Buying New vs Used Lab Equipment

The purchase decision should not be taken lightly, or solely driven by price. Careful consideration is necessary before venturing into buying used lab equipment such as biological safety cabinets (BSC), CO2 Incubators, Centrifuges, or other laboratory equipment, instruments and lab furniture. Used laboratory equipment comes with the inherent risk of pre-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. Refurbished lab equipment is also more likely to lack current technology which improves safety and functionality. In addition to performance and safety, lower upfront costs do not guarantee a lower total cost of ownership. A new equipment purchase offers improved technology and greater energy efficiency not available on even a very well maintained used unit. This white paper will provide insight into key considerations during the process of buying new vs used laboratory equipment.