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Today’s laboratories must be stocked with an assortment of lab supplies to satisfy the needs of specialized researchers, assistants and clinical staff. Choosing lab equipment can be difficult, as most schools and research companies have limited funds to make a purchase, but many uses for the equipment once it is set up in the lab.
By reviewing the details below, you will gain a better understanding of the benefits presented by having the right lab supplies on-hand, the common pitfalls of certain purchases and the pricing structure of equipment on the market today. You can then make an informed decision about how many materials to purchase and what materials will make the most effective use of your operating budget.
Benefits
Entry-level lab assistants earn around $34,467 a year according to a May 2010 report by Payscale. Lab supplies are probably the most important items in a laboratory after the assistant, so ensuring you have quality items is important. Many businesses, schools and medical groups now purchase their lab supplies online, which can have many benefits.
Convenience
Rather than looking in several lab supplies outlets and stores, you can order everything you need at once using the Internet. This saves the hassle of having to transport the items back to the lab as well as give you several different options regarding brands. The added expense of delivery will be worth it when your lab assistants can spend time doing other more important things.
Wide Variety of Items
Most lab supply outlets concentrate on one or two streams of science, meaning you have to go to several places to get everything you need. Online shopping offers you everything from environmental science and biology, to physics and chemistry kits. You have everything you need all in the same place, meaning it is easier and quicker to get your items.
Testimonials
Most online stores whether lab supplies or other, offer the customer the chance to review their service or leave feedback regarding their purchasing experience. This means if you only purchase from reputable sellers, you do not have to worry about the reliability or authenticity of the lab supplies. The same cannot always be said for stores and wholesalers.
Cost-Effective
Because an online lab supplies store does not have the same outgoings as a bricks and mortar shop, they are able to pass savings on to their customers. This means purchasing supplies and kits online is often cheaper than elsewhere. Many online lab supplies stores offer special deals and discounts for businesses who are buying in bulk. Customer loyalty schemes also exist, which often means free delivery for orders above a certain amount.
Pitfalls
Despite all of their benefits, lab supplies also present some pitfalls.
Hazardous Supplies
Although there are many warning labels and precautions that will be posted on every piece of the lab supplies that one could purchase, it is of vital importance to caution those who will be handling and using the equipment and chemicals to be extra safe. Many chemicals that can be purchased are extremely harmful to humans if contact on the skin is made, or even if the chemical fumes are inhaled. Eye cleaning stations should always be onsite when using any type of hazardous chemical.
Low Quality Equipment
When purchasing lab supplies, it is very important for anyone working with the equipment to have the highest of quality supplies. This is because many of the glasses used in research projects will be used to hold hazardous chemicals for long periods. The chemicals and glass should both be able to retain their properties. If the quality of the equipment is low, the properties of the chemicals could change, or worse, the glass itself could deteriorate from acid levels in the chemical and cause a spill on top of other expensive lab supplies.
Laboratory Safety
When dealing with lab supplies, it is of vital importance to always provide each employee with the correct safety gear. This can include chemical washes, lung respirators, safety goggles, fire blankets, or extinguishers. Also, multiple first aid kits should be available if the worst should happen. Being unprepared for accidents in a laboratory situation will cause further problems and sometimes even the death of an employee. Without all the necessary laboratory gear, there is no possible way for an employer to guarantee the safety of his or her lab employees.
Cost
While most research companies or schools will have some sort of private funding or government grants, lab supplies can quickly multiply in cost when making entire purchases to fully stock a laboratory. Even with funding, a research company can quickly be outside of the budget with the purchase of only a few necessary pieces. The worry of the cost of equipment can be easily avoided by doing extensive and adequate research before making an actual purchase for the laboratory being funded.
Pricing
A 2010 report by MarketResearch.com states that almost 11,000 companies make up the US device manufacturing and medical supplies industry, and they have a combined yearly revenue of close to $75 billion. If you're looking to obtain lab supplies from these companies what are the associated costs?
Purchase Cost
The price of various lab supplies will vary depending on your particular needs. Whether you're buying a set of lidded pails for your school or 90 pounds of cadmium powder for a fully equipped laboratory, you will see prices ranging from $30 to well over $5,000.
Training
When dealing with complex laboratory equipment or potentially hazardous chemicals, you will need the proper training to make use of the supplies. The cost of this training depends on the school at which you are training and the specifics of the qualifications you need. This can range from a lab assistant at a school to a handler of hazardous chemicals in a research facility.
Conclusion
Having access to the right lab supplies is a necessity for anyone working in a modern laboratory. A well-stocked lab not only offers convenience, but also cuts down the per-unit price of the supplies that are purchased. At the same time, certain supplies are hazardous and require special containment or use protocols. Other laboratory supplies should only be used by well-trained employees who are familiar with the equipment’s benefits and pitfalls. Laboratory safety is critical, and purchasing low-quality materials from suspect companies is always a top concern. By buying laboratory supplies through a reputable and knowledgeable dealer, your institution can gain significant advantages and minimize its risks.
Lab supplies are extremely important for the proper functioning of both medical and scientific laboratories. Depending on what sort of lab individuals are working in, they may need various different lab supplies. Some lab supplies will be needed for every lab type such as emergency washing stations.
Every science and medical laboratory will be more useful and safe with proper lab supplies. For scientific type laboratories, most often needed lab supplies are emergency washing and showering facilities, gloves for workers and students, large arrays of glassware and many others. Medical laboratories will also need the emergency washing and showering facilities as well as gloves for medical technicians. The main differences in the lab supplies needed for either type of lab will concern the needed testing equipment.
Lab supplies can be purchased through various sources. The most popular sources used to obtain laboratory supplies of any kind are the Internet and specialized magazines. The Internet sources and magazine sources for lab supplies make it easy for any person to buy the necessities for their lab environment.Certain stores will carry a large array of lab supplies while most stores only offer generalized items. If you are interested in further information on this topic, Business.com is a great resource.
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