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Cover Story |  Volume 17 - Issue 10  |  Product Resource Guide 2023

Product Resource Guide '23

Your go-to source for technology trends and analysis, product offerings, and manufacturers

Sections

Purchasing Guides

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Purchasing Guide: Biological Safety Cabinets

Biological safety cabinets are crucial for the safety of staff and the protection of products, so it’s important to know when these units should be upgraded

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Purchasing Guide: Baths and Chillers

One consideration to keep in mind when purchasing a bath or chiller is whether you need a unit with extra features like circulation, ultrasonic cleaning, or shaking

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Purchasing Guide: Balances

There are many different configurations to choose from with various accessories, compliance features, and settings

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Purchasing Guide: Automated Liquid Handlers

Automated liquid handlers have several benefits, such as reducing the risk of cross-contamination and improving traceability with barcode scanning features

sketch of assays, kits, and reagents on black background

 Purchasing Guide: Assays, Kits, and Reagents

It is very important to purchase assays, kits, and reagents from trusted sources, as the experiments conducted will only be as good as the components in these products

Illustration of a benchtop centrifuge

Purchasing Guide: Centrifuges

There are many different sizes and types of centrifuges available to fit the requirements of a variety of applications

Illustration of an open book representing certified reference materials

Purchasing Guide: Certified Reference Materials

CRMs offer the highest level of accuracy over uncertified reference materials and can be used in the lab as controls

Illustration of a ULT freezer

Purchasing Guide: Cold Storage

Laboratory cold storage solutions such as freezers, refrigerators, and cryogenic storage tanks are critical to keeping valuable reagents and priceless samples safe

Illustration of a rotary evaporator

Purchasing Guide: Evaporators

Rotary evaporators are often used to remove low boiling organic solvents, and the addition of vacuum can lower the boiling point. Nitrogen evaporators apply a steady stream of nitrogen to remove moisture. Centrifugal evaporators, ideal for high-volume sample processing, use vacuum centrifugation to evaporate samples

Illustration of a benchtop freeze dryer

Purchasing Guide: Freeze Dryers

Freeze dryers are used to preserve food, extend the shelf of pharmaceutical products and vaccines, and more via the process of sublimation

Illustration of a fume hood

Purchasing Guide: Fume Hoods

These ventilated enclosures enable laboratory personnel to safely work with materials that produce hazardous fumes and volatile vapors

Illustration of a gas chromatograph

Purchasing Guide: Gas Chromatography

The simplicity and sensitivity of this method means that it is widely used for applications such as drug testing, analyzing essential oils, and breaking down food samples.

Illustration of a glassware washer

Purchasing Guide: Glassware Washers

This equipment cleans glassware more effectively than handwashing and limits your lab workers’ exposure to potentially harmful substances

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Purchasing Guide: Glove Boxes

Gloves boxes are completely closed compartments ranging in size from a few cubic feet to several hundred cubic feet

Illustration of a homogenizer

Purchasing Guide: Homogenizers

There are handheld and bench-mounted configurations available, along with a variety of probes to match various sample types

Illustration of a lab incubator

Purchasing Guide: Incubators

CO2 incubators allow researchers to create optimal environments for cell and tissue culture, while microbiology incubators provide ideal conditions for growing microorganisms

Illustration of a laptop computer

Purchasing Guide: Informatics

Laboratory informatics can be used to manage inventory, keep track of maintenance schedules,and more

Illustration of lab furniture

Purchasing Guide: Lab Furniture

Furnishing your laboratory with the right countertops, cabinets, seating, and storage can help to improve productivity and efficiency

Illustration of a liquid chromatograph

Purchasing Guide: Liquid Chromatography

Before purchasing LC systems, it’s important to consider your application as specific components, including columns and detectors, that are better suited for certain sample types

Illustration of a mass spectrometer

Purchasing Guide: Mass Spectrometers

There are many different configurations of mass spectrometers available depending on the sample type being analyzed and the resolution and speed of analysis required

Illustration of a microplate handler

Purchasing Guide: Microplate Technology

Because microplate handlers can increase user walk-away time, as well as throughput and efficiency, they are often used in biomarker research, cell biology, and assay development

Illustration of a microscope

Purchasing Guide: Microscopy

Optical microscopes offer ease of use but have limited resolving power.  SEMs use a beam of focused high-energy electrons to produce information about the specimen including morphology, chemical composition, and crystalline structure

Illustration of a lab monitoring device

Purchasing Guide: Lab Monitoring

Effective lab monitoring can help improve the reliability and performance of the lab and ensures that lab staff are notified of out-of-specification situations promptly

Illustration of a globe representing outsourcing

Purchasing Guide: Outsourcing

With the right partner, outsourcing can be highly cost-effective and help position your lab for growth

Illustration of PCR tubes

Purchasing Guide: PCR/Thermal Cyclers

When purchasing technology for PCR and qPCR, consider the accuracy of the temperature and fluorescence measurements, and the robustness of the instrument as it will be running for long periods of time

Illustration of a pH meter

Purchasing Guide: pH Meters

Choosing the right pH meter probe (electrode) is important to configure the instrument to your sample type

Illustration of a pipette

Purchasing Guide: Pipettes

From basic micropipettes to electronic pipettes, there are a variety of types and volume ranges available to fit your exact needs

Illustration of an open cardboard box representing pre-owned lab equipment

Purchasing Guide: Pre-Owned Instruments

Individual sellers, resale vendors, and auctions will have different policies and guarantees, so it is important to ask some quality assurance questions before buying

Illustration of a lab press

Purchasing Guide: Presses

Lab presses can be floor or benchtop units, can generate from 15 to upwards of 100 tons of compressive force, and have heated platens that can range from 600°F to 1200°F

Illustration of a vacuum pump

Product Purchasing Guide: Lab Pumps

Vacuum pumps are used in freeze drying, evaporation, and more. Non-vacuum pumps are used in automatic pipetting, titration, and other applications

Illustration of a new lab facility

Purchasing Guide: Relocation

Hiring a laboratory relocation company is one of the best ways to ensure a smooth transition to a new facility

Illustration of a wrench and screwdriver

Purchasing Guide: Repair and Maintenance

In-house repairs aren’t always possible if none of the lab staff have the expertise needed, and OEM service contracts may not always be the best option. In such cases, third-party service contracts are the best route

Illustration of a face mask

Purchasing Guide: Safety Equipment and PPE

Masks, face shields, safety goggles, lab coats, and gloves all limit your staff’s exposure to harmful agents

Illustration of a sample preparation system

Purchasing Guide: Sample Preparation

Automated sample preparation systems have numerous benefits, such as increasing lab throughput, lessening the margin for error, and minimizing risk of staff developing repetitive strain injuries

Illustration of a spectrometer

Purchasing Guide: Spectroscopy

When purchasing, consider what detection range you will require for your sample type and look for instruments that are sensitive, accurate, and consistent

Illustration of a magnifying glass over a job application

Purchasing Guide: Staffing

If done properly, finding the right lab staffing service can make the hiring process more efficient for you

Illustration of a lab stirrer

Purchasing Guide: Stirrers and Mixers

Stirrers and mixers are used for mixing a variety of samples in the lab, and there are numerous options available depending on what you’re mixing and the volume you’re working with

Illustration of a lab beaker

Purchasing Guide: Supplies and Consumables

Supplies and consumables are all the things the lab needs to execute its scientific work. They are a hugely diverse set of materials, ranging from pipette tips to specialty gases

Illustration of lab valves

Purchasing Guide: Valves

Valves come in a grand array of sizes, materials of construction, controls, and precision.

Illustration of a water purification system

Purchasing Guide: Water Purification Systems

Depending on your applications and the space you have in your lab, there are many different filtration types, water purification techniques, and system configurations that could work best

Surveys

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2022 Purchasing Trends Survey

Insight into the purchasing power and decision-making of lab managers

Business Management

Woman works on a lab instrument with a soldering iron

Choosing Services to Improve Lab Performance

Lab services involve the same kinds of decisions as other investments

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The Case for Outsourcing Lab Equipment Repairs

Outsourcing can result in high-quality, quick, and cost-effective repairs

Female scientist works at a computer

Navigating the Pre-Owned Lab Equipment Marketplace

Tips and tricks for finding quality alternatives to new equipment for your lab

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Test Outsourcing: Picking the Right Partner for You

Outlining the elements of a contract testing partner relationship

Dolly with boxes sits in an empty lab

Completing a Successful Laboratory Relocation

Assembling a well-rounded team is essential to relocating a lab successfully

Asset Management

Scientist uses a tablet

Best Practices in Lab Monitoring

Protect valuable assets, samples, and time in the lab with lab monitoring services

Leadership and Staffing

Business people signing a contract

How to Decide When to Use a Laboratory Staffing Service

Staffing services offer a range of benefits but how do you know when you need them?