It can be extremely frustrating having to deal with broken lab equipment. Malfunctioning laboratory equipment can cause contamination, inefficient samples, and a difficult workflow, among many other complications.
Whether you’re dealing with a tight budget or have a penchant for highly operational lab equipment, effective maintenance can make all the difference in your lab. Here are at least 5 tips to help you perform maintenance on your laboratory equipment and get the most out of your tools and methods.
General Cleanliness
Lab hygiene is important, and likely one of the more obvious and affordable ways to maintain all your tools and equipment. Equipment exteriors should be cleaned after each use, and deep cleaning should happen regularly. This can prevent hazardous materials from building up and damaging your instruments.
Read the Manual
As a practice, reading the manuals for each piece of lab equipment is necessary to manage its use. Not all equipment is operated the same way, and each part of your lab will have specific ways it needs to be used and cleaned. Consult your manuals for the best practices for use.
Regular Calibration
Regular preventative calibration methods can keep your lab equipment working as expected. For example, pipettes should be professionally calibrated after at least 3 months. You can keep up to date with the calibration of each instrument with labels and tags.
Training
Aside from reading manuals, training is a great way to become accustomed to using a device. By applying training for you and other scientists, you’re minimizing the risks involved with improper use. From this, you will be able to thoroughly malfunctioning items.
Log Usage
When you document the usage of each piece of equipment, you can narrow down the possibilities of inoperable tools. Knowing what a person does with equipment and why can help assess damage and needs for machine maintenance.
Are You Safeguarding Your Lab Equipment?
If you’re taking extra care of your lab equipment, you can guarantee that it can be used for the entirety of its lifetime. When all else fails, you can call technical support or buy new lab supplies from a reputable source.
