Laboratory Layout

After deciding which equipment will be housed in a particular Laboratory or Laboratory area, the design and layout needs to be considered. Does the facility have both analysers and cell sorters? Does any equipment need to be isolated in any way? What are the physical footprints of the equipment? How much access space needs to be allowed? How many people can fit around a cytometer comfortably? Is there adequate corridor space within the Laboratory?
 

Use of a simple drawing program will allow design of the Laboratory at a paper stage and will allow multiple designs to be ‘tested’. Time spent on this is always worthwhile as getting it right at the beginning will save time and effort later! However, be aware as well that as equipment is replaced, new models may not be the same size or shape and re-design will be necessary.