How prepared is your lab for the rapid advancements in life sciences research? From genomic sequencing to molecular biology assays, the demand for precise and reliable laboratory equipment has never been greater. Whether you’re setting up a new lab or upgrading your current lab space, equipping your team with the right tools is critical for maintaining functionality, safety, and efficiency.
For labs looking to stay ahead without breaking the budget, leasing high-quality lab supplies like centrifuges, PCR machines, and imaging systems can be a cost-effective solution. Learn more about Excedr’s lab equipment leasing program and how it can help you acquire state-of-the-art tools without the upfront investment.
Navigating the hidden costs of purchasing lab equipment is another important consideration. Discover ways to avoid unnecessary expenses while ensuring your lab is equipped for success. Additionally, managing your lab’s inventory efficiently is essential for preventing downtime and maximizing productivity—explore best practices for inventory management.
As biotechnology continues to expand its reach, labs must adopt high-quality lab supplies to maintain compliance, improve throughput, and ensure reliable diagnostics. This guide covers the essential lab equipment you'll need in 2025, from safety staples like hoods and autoclaves to specialized tools such as pipettes, microplate readers, and fluorescence analyzers.
Let’s dive into the tools and strategies that can enhance your lab’s functionality and future-proof its operations, staying ahead of equipment obsolescence.
Safety is the foundation of every life science lab. From handling reagents to conducting complex molecular biology experiments, ensuring the safety of your team and workspace is critical. While many safety items may already be staples in your lab, it’s worth revisiting these essentials to confirm you have enough on hand or to identify overlooked items that could enhance your lab’s functionality. Below, we’ll highlight the most important safety equipment every modern lab should prioritize.
Protecting your eyes is non-negotiable in a lab environment. Whether you’re working with nucleic acid samples or using tools like centrifuges and hotplates, accidents can happen. Safety goggles shield your eyes from chemical splashes, flying debris, and shards of broken glassware. Without proper protection, lab workers risk injuries like scratched corneas, infections, or even blindness.
Even with goggles, accidents can occur. Eyewash stations provide immediate relief if chemicals splash into your eyes, minimizing long-term damage. For broader chemical spills, safety showers are essential. These tools are designed to decontaminate the skin and clothing from corrosive substances quickly and effectively.
When working with reagents, RNA, or other sensitive materials, latex gloves are crucial. They prevent contamination of samples and protect your hands from harmful substances. For labs dealing with allergens or harsh chemicals, alternatives like nitrile gloves may be a better choice.
A lab coat serves as a protective barrier between your clothing and hazardous substances. Whether you’re handling cell cultures or diagnostics, lab coats prevent direct exposure to spills and splashes while ensuring compliance with safety standards.
Disposing of biohazardous materials like used pipettes, centrifuge tubes, or contaminated consumables requires specialized containers. Bright orange biohazard bins, clearly labeled for specific waste types, are essential to maintaining a clean and compliant lab space.
Accidents are inevitable in any lab, but being prepared makes all the difference. Stock your first-aid kit with essentials like bandages, sterilizing wipes, gauze, scissors, and eye dressings. Regularly check your kit to ensure everything is stocked, unexpired, and ready to use.
Whether your lab uses ovens, hotplates, or Bunsen burners, having fire extinguishers suited for chemical or electrical fires is essential. Check OSHA guidelines to ensure compliance with fire safety standards.
Glassware plays a pivotal role in any life science lab, enabling precise measurements for tasks ranging from cell culture experiments to genomic research. Whether you’re preparing reagents, measuring volumes, or maintaining consistent temperature readings, the right lab equipment ensures accuracy and reliability. Below are the must-have measurement tools every lab should include:
Ideal for measuring liquids in volumes ranging from 10 mL to 100 mL, graduated cylinders provide precise and consistent results. Their tall, narrow design helps minimize errors, making them indispensable in both molecular biology and microbiology workflows.
These flasks are designed for creating standard solutions with exact concentrations. Their round bodies and thin necks, often equipped with stoppers, ensure minimal evaporation and secure storage. Volumetric flasks are perfect for preparing solutions in chromatography and nucleic acid extraction protocols.
Measuring the temperature of liquids, gases, or environmental conditions is crucial for maintaining lab functionality. Thermometers come in various styles and are often tailored for specific applications, such as monitoring water baths, incubators, or chemical reactions.
Essential for transporting and measuring small volumes of liquid, pipets and burets ensure precise dispensing. Pipettes, available in disposable and reusable forms, are widely used in liquid handling tasks like preparing assays or distributing reagents in microplate readers. Burets are particularly useful for titration experiments, offering controlled flow through their narrow openings and stopcocks.
Not all glassware is designed for precise measurements; some are built for versatility in tasks like mixing, heating, and storing. These tools are indispensable for any life science lab, whether you’re conducting molecular biology experiments or preparing samples for sequencing. Here’s a closer look at essential non-measurement glassware:
With a round body and flat bottom, Florence flasks are ideal for heating liquids and minimizing splashes. Their long necks are designed to reduce spillage during mixing and can be fitted with stoppers for temporary storage. These flasks are commonly used in biotech applications requiring uniform heating, such as chemical reactions.
Known for their triangular shape, Erlenmeyer flasks are versatile tools for holding solids or liquids that may splatter or release gas when heated. Their wide necks make them easy to handle, especially when secured with clamps or ring stands. These flasks are widely used in microbiology and diagnostics for tasks like culturing cells or heating solutions.
Beakers are general-purpose containers for mixing, stirring, and heating. Their spouts facilitate easy pouring, and they can be temporarily covered with watch glasses to prevent contamination. Test tubes, on the other hand, are indispensable for comparing specimens, conducting reactions, or processing samples in a microcentrifuge.
Concave and multipurpose, watch glasses can hold small amounts of liquids or solids for evaporation or weighing. They also serve as temporary covers for beakers, ensuring minimal exposure to contaminants during experiments.
Heating equipment is a cornerstone of many life science experiments, whether you're sterilizing tools, processing samples, or conducting reagents reactions. From precise temperature control to high heat applications, these tools ensure your lab operates efficiently and safely. Below are the essential heating devices for modern biotechnology labs:
Hot plates provide a controlled heat source, making them ideal for tasks where an open flame is not practical or safe. Common applications include heating beakers, flasks, or solutions requiring gentle and consistent warming. Hot plates are essential in cell culture labs and chromatography preparation workflows.
For labs needing an open flame, Bunsen burners remain a reliable choice. These burners are often paired with ring stands and clamps for heating test tubes or glassware. They're a staple in microbiology labs for sterilizing tools and conducting heat-intensive experiments.
Crucibles are small, heat-resistant containers designed for exposing samples to extremely high temperatures, often in ovens or over flames. Paired with crucible tongs, they allow safe handling of heated substances, making them indispensable for molecular biology workflows.
Used to ignite Bunsen burners, flint lighters are a necessary safety tool in labs where an open flame is part of the workflow. They are durable and designed for repeated use, ensuring consistent performance during heating tasks.
While primarily used for sample separation, some centrifuges generate heat as a byproduct of high-speed rotation. Modern models often feature temperature control, enabling dual functionality for tasks like cell culture preparation or nucleic acid extraction.
Equipping a life science lab with the right tools is critical for safety, accuracy, and functionality. This guide highlights essential lab equipment categories, including safety tools like goggles and eyewash stations, measurement glassware like graduated cylinders and volumetric flasks, and heating equipment such as hot plates and Bunsen burners. It also covers versatile tools like test tube racks, funnels, and droppers, along with must-have consumables and accessories.
While we’ve outlined the most common types of lab tools needed for daily operations, Excedr specializes in leasing advanced research equipment rather than general lab supplies. If you're looking for solutions like centrifuges, PCR machines, incubators, or imaging systems, we’re here to help. Leasing with Excedr allows you to access state-of-the-art equipment without the upfront costs, enabling your lab to stay efficient and innovative.
Ready to take your lab to the next level? Explore our equipment leasing solutions to see what we offer and request an estimate today.
