Life Science Tools of the Trade

I couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy when I heard the sales rep explain that the glove samples were “spritzed with glycerol”! Was that “for my pleasure” or ”for her pleasure”? I didn’t ask but it was way too close to a condom advertisement. The attractive disease-like pale green color was another real plus! Out of morbid curiosity, I tried on the sample glove which did not really fit like a glove. Verdict: Sorry, I don’t need lubricated colored gloves with reservoir tips.

It seems like not a month goes by when some guy with a flyer from some no-name company, a balance (maybe) and some rubber o-rings stops by the lab with an offer to “calibrate and repair” the pipetmen at ”a very competitive price”. Like the oil cartel and airlines, the prices are always in a very narrow range but unfortunately, the quality is not. I’ve seen a joker try and use a spring from a ballpoint pen and gaskets from Home Depot. I had the best luck with the Ranin repair woman but they haven’t returned several recent calls for quotes/service.