Research and material analysis labs use test and measurement analytical instruments such as spectrometers, chromatography machines, rheometers and thermal analysis apparatus. Laboratory equipment and scientific instruments operate in a strictly controlled environment, so the components used in their manufacture, such as power supplies, must meet exacting specifications. Power supplies for analytical instrumentation require careful attention to critical performance criteria. Voltage ripple, long- and short-term stability, repeatability and accuracy are important factors in the consideration of reliable scientific data. Analytical instruments used in the laboratory require precise power supplies with consistent performance. As analytical instrumentation is increasingly used in production process control, then reliability and quality are equally important in the considerations for power supply specification.
Analytical instruments are commonly used in fields as diverse as biotechnology, materials science, healthcare, forensics, environmental sciences, and homeland security, in a range of applications including process and quality test equipment, water testing and analysis devices, and water and fluid analyzers.