Supplies Needed for Lab Safety and Success

Medical settings have strict guidelines on the types of supplies they are able to use to stay safe, healthy, and sterile in their job.  This is also true for many diagnostic lab facilities as well.  Our lab technicians are required to dress properly, follow strict regulations, and practice safety when they are working with samples in the lab setting.  As a lab that specializes in diagnostic dermatopathology in Pittsburgh, PA, we handle many tissue and cell samples that require special care and can create hazards if handled incorrectly.  To do our jobs correctly, lab technicians require these supplies for lab success and safety.

Gloves

To protect your lab staff, you will want to have plenty of gloves available in your lab.  Disposable latex gloves in multiple sizes should be readily available for lab employees to get on an as-needed basis.  In fact, many labs will have multiple boxes available on the lab floor and then have a large stockpile of more gloves in the back to ensure that they never run out of this much-needed supply.

Apparel

Labs require a specific dress code in order to stay safe.  Many facilities actually provide the apparel they expect their employees to wear.  This means that they have lab coats, goggles, exam gowns, face masks, and other apparel options for their employees on hand.

Glassware

When you first think of lab supplies, glassware probably comes to mind.  There are many types of glassware required to get the job done in the lab.  From beakers to pipettes to graduated cylinders, these supplies all have a different role and purpose in the lab.  Whether you are testing solid or liquid, you want to be prepared for every material by having all the appropriate glassware in your lab.  Also, labs will use glassware to test samples, whether they are using test tubes or glass slides.

Diagnostic Instruments

From thermometers to defibrillators, there are many diagnostic instruments that are required in a lab setting.  In a pathology lab, they are required to perform diagnostic tests for a range of diseases, and they must be prepared to perform these tests when the samples arrive at the lab.  This involves having sterile supplies and instruments.

Chemicals

To perform tests, labs also need to stock up on certain chemicals.  Acetic acid, formalin, potassium hydroxide, and immunocal are just some of the common chemicals used in lab procedures.  They are often sold in large quantities to make it easier for storage and more cost-effective for lab facilities.

These are some of the supplies that are needed to perform lab testing jobs in the lab setting.  Without these supplies, tests would be inaccurate, unsafe, and or even mishandled.  By protecting our lab employees, we are also able to protect the integrity of our testing and provide the most accurate and reliable results for your patients.  Contact us to hear about our lab practices in diagnostic dermatopathology in Pittsburgh, PA today.