Laboratory Equipment

None of the laboratories are identical. The setup of laboratories in Africa, which range from medical research to chemical manufacture, is crucial to developing a functional and successful lab. Moreover, an improper laboratory setup jeopardises the security of the entire facility.

Knowing how to perform lab setup is not limited to knowing which lab equipment to install. It includes making plans for emergencies, putting in fire extinguishers, storing dangerous goods, and putting in work surfaces that can withstand chemicals.

For enterprises and organisations planning to establish laboratories in Africa, we have provided answers to the most frequently asked questions. We will address all the impact aspects of laboratory setup, including room requirements, lab equipment, and any necessary training to ensure the greatest level of safety.

How is a new laboratory set up?

Before beginning lab setup, there are a number of factors to consider. We appreciate that the task may appear daunting. But with careful planning and training, mistakes can be kept to a minimum and a successful lab setup can be made.

What are the prerequisites for the laboratory?

To identify what equipment you need or even the sort of laboratory space you need, you must define the objective of your lab. Is it a commercial lab? medical lab Biological lab? Each sort of laboratory requires specialised equipment and expertise.

For instance, a chemistry lab may require a gas supply, a fume cabinet, and a large quantity of glassware. In contrast, radioactive materials may be handled in a physics laboratory, where safety is of the utmost importance. Complex computing systems may require a specialised electrical power supply as an alternative. On the other hand, biology laboratories deal with dangerous organisms rather than hazardous substances. You might require a cell culture lab with sterile areas, freezers, incubators, and autoclaves.

You may also be preparing a teaching laboratory. Such laboratories do not require the same high safety standards. They will also require open-top seats, a whiteboard, and a projector.

How to plan your laboratory

This is not merely a factor of equipment for commercial businesses. It also involves the employees. The larger your workforce, the more space is required to house them. In a new laboratory, the layout must be considered. Where are employees employed? Is there space for documentation and sufficient room for everyone?

Try to visualise the distinct lab spaces that need to be created. Which occupations are limited to a single location? The last thing you want is a lab technician moving hazardous chemicals around aimlessly.

In summary, high-traffic locations should not be located near severe dangers. You do not wish to risk contamination or safety issues.

You will also require a location to store large equipment. Place such devices in appropriate positions to maximise the space's overall utility. Reducing travel distance offers a safer and more productive laboratory.

Remember that once your laboratory configuration is finalised, it will likely not be altered again. So, please be patient!

What equipment is used in a laboratory?

Obviously, while you plan the layout of your laboratory, you will also need to consider the equipment. Equipment acquisition is not always simple. Glassware, fire extinguishers, and other basic tools are easy to get, but mass spectrometers and fume closets may be harder to find.

Create a comprehensive list of the necessary equipment. Include all your glassware, Bunsen burners, and protective eyewear. Additionally, you should include any compounds that you will likely be working with.

Why? Well, you should also consider storage. It's one thing to have all the equipment necessary to run a successful lab; it's another to be able to access it. The right way to store chemicals is another common risk that you will need to plan for, including getting safety training on how to get to and use these substances.

Consider laboratory precautions.

Safety is the top priority in any laboratory setting. Here are some necessary precautions:

Sinks are required for cleaning chemicals and other equipment. You should never use equipment that has not been thoroughly cleaned, as it will deteriorate over time if you do.

The use of biosafety cabinets is necessary to prevent contamination. Infectious organisms like bacteria, viruses, and fungi should be kept in these safe places.

Fire extinguishers must be available throughout the laboratory. Install more fire extinguishers at equal distances if you are designing a large laboratory.

4. Proper waste management requires not placing contaminated materials in the bin. You will need color-coded bins for various supplies, as well as a sharps bin for needles and other sharp objects. Also, if your lab makes electronic, radioactive, or chemical waste, it must be thrown away in a way that follows the rules.

All electrical systems must be properly wired. Prior to use, electrical devices must be tested for functionality and safety.

Within a chemical laboratory, all work surfaces must be chemically resistant. If not, damage is inevitable.

When required, safety goggles, visors, gloves, lab coats, and other protective gear should be given.

In addition to the aforementioned requirements, safety training sessions should be required prior to beginning work in the laboratory. It must explain what to do in case of a fire, how to be safe (like wearing the right clothes), how to use dangerous materials or equipment, and any other important safety features of the lab.

What laboratory equipment is utilised?

The sheer variety of laboratory equipment is unfathomable. We've listed some of the most popular pieces of equipment, as well as a few specialised ones pertinent to specific disciplines. Use these as guides when you begin setting up your lab.

Beakers, Erlenmeyer flasks, Florence flasks, volumetric flasks, pipettes, graduated cylinders, and test tubes are examples of glassware.

-Micropipette-Temperature gauge-PH metre

-Ventilation system-Centrifuge-Test tube rack-Microwave oven

-Light or electron microscope; -Spectrophotometer; -Bunsen burner with wire gauze and tripods

-Magnetic stirrers

-Weighing equipment

How is a medical lab set up?

The medical lab is one of the most popular types of laboratory. For instance, in a chemical or electronic lab, danger is generally confined to the surrounding area, although it is extremely hazardous. On the other hand, medical laboratories often deal with pollutants that can spread diseases or hurt people outside of the lab.

The term for this is biosafety.

What exactly is biosafety?

Biosafety is the precautions required when working with biological organisms or substances. These substances are hazardous to human health. The objective is to reduce exposure to the organism or substance. Two types of containment exist:

Personnel and the local laboratory setting are protected by primary barriers. Consider fume hoods, lab coats, safety glasses, and visors, as well as various forms of protection.

-- Secondary barriers protect individuals outside the laboratory. A well-built lab has internal walls that keep dangerous organisms or substances from getting out of their containers.

Consider how you set up your laboratory so as to decrease the likelihood of containment.

Obviously, not all laboratories will contain exceedingly dangerous biological substances. Most will test normal bodily waste, and standard safety rules for medical laboratories must be followed.

Medical lab equipment

In medical laboratories, specific items of equipment are usually seen. These consist of:

-Microscopes. It is used to magnify things like cells or tissues so that bacteria or viruses can be found or so that changes in the structure of the tissue, like in cancer, can be seen.

-Haematology analyzer. performs blood tests, such as a blood count or coagulation test, on blood samples.

-Analyser for urinalysis It looks at the protein, blood, specific gravity, glucose, and other chemical parts of urine samples.

-Immunoassay analyzer. It is used for infectious disease diagnosis, cancer marker testing, and cardiac analysis.

-Medical autoclave Primarily, it is used to sterilise surgical and medicinal instruments.

How much does the setup of a laboratory cost?

If you are establishing laboratories in Africa, you would want to know the associated costs. The answer depends upon the sort of laboratory.

It might cost as little as Rs 152,000 to equip a basic laboratory with glassware and chemical-resistant surfaces. When investing in more specialised equipment, however, costs can increase dramatically.

For instance, the price of mass spectrometers might range from a few million to tens of millions of Rands. It depends on the machine's characteristics and quality. Due to the exorbitant expenses, many laboratories and businesses lease their most expensive equipment. It minimises overall start-up expenses and eliminates some maintenance expenses.

You should try to keep your budget in mind during lab setup. It is simple to desire the highest grade equipment. Nevertheless, defining the areas in which you wish to prioritise quality might assist in maintaining a reasonable total cost for the project.