Each choice comes with its own set of pros and cons. For example, auctions may provide you with some of your cheapest equipment, but they also don’t come with any guarantees that you’ll find exactly what you need. Resellers, meanwhile, may require you to pay a little more, but they also allow you more time to browse and make your decisions. We detailed all of these options in a 2019 issue of Launchpad, so take a look for more information. You can always mix and match your equipment resources, depending on your laboratory’s needs.
When buying your equipment, you’ll need to make certain considerations. First, you’ll have to make judgments about whether certain equipment pieces will be worth your time and effort. Many will be worth it while others will not, even if they happen to be priced very low. For example, if a piece of equipment comes with significant repair needs, you may be better off buying something else.
Next, consider the age of your potential medical lab equipment. Almost always, newer equipment is better. If two pieces of lab equipment are more or less the same, but one piece is newer than the other, it’s generally a good idea to go with the newer equipment option.
You should also think about the environment in which your potential equipment spent most of its time. Is it a gently used piece of equipment, or does it have a lot of wear and tear? Was it stored carefully in a suitable environment?
You’ll obviously consider the cost of your medical lab equipment, but make sure that you think about the overall cost and not just the upfront cost. For example, will you need to make any changes or repairs to the equipment? Will you need to buy any accessories? How much will it cost to ship the equipment to your laboratory?