The choice between new and used medical equipment is something that many labs and medical testing facilities don’t stop to consider. Most labs will immediately think if new equipment when they need to expand their testing facility or to replace equipment that is failing or nearing the end of its life cycle.
By not thinking about used or refurbished options in medical equipment, it is possible to actually miss incredible opportunities to purchase superior equipment at lower costs than new. However, the cost saving is just one of the factors in a case that can be made for considering used medical equipment over new.
Warranted Equipment
Not all companies specializing in used or refurbished medical equipment will provide a warranty. In most cases, used equipment is sold in tested condition while refurbished equipment, which is more thoroughly tested, serviced and repaired will have a warranty.
Choosing warranted equipment or buying like-new used equipment from a reputable company can provide you with confidence in the quality of the purchase. It also provides you with coverage should the equipment fail during the warranty period, just as with new.
Similar Models
Often labs choose used medical equipment to use an equipment manufacturer and model that works with their current lab needs and configuration. Working with equipment that is known to your staff and fully compatible with your systems means no downtime in getting everyone up to speed.
Sale of Existing Equipment
It may be possible to sell your surplus medical equipment to the laboratory equipment supplier. If this is the case look for a company that will arrange for shipping and can also assist with any decontamination of the equipment required.
The sale of existing medical laboratory equipment will free up space, help to reduce the cost of the purchase and also avoid your staff having to deal with the task. All of these factors can make choosing used over new the right option.