Page 76 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

The selection, use, maintenance and quality control of laboratory equipment and supplies 45

bering to include transport cost and import resistant to fungal growth). Regular mainte-
charges). nance and cleaning of equipment and premises
is essential.
When equipment is purchased through a donor,
the receiving laboratory should communicate
properly with the donor in order to purchase 2.2 Ensuring the electricity supply
the right equipment/spare parts/consumables.
The donor should be fully informed regarding Fluctuating voltage is a common problem, espe-
the specifications of the equipment/spare parts/ cially in rural areas, therefore equipment must
consumables, maintenance needs, laboratory be protected. The current and voltage supplied
conditions (humidity, climate hot/cold, dust, to equipment from each power point in a new
ventilation, available power supply and voltage laboratory should be checked regularly. The local
protection) and on-site training requirements electricity supplier may be able to assist with
for more advanced equipment. Only accept this. Where voltage stabilizers (Figure 2.1) are
equipment from a donor that is fully functional used, the input and output for each unit should
and comes with the right consumables, spare be checked and faulty stabilizers repaired. Low
parts and documentation. capacity (0.5 or 1.0 kV) voltage stabilizers may
Only when the new equipment has been not provide adequate protection for equipment
tested in the laboratory, should the final payment such as computers and spectrophotometers so it
be made. Examples of order lists for reagents/ is advisable to add a surge protector (Figure 2.2).
kits/consumables and equipment (prices 2017) A surge protector, or surge suppressor or surge
can be found on the website. The following com- diverter, is an appliance or device designed to
panies can help with the purchase of laboratory protect electric devices from voltage spikes.
items: A surge protector attempts to limit the volt-
age supplied to an electric device by either
• VWR: www.vwr.com (choose ‘shop VWR blocking or shorting to ground any unwanted
globally’ and select your country) voltages above a safe threshold.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: www.thermofisher. The voltage stabilizer and surge protector
com should be switched on before the equipment
• Tactile: https://www.tactilab-rdc.com/, espe- is connected to allow time for the current to
cially for haemoglobinometer and Rayto stabilize. When there is a break in the electric-
equipment. ity supply the equipment should be switched
off immediately to avoid damage from power
In many parts of the world the conditions in surges, which frequently follow interruptions in
which equipment is expected to operate are not power supply.
ideal. For example, high ambient temperatures, Equipment sensitive to power breaks (like
humidity, dust, the presence of cockroaches PCR cyclers) can be connected to an unin-
(which lay their eggs inside equipment), rats terruptible power supply (UPS) or no-break
and other vermin (with a liking for plastic wiring battery power supply system (Figures 2.3 and
and so on) can all take their toll on laboratory 2.4), which takes over from the municipal power
equipment. High humidity can encourage fungal supply immediately in the event of a power cut.
growth, which rapidly ruins microscope optics In places with no or erratic electricity supply
(although most manufacturers are now claim- it is preferable to install a solar photovoltaic (PV)
ing to have models with components which are system (Figures 2.5 and 2.6) and/or to purchase

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