Essential Equipment for a Pharmaceutical Laboratory

Medicine production is a delicate process that demands attention to detail and proper practices. Additionally, specific devices and machinery are required to ensure accurate manufacturing processes. Here are five pieces of essential equipment found in every pharmaceutical laboratory.

Centrifuge

A centrifuge uses centrifugal force (a force that moves away from the center) to separate high- and low-density particles. Basically, this equipment can accurately remove contaminants from a fluid. Pharmaceutical laboratory technicians use centrifuges to organize various compounds found within a mixture. It can also calculate suspensions and emulsions and determine the molecular weight of colloids.

Autoclave

Every good laboratory requires clean tools and materials, especially in a pharmaceutical setting. An autoclave sterilizes objects using a heated, hermetically sealed chamber with high pressure and steam.

Autoclaves have thick walls that can easily withstand immense pressure, which is optimal for supporting high temperatures that easily kill off contaminants and microorganisms. This piece of equipment can’t clean every material found in the lab, as some items can’t handle scorching temperatures.

Dry and Water Bath

Some medicine requires testing in a controlled environment that’s completely free of contaminants. A dry bath is similar to an incubator, which can boil, thaw, and warm different specimens with precise temperatures and real-time monitoring.

Water baths are also quite similar to incubators but can transfer heat faster and more effectively than dry baths. Additionally, the heat distribution is more consistent and stretched out over longer periods of time. Water baths are mainly used to heat up flammable materials in place of an open flame.

Mixers/Shakers

There are two main types of mixers found in pharmaceutical laboratories: bench and vortex mixers. Both function similarly, as their purpose is to spin liquids at high speeds.

This process creates controlled reactions and homogenization that provides data on the characteristics of a medicine sample. This machine also helps mix the reagents of an assay, along with diluting a sample and suspending cells.

Laser Markers

Pharmaceuticals require accurate labeling to meet strict federal guidelines for medicinal manufacturing. As a technician, you want to ensure that medicine clearly displays proper names and amounts.

That’s where laser marking machines come into play! These devices quickly and efficiently place words and numbers onto sensitive items like pills, tubes, and packaging. Interestingly enough, there are many industrial applications for marking machines!

Understanding the essential equipment found in every pharmaceutical laboratory can give you better insight into the ethics and practices of this industry. Trust in medicine production is paramount for any society, and luckily, these devices ensure safety and effectiveness for the general public and patients.