Setting up a testing laboratory requires more than choosing a room and purchasing equipment. The facility should be planned around its intended testing, samples and materials, hazards, quality requirements, and expected capacity. This guide outlines the major factors to address before the laboratory becomes operational.
What Is a Test Lab?
A test lab is a space designed to perform defined tests, analyses, or experiments under controlled conditions. Reliable results depend on the combined control of methods, equipment, environmental conditions, trained personnel, and data. Common laboratory applications include:
- Research and development — Laboratories support scientific research, product development, performance evaluation, and testing of medicines, medical devices, materials, and consumer products.
- Clinical — Clinical laboratories examine patient specimens to support diagnosis, treatment, and health monitoring under the requirements applicable to that testing.
- Analytical — Analytical laboratories measure chemical, physical, or microbiological properties of samples to support quality, environmental, safety, or process decisions.
- Academic — Academic laboratories support instruction, student exercises, and scientific research. Their controls should reflect the hazards and complexity of the work being performed.
How to Set Up a Test Lab
Laboratory requirements vary substantially by intended use. Begin with a documented assessment of the work, samples, hazards, methods, throughput, and applicable quality or regulatory requirements, then address the following considerations:
- Space and workflow — Map the process from sample or material receipt through preparation, testing, storage, and waste removal. Separate incompatible or contamination-sensitive activities where the risk assessment requires it. Allow for personnel and material flow, equipment clearances, service access, utilities, storage, emergency equipment, waste handling, and future expansion. Food, beverages, and break areas should remain outside laboratory work areas.
- Equipment, utilities, and furniture — Select instruments and engineering controls based on the intended methods, measurement needs, throughput, and hazards. Confirm utility, ventilation, exhaust, drainage, electrical, network, environmental, and load requirements before installation. Work surfaces and furniture should support safe work and be compatible with the processes and cleaning agents used. Define installation, qualification, certification, calibration, and maintenance activities before equipment is released for use.
- Supplies and storage — Identify consumables, reference materials, personal protective equipment, spill-response materials, and waste containers required for routine and emergency work. Storage should address compatibility, segregation, security, temperature, expiration dating, and traceability where applicable. An inventory system should prevent critical shortages without encouraging unnecessary stock or expired materials.
Other Test Lab Setup Considerations
In addition to the core considerations above, take the following factors into account as well:
- Requirements and permits — Applicable requirements may include building, fire, environmental, occupational safety, waste, biosafety, accreditation, and industry-specific quality requirements. Laboratories using hazardous chemicals, for example, may need a written Chemical Hygiene Plan under OSHA’s Laboratory Standard. Identify governing requirements early enough to incorporate permits, containment, emergency systems, documentation, and verification into the project.
- People and procedures — Involve laboratory users, quality, environmental health and safety, facilities, information technology, and other stakeholders during planning and acceptance. Establish approved methods, procedures, training, data controls, maintenance, and emergency arrangements before routine testing begins. Operational readiness is more important than occupying the space on an arbitrary date.
- Commissioning and operational readiness — Before use, verify that facility systems, engineering controls, environments, instruments, and methods perform as intended. Activities may include commissioning, qualification, certification, calibration, method validation or verification, and documented acceptance. Define the scope from intended use, risk, applicable requirements, manufacturer instructions, and the quality system.
Setting Up a Testing Laboratory with Technical Safety Services
Technical Safety Services supports laboratories with controlled environment testing and certification, commissioning, cGMP qualification and validation, equipment calibration, and technical documentation. Contact us today to discuss your project.
