Questions to Ask Before Buying a Used HPLC
A used HPLC is rarely a bad instrument; it is usually a bad package. Most disappointments come from software licensing, module mismatch or a model nobody will service — all knowable before you pay.
About the system itself
- What is the model and serial number of every module, and are they from one system?
- Is it conventional HPLC or UHPLC-capable, and does that match my methods?
- Which detector is fitted, and what are its options and flow cell?
- What are the lamp hours, and is a spare lamp included?
- What is the autosampler's injection volume range and tray configuration?
- Is there a column oven, and what temperature range and column capacity?
- Is the flow path standard or biocompatible?
About condition and evidence
- Can I see it powered up and running, in person or on video?
- Is there a recent system suitability or performance check report for this serial number?
- When were the pump seals, plungers and check valves last replaced?
- Are there leak, pressure-ripple, baseline-noise and injector-precision results?
- What faults or error codes are known?
- When was it last used in routine work, and for what?
About software — where most deals fail
- Which chromatography data system, which version, and which licence?
- Will you confirm in writing that the licence transfers to us?
- Are instrument control drivers available for these exact modules and firmware?
- Will it run on an operating system that our IT will support?
- For regulated work: audit trail, user management and data-integrity features?
- Is the controlling computer included, with dongles, licence files and media?
About service supportability
- Is the model still supported by the manufacturer or a third-party engineer?
- Are parts still available, including detector lamps and pump seals?
- Can I buy a service contract, and has anyone quoted it?
- Who will install it and verify performance on our site?
About history and clearance
- What was run on it — biological, radiological or hazardous matrices?
- Is there a signed decontamination or release declaration?
- Why is it being sold: upgrade, closure, method change or a persistent fault?
- Can I see the service and repair history?
About the commercial terms
- Is it sold as-is, tested or refurbished, and is that defined on the invoice?
- What warranty applies, for how long, covering what, honoured by whom?
- What acceptance criteria must it meet on our site, and is payment tied to that?
- Who pays de-installation, crating, freight, insurance and customs?
- What return rights exist if it does not perform as described?
Cost checklist before you commit
- Purchase price
- De-installation and crating at the seller's site
- Freight, insurance, duty
- Installation, plumbing, gases, bench space
- Immediate consumables: seals, lamp, columns, tubing, fittings
- CDS licence or new seat
- Qualification and method transfer effort
- Contingency for an early failure
Why we do not publish a price
Real transaction values depend on configuration, condition, accessories, software licensing, service supportability, location, removal cost and timing. Any single published figure would be wrong for most units. What follows is what actually moves the number, and what to supply so a valuation can be given against your specific instrument.
How Laboratory Vortex fits in
Laboratory Vortex is an independent laboratory sourcing, marketplace and intelligence platform. We are not an equipment dealer, we do not take possession of equipment, and we do not publish what you submit. You describe the requirement or the asset once; we review it and use it to identify appropriate sourcing or disposition routes.