How is laboratory and diagnostics equipment valued?
Laboratory and diagnostics equipment is valued under USPAP by platform, age, throughput, condition and the resale market for each class: chemistry and immunoassay analyzers, hematology, molecular and PCR systems, mass spectrometry, centrifuges and point-of-care devices. The first question is ownership: many lab analyzers are placed under reagent-rental or cost-per-test agreements and are not owned by the lab, so they cannot be appraised as its assets. Once ownership is confirmed, the premise follows the purpose.
By Jared Lukes · CEO & lead appraiser · June 1, 2026
First, confirm what is actually owned
Lab equipment has a wrinkle most asset classes do not: a large share of analyzers sit in the lab under reagent-rental or reagent-agreement arrangements, where the manufacturer places the instrument and the lab pays through consumables. Those instruments belong to the vendor, not the lab, so they do not belong in an appraisal of the lab's assets, and including them overstates value. We confirm title and the terms of any placement before anything goes in the report. This is the single most common error in lab valuations, and it is the first thing a careful reviewer checks.
What we appraise
- Clinical chemistry and immunoassay: standalone and integrated analyzers and lines.
- Hematology and coagulation: analyzers and slide makers.
- Molecular and PCR: extraction, amplification and sequencing platforms.
- Mass spectrometry and chromatography: LC-MS/MS, GC and HPLC systems.
- General lab: centrifuges, incubators, freezers, microscopes and point-of-care devices.
What drives the value
Platform generation and whether the system is still manufacturer-supported lead. Throughput and configuration matter, as does the instrument's place in a current testing menu, since a platform tied to discontinued assays loses value quickly. Service status, calibration and a documented maintenance history support value; orphaned or end-of-life instruments are discounted. The secondary market is real but uneven across categories, and that is where comparable evidence comes from.
Which premise applies
Once ownership is settled, the same analyzer carries different numbers depending on purpose: fair market value for a sale or lab transaction, a liquidation premise for a loan or wind-down, and fair market value as of a date for estate or partnership matters. Lab work sits inside our healthcare specialty. See the healthcare and medical equipment specialty.
Common questions
Answers, up front.
Why does ownership matter so much for lab analyzers?
Because many analyzers are placed under reagent-rental or cost-per-test agreements and belong to the vendor, not the lab. Those instruments are not the lab's assets and do not belong in an appraisal of them. Confirming title first is what keeps the value honest, and it is the first thing a reviewer checks.
What drives a lab analyzer's value?
Platform generation and manufacturer support, throughput and configuration, whether it serves a current testing menu, and service and calibration status. A platform tied to discontinued assays or out of support is discounted. Comparable evidence comes from the secondary market for that category.
Which value premise is used?
It depends on purpose: fair market value for a sale, a liquidation premise (OLV or NOLV) for a loan or wind-down, and fair market value as of a date for estate or partnership matters. We confirm the premise after confirming ownership.