Page 40 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

Setting up and using a laboratory service 9

stabilizer. Apparatus that cannot withstand power Some equipment can be run on alkaline bat-
cuts (polymerase chain reaction [PCR] cyclers, teries or rechargeable internal batteries such as
spectrophotometers, fluorescence microscope the EKF Diagnostics Tm haemoglobin meter.
4
and so on) should be connected to an uninter- Microscopes with LED-illumination equipped
ruptible power supply (UPS) or to a ‘no-break’ with small solar panels can be used for several
battery power supply system. Preferably a central hours without mains supply. Other technolo-
UPS or ‘no-break’ system, which can automati- gies are being developed to help facilitate work
cally switch between the mains power supply in areas where power supplies are unreliable,
and battery power with continuous charging because of this, it is good to keep up to date
when mains power is available. The capacity of with scientific developments via local equipment
the UPS/‘no-break’ and power stabilizers should suppliers and professional organizations.
be selected to match the requirements of the
apparatus that could be damaged by fluctuating GaS
power. Instead of using a stabilizer for dedicated In some areas gas may be supplied via a public
equipment is usually preferable to install a more mains system or alternatively it may be supplied
powerful stabilizer for the whole laboratory, for in liquid form in storage cylinders that can usu-
example, via a generator. ally be obtained through commercial suppliers.
There are a number of suitable genera- Individual gas cylinders can also be placed under
tor units available commercially (typically in the benches in some laboratory sections (for
the range of 8 to 12 kVA), which are generally example, microbiology) so that they can be con-
reliable and economical to run. In most cases, nected to single outlet points. This is especially
unless the laboratory is very small, the generator useful for small laboratory units where piped gas
will be set up to supply only essential pieces of is not feasible. However, storage of such cylin-
equipment during a power failure so it is impor- ders is subject to local safety regulations. Spare
tant to identify and mark the outlet sockets that cylinders should be kept in a well-ventilated
will be supplied with power when the generator storage room in a building separated from the
is operating. laboratory and suitable fire precautions should
Where the electricity supply is unreliable, be in place.
consideration can be given to purchasing equip- A laboratory may have a set of large gas stor-
ment that does not require electricity. Some age cylinders maintained outside the building.
refrigerators and autoclaves, for example, use a These should have suitable protection from
gas or kerosene power supply. weather and safety measures in place in case of
For ensuring the provision of power to main- fire.
tain cold facilities it may also be possible to use
solid carbon dioxide or liquid nitrogen, if stocks Water supply
of these are readily available and are not too
costly. A reliable supply of clean water is essential for
Solar energy supply systems can also be a laboratory to operate. Water is used for all
used in remote laboratories and in areas where aspects of laboratory work from sample prepa-
the electricity supply is erratic. Solar powered ration to test procedures, washing and general
refrigerator/freezers are already widely used. disinfection. The water quality may vary consid-
Maintenance of solar panels (that is, clean- erably so the addition of appropriate filtration
ing and dusting regularly) and the batteries is and purification systems is required to keep the
important to extend the life span of the system. supply suitable for laboratory requirements (see

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