Laboratories

Laboratories, or labs, are controlled environments equipped for systematic investigation, analysis, and experimentation. They support scientific research, clinical diagnosis, quality control, and product development. Labs vary in scale and purpose, including research laboratories in academia and industry, clinical diagnostic laboratories that perform patient testing, industrial laboratories for materials testing and process development, forensic labs for criminal investigations, and educational labs that provide hands-on learning.

Facilities include workspaces, benches, fume hoods, containment areas, and specialized instrumentation. Common equipment includes microscopes, spectrometers, chromatographs, centrifuges, incubators, autoclaves, and cleanrooms. Data management is critical, with laboratory information management systems (LIMS), electronic notebooks, and standardized records.

Operations rely on standard operating procedures, calibration and maintenance, quality control, and compliance with safety and regulatory standards. Biosafety levels apply to handling infectious materials. Medical laboratories often follow ISO 15189; testing and calibration labs may follow ISO/IEC 17025. Ethical considerations and traceability are important for reliability and patient care.

Laboratories have evolved from early alchemical and experimental workspaces to modern, technology-driven facilities. They play a central role in science, medicine, and industry, enabling controlled experimentation and reproducible results while adhering to safety and ethical standards.