Lab Management Methods Comparative Analysis

Productive research relies on combination of number of factors. While the initial scientific idea is undoubtedly a primary part of the successful research, the effective and well organized execution of the work is equally if not more important component of that same success. Chemical research has become ever more data intensive.1 The rapid development of the technology has similarly resulted in the production of new laboratory reagents, including DNA constructs, antibodies, and cell lines, at an exponential rate. Generating and maintaining reagent records have always been vital aspects of successfully running a research laboratory, and this was traditionally organized using paper records.2 Understanding the laboratory work ethics behind the fruitful research is vital in developing the successful executive agenda.3

During our studies we have examined over six hundred research laboratories and correlated the efficiency of the everyday work in terms of research quality to the group management approaches. We have found that even though no two laboratories operate in the same manner, and even the same laboratory may not operate under the same protocols over the time. However, there are some universal guidelines that are common in all the successful groups. More specifically, the well organized and actively maintained inventory leads to an increase in productivity and as a result to a vibrant and productive research results. Though all the factors of the day-to-day methodologies may not yet be systemized, the effective inventory maintenance may be summarized in a number of universal general rules that will be effective laboratory work tool regardless of the research field and scientific maturity of the research group.

This talk will be focused on the laboratory best practices and will demonstrate some examples of those techniques, such as RFID chips, bottle labeling tips and tricks and valuable materials consuming statististics.

1. Reichhardt, T. Nature, 1999, 399, 517.

2. Quigley D., Journal of clinical and health science, May/June 2012

3. Yousef, A.F, Baggili, I.M., Bartlett, G., Kane, M.D., Mymryk, J.S.,Journal of Laboratory Automation, 2011, 16, 82.