Five Tips For Looking After Your Lab Equipment

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(PNGIMG.com)

26 May 2018. Keeping your lab equipment well maintained is vital. Poor maintenance could lead to contamination or damage, which could affect the accuracy of your results. Here are a few tips for keeping your lab equipment sterile and free of damage.

Get machinery serviced regularly by a technician

Laboratories are becoming more reliant on complex machinery, some of which may be too complex to service yourself. It’s important to have your machines regularly inspected by a professional technician so that any damage can be spotted and dealt with early. An inspection is particularly important when setting up new machinery – the likes of a wafer inspection system could be vital to ensure that there are no electronic defects. Try to look for technicians that specialize in a niche as they are more likely to offer accurate servicing.

Spot defects early with smart analytic technology

Smart analytics technology is now being introduced to many new machines. This involves using sensors to monitor a machine for any signs of lagging so that faults can be spotted and repaired early. The data can be brought up on your phone or computer at any time allowing you to inspect your machines’ performance regularly. It’s possible to retrofit old machinery with smart sensors, however this can be complicated and expensive in some cases – you should weigh up whether it’s cheaper to install sensors on old equipment or to buy new machinery with this technology already in-built.

Take care when cleaning glass

Keeping tools and machinery sterile is important for preventing contamination and damage. Cleaning glass components and measuring equipment often requires a specialist cleaning solution such as Alconox or Liquinox. A common mistake that technicians make is using the wrong drying method. Glass is best left to air dry as even the finest paper towels can leave fibers that could contaminate readings. This can be frustrating if you need to use equipment quickly – you’re best off overstocking glass apparatus so that you’ve always got tools available to use. Chemicals like acetone can be used to speed up the drying process and could be worth trying out.

Consider the air quality

Air quality needs to be as pure as possible in order to keep lab equipment free of dust and contaminants. You should invest in the best ventilation machinery possible in order to keep air clean. Dehumidifiers and dryers can also prevent moisture in the air from contaminating results. Make sure that filters on these machines are regularly serviced.

Train your staff thoroughly

Most damage to lab equipment is likely to be the result of human error. It’s important to train your staff thoroughly so that they know the exact procedure required to keep equipment well maintained. An employee handbook is useful to have – this is something that lab workers can use for reference at any time. Signage can also help to remind employees of various protocols, helping to minimize errors.

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