Abstract
The overall level of noise in a laboratory depends on a number of factors including the location of the laboratory, the materi- als used in construction of the building as well as the instrumentation and equip- ment used to carry out the tasks of the fa- cility. Since high noise levels can lead to a variety of medical issues for laboratory personnel and are regulated by govern- ment agencies, the laboratory manager must develop strategies to reduce the noise level to an acceptable level. In ad- dition, excessive noise levels can lead to potential hazards due to misunderstood verbal instructions. An excellent way to reduce the noise levels in the lab is to select devices that are designed to gener- ate less noise. An example is provided to demonstrate that selection of a device that is specifically designed for low noise output can significantly lower the noise level in the laboratory.