Thread by @MartinBJensen

#SciTwitter After a lot of research and asking around, I'm making the lab equipment recommendations 🧵 I wish I'd had 2 months ago. RT/share with a #newPI or startup 🔬⚗️🛒
Note, much of the equipment hasn't arrived yet, will add comments after actual use.

https://twitter.com/MartinBJensen/status/1458912689082679302?s=20

-80 #freezer
Two clear winners: PHC (@panasonic) and Stirling Ultracold. Both low energy, quiet, reliable. We went with PHC because I know those to last many years, and slightly cheaper.
Thanks @MarcoJost_ @letUbeU @aryelipman #MBCBiolabs

-20 #freezer
Less clear, many viable options. We ended up getting a split of PHC MDF -30 (recommended as quieter) and much cheaper Corepoint Scientific/@VWR, will see which we prefer. Thermo hasn't failed #MBCbiolabs, but $$$ and several people said poor customer support.

Manual vs Auto defrost?
I never really resolved whether auto defrost accelerate reagent failure. Some autos use sublimation rather than heating to prevent ice, so don't go much above -20. And clearly many use them without disaster. We went manual, in part due to availability.

CO2 incubator
No clear winner, people recommended Heracell, PHC, and @Eppendorf_USA. We went with CellXpert C170i partly because we've used before. Logs temp+O2, claims low gas usage, and size works for #AAV production. Got air jacket + full copper for reduced contamination risk.

Tissue culture hood
Labconco C2A2 is very standard, NuAire is "nicer" and pricier. Make sure you get the width you want. This item is often available used, and no concerns as long as you decontaminate properly.

Shaking #incubator
New Brunswick 42/44s from @Eppendorf_Group are clear favorites. They have a new S44i w 25% more internal capacity than 44, same external dimensions. Our offer made it a great choice, but note installation costs are higher so include that in your comparison.

Centrifuges
@BCILifeSciences for high-speed floor. Most wear is on rotors, so you can get used but with new rotors (need to find 2nd hand warranty then). We got new J-E model, due to discounts. @Eppendorf_Group for all the smaller benchtop centrifuges.

Ultrapure water
Close call between MilliQ Direct and @AviditySciUK Duo iSeries. Avidity is a bit cheaper and has cheaper maintenance. Users reported ~same reliability, but faster service from Avidity. MilliQ can wall mount though, which saves space. Either would have worked.

FACS
We tested @BioRadFlowAbs S3e and @Sony SH800. Both in $200k range, ~2', and less maintance than Aria. 3 color but colinear. Sony has 3 "nozzle" sizes, BioRad only 100um. BioRad >50% faster and no separate compressor cart, Sony better software. We went BioRad, and like it.

Plate reader
Needed multimode. Close call btwn @moldev 3id and @Tecan_Talk Spark. Both ~$30k, 3id claims better UI, Spark lower contract cost and claim better support. Went Tecan, also due to praise from fluorescence nerd friends. BioTek synergy 2 seemed popular lower-end option.

Fluorescence microscope
Picked @LeicaMicro DM IL as best in the ~$25k range, due to great optics, customer support, and upgradeable. EVOS is clearly worse image quality, and the fancy features in no makes up for that.

qPCR
Very happy we tested @AnalytikJena_US qTOWER (redoing a prior run). Smaller footprint than QuantStudio/Lightcycler, cheaper, longer warranty, has everything we want in a qPCR (e.g. save data after each cycle). Plus it looks like it might evolve AGI and start running the lab.

Cell counter
We got an EVE Plus from Nanoentek, who make the Countess for @thermofisher. ~same $3k price, faster and much better at resolving clumps of cells, but bigger (size of a 5910 centrifuge) and UI less smooth. Which one wins depends on your needs (#InVivo means clumps).