When setting up a physiology lab, having the right equipment is crucial for performing accurate research, teaching, and clinical work. Physiology labs serve a broad range of purposes, from analysing human performance to diagnosing medical conditions. In this post, we’ll explore the importance of physiology labs, what they are used for, and how HaB Direct can help you equip your lab with industry-leading technology.
Physiology labs are essential in sports science, medicine, and rehabilitation. Whether you’re measuring oxygen consumption, muscle activity, or body composition, the tools in a physiology lab help researchers, clinicians, and educators gain a deeper understanding of human performance and health.
Setting Up a Physiology Lab: A Step-by-Step Guide
Building a physiology lab involves more than just acquiring the right equipment; it requires careful planning, budgeting, and selecting the right environment for optimal performance. Here are the key steps to follow when setting up your lab:
Planning and Defining Your Lab’s Purpose
Begin by identifying the primary focus of your lab. Will it be used for clinical diagnostics, human performance research, or educational purposes? Defining your lab’s objectives will help you prioritise the types of equipment you need.
Budgeting
Establish a clear budget that includes not only the initial cost of equipment but also installation, maintenance, and future upgrades. HaB Direct offers equipment options for different price ranges, allowing you to choose products that suit your financial requirements without compromising on quality.
Selecting the Right Space
Ensure that the lab space is large enough to accommodate your equipment and has adequate ventilation, lighting, and electrical access. Certain devices, such as the POWERbreathe Altitude and Environment Systems, may require specific conditions for safe operation.
Choosing Your Equipment
Based on your lab’s purpose and budget, select the right combination of products that meet your specific needs. Whether you’re focused on body composition analysis, metabolic testing, or cardiopulmonary exercise, HaB Direct offers a wide range of high quality tools, including Bodystat’s Quadscan 4000, Monark Ergometers, and Roche Cobas b 101 Blood Analyser.
Installation and Calibration
Proper installation and calibration are essential for accurate results. HaB Direct provides expert installation services to ensure that all equipment is set up correctly and functions optimally from day one.
Training and Support
Once your lab is set up, it’s important that your staff is trained to use the equipment effectively. HaB Direct offers comprehensive training services, ensuring that you and your team are well-versed in operating and maintaining the devices for accurate data collection.
Must-Have Equipment for Your Physiology Lab
At HaB Direct, we offer a wide range of products to support all facets of physiology lab work, from cutting-edge diagnostic tools to advanced performance testing equipment. Below are some key products to consider when building your lab:
Body Composition and Diagnostics
Bodystat Quadscan 4000 Touch Screen
The Bodystat Quadscan 4000 Touch Screen uses advanced bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to deliver precise body composition assessments. It measures parameters such as fat mass, muscle mass, and hydration levels. This is particularly valuable in both medical and sports science applications where tracking body composition changes over time is crucial. Benefits include:
- Accurate assessments of body fat and muscle mass for both athletes and patients.
- Hydration monitoring for improved athletic performance and recovery.
- Non-invasive and fast, making it ideal for regular health check-ups and fitness evaluations.
Bodystat Quadscan 4000 Touch Screen
The Bodystat QuadScan 4000 Body Composition, Fluid and Illness / Segmental Monitoring Unit is perfect for quick, easy, economical and non-invasive fluid assessment and body composition analysis.
A multi-frequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analyser, the Bodystat® QuadScan 4000 offers an immediate and accurate alternative to other methods of fluid assessment and Body Composition analysis, such as underwater weighing or radioisotope dilution.
seca mBCA 555 Body Composition Analyser
This medical-grade body composition analyser delivers precise measurements of body fat, muscle mass, and water content. It provides segmental analysis of fat and muscle distribution, making it particularly useful for clinics, research facilities, and performance labs. Key benefits include:
- High precision in fat, muscle, and water measurements.
- Segmental analysis, which helps identify asymmetries in muscle or fat distribution.
- It is medically validated for clinical use, ensuring reliable results for medical assessments.
seca mBCA 555 Body Composition Analyser
The seca mBCA 555 is a medical body composition analyser. Medically validated, the seca mBCA 55 offers outstanding precision and accuracy; along with a user-friendly and practical Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) solution, with an optional ultrasound length measurement and brilliant cloud-based software.
seca 711 Mechanical Column Weighing Scales
The seca 711 scales are known for their durability and accuracy in measuring weight. Their classic design makes them a trusted option in both clinical and research settings. Benefits include:
- Long-lasting reliability, ideal for high-traffic use in clinics.
- High accuracy for weight measurements, essential for body composition assessments.
- No need for power, ensuring ease of use in various settings.
Read our Complete Body Measurement Guide for Fitness Assessments blog to explore various body measurement techniques that are essential for fitness assessments.
seca 711 Mechanical Column Weighing Scales
The Seca 711 Mechanical Column Scale is a highly functional mechanical column scale with an eye-level beam.
It offers more precision with the 100 g graduation and a higher capacity of up to 220 kg and more convenience from the very flat, large platform and the eye-level beam.
Performance Testing and Metabolic Analysis
Douglas Bags
Widely considered the gold standard for gas exchange analysis, these bags are used to assess oxygen consumption and basal metabolic rates during exercise​. Key benefits include:
- Precise measurement of oxygen consumption, vital for VO2 max testing.
- Durability and reliability, making them a go-to for high-level research and testing environments.
- Used in a range of settings, from elite athlete performance testing to clinical diagnostics of metabolic conditions.
Douglas Bag Cart Systems
The custom built HaB Douglas Bag Collection System.
The HaB Douglas Bag Collection System is custom built by our highly skilled technical engineers and can be used in conjunction with either the Hitech or Servomex Gas Analysis units.
Clinical Chemistry and Blood Analysis
Biosen C-Line by EKF Diagnostics
A top choice for measuring glucose and lactate levels with high precision. It’s commonly used in both sports and clinical settings to assess metabolic functions​. Benefits include:
- High accuracy in both glucose and lactate measurements, essential for performance testing and diabetes monitoring.
- Fast results, allowing for real-time analysis during exercise or medical assessments.
- Compact design, making it easy to integrate into various lab setups.
EKF Diagnostics Biosen C-Line Glucose and Lactate Analyser
The Biosen C-Line is an advanced analyser for precise glucose and lactate measurement. It features fast, accurate testing with low-cost per test, a user-friendly colour touch screen, and expanded memory. Enhanced connectivity ensures seamless integration with lab systems. Available in single or dual-channel configurations, it’s perfect for clinical and sports applications, offering reliable results with minimal maintenance.
Roche Cobas b 101 Blood Analyser
A compact and highly accurate device for testing lipids and HbA1c. It’s perfect for use in both research and clinical environments, offering fast and reliable results​. Its benefits include:
- Quick, reliable results for managing cardiovascular and diabetes-related risks.
- Compact size, making it easy to use in smaller labs or mobile clinics.
- Designed for use in both sports science and medical diagnostics.
Read our blog From Droplet to Diagnosis: The Power of Point-of-Care Blood Analysers to understand the capabilities and applications of Point-Of-Care Blood analysers.
Roche Cobas b 101 Blood Analyser
The Roche cobas b 101 is a one-stop in vitro diagnostics (IVD), point of care (Poc) device for the quantitative evaluation of clinical chemistry assays and immunoassays using the cobas b 101 test discs to measure HbA1c, lipids and CRP.
Respiratory and Environmental Testing
Ganshorn Powercube Ergo Measuring Module
A powerful module for cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), this system is designed to measure both lung function and metabolic activity under stress. Benefits include:
- Comprehensive CPET analysis, crucial for evaluating cardiovascular and respiratory health.
- Highly accurate metabolic measurements, perfect for advanced performance testing.
- Suitable for both clinical and sports science settings.
Read our blog Understanding Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) and Advanced CPET Systems to delve into the intricacies of CPET, focusing on two advanced CPET systems. Additionally, read how HaB direct provided Newcastle University with a Treadmill Ergometer ideal for Cardiopulmonary testing.
Ganshorn Powercube Ergo Measuring Module
Ganshorn Ergospirometry is tested to the max, and is proven reliable technology.
With the PowerCube-Ergo Gain you can gain valuable information for diagnosis, therapy or training support. The Ganshorn PowerCube-Ergo is the ideal system for measuring and the evaluation of breathing gases O2/ CO2 under load.
POWERbreathe Altitude and Environment Systems
These systems allow you to simulate high-altitude environments and test subjects under various oxygen levels, making it ideal for sports science and human performance research. They are ideal for:
- High-altitude training simulation, perfect for athlete performance testing.
- Environmental testing, offering insights into how different conditions impact respiratory and metabolic functions.
- Essential for sports science labs focused on endurance and performance research.
POWERbreathe Breathing Training Devices
These devices are used to strengthen respiratory muscles, improving lung function in athletes and patients with respiratory conditions. Key benefits include:
- Improves lung function and respiratory muscle strength, crucial for both athletes and patients.
- Portable and easy to use, ideal for in-lab or at-home training.
- Scientifically proven to aid in performance enhancement and rehabilitation.
Find out how to Train Like an Olympian with POWERbreathe respiratory muscle training devices.
Ergometers
Monark Ergometers
We offer a range of Monark cycle ergometers suited for everything from basic fitness testing to advanced sports science research:
- Monark 894e: Perfect for anaerobic testing and high-intensity interval training.
- Monark LC7TT: Ideal for metabolic tests and professional athlete training.
- Monark LC6 Novo Duo: Offers versatile performance testing options for both clinical and research applications.
- Monark EVO/EVO+: High-performance bikes designed for athletes aiming to improve their cycling performance. Additionally, it is compatible with Zwift so you can race anywhere, any time against people all over the globe.
h/p/cosmos gaitway 3D and zebris FDM Integrated System
This cutting-edge treadmill system offers 3D gait analysis with pressure sensors integrated into the belt. It allows for a comprehensive study of movement and force, making it invaluable for both research and clinical rehabilitation.Â
Key benefits include:
- 3D gait analysis to measure movement, balance, and pressure distribution.
- Integrated data generation, allowing for a complete assessment of an individual’s biomechanics.
- Measures reaction forces in three directions (Fz, Fy, Fx), Center of Pressure (Opx, Opy), Moments (Mx, My), and Frictional Torque (Tz).
- Ideal for both clinical rehabilitation and sports performance labs.
h/p/cosmos gaitway 3D Instrumented Treadmill Ergometer
The new gaitway 3D is a joint design by h/p/cosmos and Arsalis. It measures the ground reaction forces and torques in three directions and comes in three different sizes: each size is optimized for a range of speeds.
The gaitway 3D offers a rigid construction to record optimal quality signals. The functionalities include a patient weighing scale, a recording of the ground reaction forces at rates up to 10 kHz, left and right force measurement for the vertical force during walking and an extensive list of biomechanical parameters of normal and pathological gaits.
In 2023, Aberystwyth University installed the h/p/cosmos gaitway 3D to enhance their research capabilities in biomechanics and movement analysis. The system plays a crucial role in studying human motion for rehabilitation, sports performance, and academic research. Read the case study: HaB’s h/p/cosmos Gaitway 3D Installation at Aberystwyth University.
Agility and Reflex Testing
Sportreact Agility Starter Kit
A 2-in-1 agility kit and timing gate. Perfect for testing and improving reaction times, this kit provides dynamic agility and reflex training for both athletes and rehabilitation patients.
The Sportreact Kit is portable and easy to set up, allowing for versatile use in both lab and field environments.
Sportreact Reactive Agility Starter Kit
The Sportsreact Starter Kit is a versatile training tool, merging a 2-in-1 timing gate and reaction lights agility system to improve physical and cognitive abilities. Tailored for athletes aiming to boost speed, agility, and reaction time, it offers intuitive training sessions for individuals or groups. Track progress in areas like Focus, Speed, Coordination, Balance, Endurance, and beyond, fostering an innovative approach to athletic development.
Why Choose HaB Direct?
With over 30 years of experience, HaB Direct offers a carefully curated selection of products from industry-leading brands. We are the exclusive distributors for brands such as Monark, Bodystat, and Noraxon, providing UK customers with top-tier equipment that meets the highest standards in sports science, clinical diagnostics, and rehabilitation.
Whether you’re setting up a new lab or upgrading your existing facilities, HaB Direct offers the advice, products, and support you need to create a world-class physiology lab.
Find out how we provided Football recovery equipment for Newcastle United FC.
Find out how we Enhanced Educational Labs at Oaklands College.
