Abstract

GALVAN, P. Evaluation of the scientific-laboratory equipment of the National University of Asunción. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2003, vol.2, n.1, pp.20-28. ISSN 1812-9528.

The purpose of this study was to diagnose the operating quality of the laboratory equipment and the technological management performed at the laboratories of the National University of Asuncion (UNA). The study population (n = 246 units) was defined by criteria of installation, operation and adequate usage of a group of 46 different types of laboratory equipment from seven faculties and four research and specialised service institutes. Using a standardised questionnaire, five pre¬determined parameters of equipment quality were evaluated. Data analysis was done by descriptive statistics and the hypothesis was tested with non-parametric statistics for qualitative variables (chi-square). On 246 selected equipment units, 56.1% corresponded to teaching/research laboratories and 43.9% to services. The maximum quality level reached was "regular" going from 90.7 % to 84.6% out of the total number of evaluated equipment units for the parameters general condition and electric condition respectively. The level of "deficient" varied from 9.3% to 15.4% for the same parameters. The maintenance performed in 78.5% of the equipment was only corrective and in 21.5% “on demand”. Significant differences were not observed in equipment quality between laboratories (RR: 1.49 to 1.79) but there was a significant difference between the two types of maintenance performed in the equipment units (RR: 6.24 to 24.28; p < 0.0001). In conclusion, this study shows that the low level of operation quality of laboratory equipment is attributable to the defective management of maintenance and quality control of the equipment units.

Keywords : Laboratory; scientific; equipment; quality; operation.

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