Top 5 Questions You Should Ask When Buying a UV-VIS Spectrophotometer
- For what applications will you be using the instrument for? This will help you determine the detection range you require. Don’t forget to consider future applications that may require a broader range.
- What range of stray light performance are you comfortable with for your application and budget?
- Consider what sort of samples you’ll be working with in order to determine what absorbance range you will need in your UV-Vis spectrophotometer. For example, if it is a turbid or concentrated liquid or a solid sample that is optically thick, you may require a working absorbance range between 5 Å and 8 Å or higher.
- What level of throughput and reliability do you need?
- How much will the instrument cost? Don’t forget to factor in the cost of maintenance, etc. along with the cost of acquisition.
Types of UV-Vis spectrophotometers used by survey respondents:
| Single beam | 41% |
| Dual beam | 45% |
| Array based | 11% |
| Handheld | 3% |
According to survey respondents, performance verification tests wavelength accuracy, stray light, resolution etc. are performed…
| Annually | 36% |
| Every six months | 16% |
| Quarterly | 12% |
| Monthly | 10% |
| After every use | 3% |
| Never | 13% |
| Don't know | 11% |
Nearly 33% of respondents plan on purchasing a new UV-Vis spectrophotometer in the next year. The reasons for these purchases are as follows:
 | Replacing an older spectrophotometer |  |
 | Addition to existing systems |
 | Need an instrument that provides faster acquisition and analysis of data |
 | Need an instrument that provides excellent reproducibility |
 | Need an instrument that is simple to operate and maintain |
 | Need an instrument that has a broad range of accessories |
 | Other |
Top 10 features/factors respondents look for when purchasing a UV-VIS spectrophotometer:
| Excellent reproducibility | 82% |
| Wavelength accuracy | 75% |
| Ease of use | 74% |
| Better sensitivity and resolution | 72% |
| Ease of maintenance/low operating costs | 68% |
| Price | 54% |
| Warranties | 45% |
| Safety | 44% |
| Faster acquisition and analysis of data | 42% |
| Sample volume | 39% |
Completed Surveys: 285
For more information on UV-VIS spectrophotometers, including useful articles and a list of manufacturers, visit www.labmanager.com/uv-vis
See the most recent survey results here
