Diagnostic equipment decisions are total-cost-of-ownership decisions. Instrument unit price is typically a fraction of the lifetime cost — reagent supply, service contracts, consumables, and operator training dominate the lifetime cost.
Throughput vs menu trade-off: high-throughput platforms have higher per-test cost-efficiency but require sustained sample volume to justify; menu-flexible platforms cost more per test but adapt to changing demand. Match the platform to the realistic sample volume, not the aspirational one.
Reagent supply continuity: reagent supply is operationally critical. Confirm reagent availability in the destination market, lead times, cold-chain handling, and stock-buffer arrangements before instrument purchase. A great instrument with unreliable reagent supply is worse than a good instrument with reliable supply.
Service and uptime: diagnostic platforms need responsive service. Confirm the manufacturer's in-country service partner, response SLA, spare-parts availability, and operator-training schedule.
IVD regulatory: confirm CE-IVDR or FDA clearance for the specific assays you need, not just the instrument. Assay menu and instrument certification are separate questions.
Molecular specifically: high-complexity platforms (Hologic Panther, BioFire, GeneXpert) carry sophisticated assay menus and require dedicated training. The Panther / Aptima portfolio is our most-supplied molecular platform — see the Hologic page for the full menu.