DOES THE USE OF SECOND HAND INSTRUMENTATION MEAN THE PRODUCTION OF SECOND HAND RESULTS?

The similarities between scientists choice of their own personal consumer products such as Cars, HiFi’s, Flat screen TV etc paid for using their own (hard earned) cash and their rationale displayed when spending the companies money on a new LC-MS for example for the lab is probably closer than most would care to admit. Assuming colour is not their most important criteria of importance, as with cars, then many of the time honoured criteria come into play. Does it do the job I want it to do, value for money, fit for purpose, service costs, previous experience with specific suppliers, and total cost of ownership, take their place on the ‘ticked box’ list and of course vary between individuals faced with purchasing an Instrument to do the same specific job in a laboratory.