Some Smart Tips for the Maintenance of Laboratory Equipment

The quality and condition of your lab equipment would be impacting the actual performance and the outcomes generated by it. In this context, you must understand that scientific results could be compromised due to lack of prompt repair and proper maintenance.

The Importance of Well-Maintained Lab Equipment

It is the responsibility of a laboratory technician to regularly monitor and maintain lab equipment and keep them in top running condition. The usability of lab equipment would be primarily depending on the delivery of prompt and accurate results and precise measurements.

Here are some expert tips for proper maintenance and upkeep of lab equipment so that they could provide accurate outcomes in minimum turnaround time.

Regular Refurbishing

Refurbishing involves disassembling of equipment and cleaning scrupulously. Then all the pieces are polished well and the pistons of pipettes are properly lubricated. The faulty parts are identified and effectively replaced. Once the refurbishment is done, the burette and the pipette dispenser would be functioning as new.

Prompt Repairing

Even though some types of equipment require complete replacement in many situations, you could carry on working efficiently without affecting productivity by some prompt simple repairs. Replacement of parts must be done promptly. You would not be purchasing a brand new car when you simply require repairing a timing belt. This analogy is applicable to your various laboratory equipments.

Some parts of lab equipment would be wearing faster as compared to the others and they require prompt and proper preventive maintenance. Equipment like centrifuges would be requiring proper maintenance to keep them in perfect working condition. If lab equipment is not in excellent condition, it could be hazardous to the laboratory technicians and may ruin the outcomes of any experiment and lab work where the faulty equipment is being used.

Calibration Services

Periodical and prompt calibration services are needed for proper maintenance of the lab equipment. You need to follow comprehensive preventive maintenance procedure for preventing data corruption. Calibration entails various levels of services right from standard preventive maintenance work to the advanced accuracy verification precisely for cGLP or cGMP.

Regular Cleaning

Regular cleaning is vital to the upkeep of any lab equipment. This is a really simple process but is often ignored and the equipment is neglected. You must essentially wipe clean the equipment exteriors every day and do proper hard cleaning once in seven days. However, not all equipment should be cleaned in the same manner. Some equipment would necessitate specific manner of cleaning them. For instance, in case of a hematology machine, the analyzer surface must be cleaned once every week, HC control must be checked once every month and an engineer must examine the entire system once every six months. In case of a chemistry machine, along with the analyzer surface, you must clean the lower and upper heater once every week and examine Humatrol control once in every six months. In the case of a microscope, it is essential for the glass to be cleaned with a blend of 30 percent alcohol and 70 percent ether once every week. Clean the lamp, objective, and condenser once every month.

Conclusion

The most important point to keep in mind is that lab equipment maintenance and repair must be done only by trained and fully-qualified personnel from renowned companies. The well-trained technicians must not only clean and repair or replace the faulty components; they must be adept at forecasting the potential failure of certain parts.