It’s a rule of the universe: laboratory equipment rarely fails on a convenient schedule.
An analyzer may begin producing intermittent error messages during the morning rush. A centrifuge may require another service visit only weeks after its last repair. A refrigerator that has performed reliably for years may suddenly struggle to maintain its required temperature range.
Each event can appear manageable on its own. Staff troubleshoot the problem, call a technician, move specimens, adjust schedules, and keep the laboratory running.
Over time, however, those workarounds carry a cost.
