laboratoriumomstandigheden

A laboratory, commonly abbreviated as lab, is a facility dedicated to performing scientific research, testing, analysis, and experimentation. Laboratories provide controlled environments where measurements can be made, hypotheses tested, and data collected. They range from tiny university benches to large industrial complexes and national research centers.

Fields of study determine the design and equipment of a laboratory. Academic laboratories support basic and applied research; clinical laboratories conduct diagnostic testing; industrial and government labs focus on product development, environmental monitoring, or materials analysis; forensic labs analyze evidence for legal investigations. Some labs are mobile or field-based, while others operate as cleanrooms or biosafety facilities.

Typical laboratories are organized into specialized work areas and equipped with instruments such as microscopes, spectrometers, chromatographs, incubators, and analytical balances. They rely on controlled factors like temperature, humidity, ventilation, and cleanliness. Information management, including electronic lab notebooks and laboratory information management systems, is essential for traceability.

Safety and quality are core concerns. Laboratories implement risk assessments, waste handling protocols, and PPE procedures, and may pursue accreditation to standards such as ISO 15189 for medical labs or ISO/IEC 17025 for testing and calibration laboratories. Compliance, training, and regular calibration of equipment help ensure reliable results.

Historically, laboratories emerged from early natural philosophy spaces and chemical workshops and evolved with advances in measurement and instrumentation. Modern laboratories underpin science, medicine, industry, and public policy by enabling controlled experimentation, reproducible results, and the verification of new methods and products. The term laboratory derives from the Latin laboratorium, and cognate forms appear in many languages, including laboratorium, laboratorio, and laboratoire.