Purchasing Laboratory Equipment: New vs. Used

The purchase decision should not be taken lightly, or solely driven by price. Careful consideration is necessary before venturing into the used resale market for biological safety cabinets, or other laboratory equipment.

Used laboratory equipment comes with the inherent risk of per-existing performance issues. Not only could these issues prove costly due to repairs and downtime, there is also the risk of compromised safety for laboratory personnel. Older equipment is also more likely to lack current technology which improves safety and functionality.