According to Quest Diagnostics, “70% of medical decisions are based on lab results.” Patients rely on these test results, so it’s incredibly important that lab equipment works at optimal efficiency to produce the most accurate results. Unfortunately, this often isn’t the case when it comes to older, outdated equipment. If you’re not sure if you should invest in new tools and materials for your lab, consider these reasons for laboratory instrument upgrades.

Enhanced efficiency

Lab equipment is constantly advancing and gets quicker and more efficient each year. The most updated lab equipment will help you optimize your workflow because samples are processed faster and the speed of analysis increases substantially. An increase in the overall efficiency of your lab allows you to handle a larger workload and perform more tests each day.

Lower cost of maintenance

While the initial cost may be intimidating, investing in newer equipment can end up saving you money over time. Frequent maintenance issues in outdated and unreliable equipment doesn’t just interrupt your workflow, they can also cost you a lot of money in repairs. If you update your equipment, you won’t have to spend time and money recalibrating, updating software, or repairing outdated machines.

Increased safety

Working in a lab often requires the handling of dangerous substances. If equipment isn’t functioning property, it puts everyone at risk. Older machinery is prone to more problems and malfunctions, which can lead to increased exposure to dangerous chemicals, liquids, and fumes. Investing in new lab equipment will help you improve the safety for those working in your lab.

Improved laboratory integration

Due to the rapid advancement of software and laboratory systems, outdated equipment can make it difficult to upgrade to newer versions of software. Getting locked into older software packages can limit your operational choices and impair your productivity. Most new equipment, however, includes innovative information system interfaces and software systems that allow all your data to be unified into one integrated system. If you integrate all your data into one system, it becomes much easier to gather and store information.

If you’re interested in upgrading your lab equipment, USA Lab Equipment offers a number of state-of-the-art equipment options—from ultrasonic cleaners to lab chest freezers.