Although often underappreciated, slide stainers play an essential role in modern medical research, as they improve efficiency and accuracy in the life sciences industry. Preparing histology slides and examining tissue samples under microscopes is commonplace in medical research, and slide stainers help automate these time-consuming tasks. Discover the basics of slide stainers and their significance in medical research as we compare manual and automated slide staining methods, the impact of slide stainers on research and diagnostics, and the benefits of automation. What Is a Slide Stainer? A sl ..read more

When your centrifuge isn't working correctly, it's essential to know how to troubleshoot it so you can identify the issue and understand the best path forward to fix it. While you can deal with some centrifuge problems yourself, some issues may be more complex to resolve. As a result, you can end up dealing with a delay in your research processes or different hazards that put operators and samples at risk. That's why understanding common centrifuge issues and their potential fixes is key. Why Proper Centrifuge Use Matters Typically, users employ centrifuges to separate solids, liquids or gases ..read more

Histology can be a fascinating study with essential use cases in the medical field. Preparing histology slides to study can be tricky and requires correct preparation for accurate and consistent results. When created with the right tools and equipment, histology slides can aid scientific studies and diagnose diseases such as cancer. What Are Histology Slides? Medical histology is the study of tissues, cells and organs under a microscope. To prepare a tissue sample for viewing, it must go through fixation, embedding, sectioning and staining. This process allows you to clearly view the anat ..read more

Whether you're in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food or biotechnology field, you may use a lab mixer. This equipment helps agitate and mix samples in a uniform and scaled way, and you can choose a specific type of lab mixer based on your specific needs and work environment. Below, we explore the differences between laboratory mixing equipment to help you make an informed decision.   The Benefits of Using a Lab Mixer What do lab mixers do? While lab mixers are an investment, they come with many essential benefits for your lab: Even mixing: By using a laboratory mixer, you can ensure ..read more

A well-designed lab can be a game-changer for its users, allowing them to stay calm, cool and collected in a comfortable environment that promotes safety and efficiency. Whether used for research and development, education or production, a lab's layout is foundational to its success. If you're in charge of planning and designing a laboratory, you're in luck. We've put together a guide on how to design a lab space that supports safety, efficiency and the scientific process. 1. Assess the Lab Space The first requirement for any lab is an appropriate physical space. Check out the lab with a detai ..read more

Microplate readers and spectrophotometers are two valuable yet often misunderstood instruments in a lab. Both can help you analyze how light interacts with a sample by measuring the intensity and wavelength of the light that passes through a sample. However, spectrophotometers and microplate readers are each geared toward a different purpose, with specific strengths and weaknesses. With subtle design differences, one is ideal for high-throughput operations, while the other is best for high-precision, single-sample analysis. Their variations can affect your measurements, workflow and throughput ..read more

Anyone who needs to freeze-dry samples often knows how long it can take. Regardless of what freeze-drying methods you use, each stage in the process is vital to ensure the longevity and usability of your samples. The process can take days, depending on the sample and conditions in your lab, which can slow down all the associated operations in your workflow. Knowing how to speed up your freeze-drying process without risking the integrity of your samples can save you valuable hours. Luckily, there are some tricks you can use to achieve this seemingly difficult task — without too much difficulty ..read more

Liquid handling is a vital activity in every lab. When done correctly, you have accurate samples and consistent data you can use. Although liquid handlers are becoming more prevalent, switching to automated processes is a significant decision, and knowing everything you can about automating manual liquid handling processes can help you make the right choice for your unique needs.  What Is an Automated Liquid Handling System? A liquid handler moves liquids in various amounts from one container to another. While this process might sound straightforward, it forms the backbone of laboratory t ..read more

If you've ever seen a ray of sunlight bend or change color when it hits a glass of water on a table, you've seen the basic principle of a microplate reader at work. Although things get a lot more complicated than that, these valuable lab instruments measure how light interacts with specific substances in liquid. You'll find microplate readers used in clinical and research environments, and they come in several different styles. They help with everything from evaluating enzyme reactions to detecting diseases in cells. In this intro to microplate readers, we dive further into these useful tools ..read more

Like most lab equipment, a freeze dryer needs a little TLC to work its best. If you have one in your lab, maintenance processes are crucial. Without proper maintenance, you could damage this significant investment, adversely impact its performance and put safety and compliance at risk. Every freeze dryer is a little different, but maintenance procedures include tasks like regular cleaning, calibration, oil changes and functionality checks. We'll go over the details of freeze dryer maintenance, so you can ensure dependable performance and longevity and keep your equipment safe and compliant. E ..read more