However, as modern medical technology progresses, you might want to throw in other high-tech apparatus that makes the life of today’s lab technician easier and more importantly, safer.