A glove box consists of a sealed box with the inside accessible only by gloves. Though their uses are expanding, they are essentially utilized for two basic purposes: Protect what you work on from the environment, such as an analytic balance on a production floor, or protect you from what you work on, such as a virus. Despite the fact that most glove boxes provide a relatively simple process, different applications require different boxes.
Top 4 Signs That You Should Service or Replace Your Glove Box
- The glove box no longer safely contains the hazardous materials the lab is working with.
- You are starting to get into new applications that aren’t supported by your current unit. For example, a microbiologist might want an anaerobic glove box for anaerobic bacterial cultures.
- Staff are experiencing ergonomic issues with the current box, such as gloves not fitting correctly or the gloves being poorly placed for users to reach comfortably.
- The unit is either too small for the work being done in the lab or is taking up too much space in the lab for the work being done.
Top 5 Questions That You Should Ask When Buying a Glove Box
- What applications are you using the glove box for? This will determine exactly what you will need in a glove box, such as an oxygen-free atmosphere, etc.
- Are the incubation and processing separated in order to prevent contamination? This is important if you will be using the glove box for cell culture.
- How much will the glove box cost to acquire and maintain? Are warranties offered? Custom glove boxes are the most expensive, so if a standard model can fit your needs that is probably the better way to go. Making small customizations to an off-the-shelf model is also another less costly option than a fully-custom unit.
- What are your future needs? This will help determine if the smallest unit is really the best option or if a larger option which can accommodate future expansion would make more sense.
- What sort of safety features does the glove box have? These are especially important if you are working with very hazardous materials.
Article courtesy of LabManager Magazine
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