Lab & Medical Equipment | Business To Business Classifieds

Medical equipment encompasses a vast product range. It is used by primary healthcare workers in diagnosis and treatment. However, the quantity of medical equipment that can be bought "over the counter" or via the Internet has increased dramatically. It is a legal requirement for medical equipment manufacturers to ensure that their products are safe.

BUYING MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
1. Ask your primary healthcare worker for advice.
2. Ensure you buy any equipment from a recognised supplier.
3. Ensure that you know how to use and maintain the equipment correctly.
4. Avoid second hand equipment, if possible.

The MHRA
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), works with primary healthcare workers, equipment manufacturers and legal advisers, ensuring that medical equipment is safe. The MHRA provides advice to users on using medical equipment safely. It has the capability to stop a manufacturer selling a piece of medical equipment or, in extreme cases, even prosecute. Its primary task is the investigation of medical equipment that has caused death or injury. MHRA investigates all such medical equipment, including that which can be bought directly by the public. Primary health workers are able to report problematic medical equipment to the MHRA.

If any "over the counter" equipment is faulty or dangerous, your first contact should be with the equipment supplier or your primary health worker. If you are still concerned, contact the MHRA.

BUYING LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
When considering buying laboratory equipment, a number of factors that need to be considered.

Cost
1. Assess any item of laboratory equipment for value, i.e. quality versus cost. Buying the cheapest equipment may prove to be false economy in the long term.
2. Remember that equipment will have running costs, as well as the initial outlay.
3. Delivery and insurance will add further costs to items ordered from abroad.
4. Upkeep is likely to account for approx. ten per cent of the original cost.
5. Assess the cost of any available maintenance contract.

Safety
Be certain to assess any risks associated with any laboratory equipment.

Sturdiness
Consider the condition in which the equipment is likely to be used. Ensure that it is suitable for extremes of temperature, humidity and other local conditions.

Specification
The specification details the design and materials used in equipment. A data specification sheet should be prepared requesting a quotation for a major item of equipment. Examine, in detail, the local needs, conditions and resources, as well as the environmental and user requirements. Manufacturer's specifications should be matched against your own specifications, requirements and circumstances.

Spares
Obtain from the manufacturer a list of essential spare parts and a guide to their expected lifespan. Ensure any local supplier has a verifiable capacity for servicing and maintaining the equipment.
It is advisable to keep in store parts that are important, but hard to obtain, rather than relying solely on local supply. It is reasonable to budget for approx. twenty per cent of the initial price for spares.

Power
If voltage fluctuations in the mains electricity are likely to interfere with instrument performance, buy a voltage stabilizer. In the event of power cuts, protection can be provided by an uninterruptible power supply unit (UPS), a system that automatically switches to battery power. Be aware that in developing countries electricity supplies may be unreliable.

For battery powered items, ensure a supply of the correct batteries is kept to hand:
1. Primary cells or "use once" dry cell batteries. Alkaline batteries have a long life.
2. Rechargeable dry cell batteries. Nickel-cadmium batteries are most commonly used. However, they lose their charge more quickly than other types of battery during storage are initially expensive, with a voltage lower than primary cells.

If local mains power is unreliable, the microscope, undoubtedly the most important piece of laboratory equipment must be battery powered. Furthermore, the light source should be self-contained. The base should contain a connection for a twelve-volt battery. The connections for the mains and battery should not be interchangeable. It may be worth considering the provision of a reliable power supply via batteries charged by solar energy or intermittent generator recharging.