Four Challenges of Working in a Laboratory

Four Challenges of Working in a Laboratory

Four Challenges of Working in a Laboratory

Working in a lab setting is very challenging. Read on for tips from our laboratory staffing experts on overcoming everyday barriers.

Lab safety

Laboratory safety is heavily controlled. A few fundamentals you must have include:

  • An eye-wash station
  • Proper signage
  • Fire protection (extinguishers, smoke alarms, blankets, etc.)
  • Harmful goods and hazardous materials labeling
  • Harmful goods cabinets
  • Suitable hardware (gas connections, tap handles, ventilation, sink specifications, etc.)
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE)

There is much to know about lab safety and safety regulations, and their conformity must be documented and rehearsed. There are three obvious classes to the safety provisions that you should bear in mind: biological, physical, and chemical safety. The US government mandates and regulates lab safety, so you should follow it closely.

The balance between turnaround time and integrity

It is usually tricky to determine your balance: do you work to please the client, or do you assume the time required to guarantee that the client obtains a highly dependable result? Our travels have left us with a resolution—high levels of discipline in the workplace with obligation and perseverance equal swift turnaround. This enables us to spend more time managing your interests, and the team has an assurance of unmatched quality delivery. We know this is feasible and obvious in the laboratory setting. Some jobs require extended periods to deliver precision and mitigate error, but all items are relative.

Costly lab equipment

This is also a criticism of numerous laboratory employees. Indeed, supplies will ultimately be pricey, particularly for specialty and clinical laboratories. Equipment can command hundreds of thousands of dollars and demand thousands of dollars in care, maintenance, and operating costs.

Quality Assurance (QA)

QA can prove tiresome and demanding. You can approach QA in every circumstance with the well-known PDCA cycle (plan, do, check, act), which is an ideal systematic method for executing quality. However, the lab setting is a complex system that presents barriers to simplicity in the quality control and QA approaches. For instance, if a customer requests a simple ratio and is delivered a PPM (parts-per-million) measurement, they may acquire unexpected and undesirable costs or an unrelated solution. Conversely, if a client requires a PPB (parts-per-billion) measurement and is delivered a PPM measurement, it can squander time and demand higher costs from the lab. The lab should thus research a quality system and finance strategies and roles to maintain the lab's reliability and effectiveness.

Cross Contamination

Usually, this results from trivial incidents of negligence or inevitable accidents. Nonetheless, it is surprisingly easy to unintentionally mix an alien substance with a specimen or accidentally soil an otherwise pure substance. Oversight results in the loss of significant research funds, altered research outcomes, and overall negative life changes. Bypass these standard errors to sidestep cross-contamination:

  • Utilizing unsterile water
  • Inferior ventilation or air quality
  • Permitting air contaminants like smoke or exhaust, causing compromised results
  • Failure to use new gloves for each task, a tiny sample falling off a used glove into your testing substance will not work out.

Mishaps in your lab are often inevitable, but if you pay attention to detail, you contribute to your lab's outstanding reputation and study integrity. Laboratory managers must introduce standard cleaning procedures, apparel, and PPE while complying with laws and regulations.

These are just a few of the challenges of working in a lab.Contact us today for laboratory staffing solutions.

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