Proposed Plan for a Cell and Molecular Biology Laboratory
1. General Vision of the Laboratory
Objective: To establish a multifunctional university laboratory that supports teaching, training, and research in:
Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Cell Culture
DNA/RNA Biology
PCR/qPCR
Protein Biology
Microscopy
Basic Genomics
Cellular Imaging
Biotechnology
The proposed design is based on functional separation between work areas and minimizing the back-and-forth movement of samples and materials, while preventing cross-contamination. This is consistent with the WHO approach, which places risk assessment and user requirements at the foundation of facility design.
2. Proposed Total Area
For a medium-sized university laboratory, a total area of approximately 180–250 m² may be adopted. This should not be regarded as a mandatory standard value, but rather as an initial planning model.
The space can be approximately distributed as follows:
| Area | Proposed Area |
|---|---|
| Reception / Transition Area | 10–15 m² |
| Cell Biology Laboratory | 30–40 m² |
| Cell Culture Room | 20–25 m² |
| Molecular Biology Laboratory – Pre-PCR | 25–30 m² |
| PCR/qPCR Laboratory | 20–25 m² |
| DNA/Protein Analysis Area | 20–25 m² |
| Microscopy and Imaging Room | 15–20 m² |
| Equipment / Cold Storage Room | 15–20 m² |
| Washing, Decontamination and Waste Area | 10–15 m² |
| Office / Preparation and Monitoring Area | 10–15 m² |
Important note: These areas are an initial conceptual planning proposal, not engineering or code-required dimensions. Final dimensions must be determined based on the number of users, equipment, circulation routes, ventilation and electrical requirements, and local building regulations.
3. Proposed Functional Layout
The laboratory workflow can be envisioned as follows:
┌───────────────────────┐
Core Concept
Pre-PCR → PCR → Post-PCR
The functional separation of these areas should be maintained as much as possible because the transfer of amplification products into preparation areas can cause PCR contamination and compromise the validity of results.
4. Area One: Laboratory Entrance and Transition Area
Functions
Access control.
Donning personal protective equipment (PPE).
Storage of coats and appropriate clothing.
Safety instructions.
Handwashing.
Access to emergency information.
Equipment
Hand-washing sink.
PPE storage.
Laboratory safety signage.
Emergency contact information.
First-aid provisions according to risk assessment.
Eyewash, where required.
5. Area Two: Cell Biology Laboratory
Activities
Cell studies.
Preparation of cellular samples.
Microscopic examination.
Cell counting.
Sample preparation for experiments.
Educational Cell Biology applications.
Basic Equipment
Research microscope.
Inverted microscope.
Centrifuge.
Microcentrifuge.
Cell counter.
Water bath.
pH meter.
Analytical balance.
Refrigerator.
Freezer.
Pipettes.
Vortex mixer.
Magnetic stirrer.
6. Cell Culture Room
This area should be more organized and controlled than the general workspace.
Main Equipment
Class II Biological Safety Cabinet, when required based on risk assessment.
CO₂ incubator.
Inverted microscope.
Centrifuge.
Refrigerator.
Freezer.
Appropriate vacuum system.
Water bath or suitable heating system.
Cell counter.
The WHO indicates that the selection of a Biological Safety Cabinet and primary containment systems should be based on risk assessment and the nature of the activities rather than on a single rule applicable to all laboratories.
Important Operational Requirements
Minimize personnel movement.
Do not use the room for random storage.
Separate clean materials from used materials.
Perform regular cleaning and disinfection.
Monitor incubators.
Maintain a system for handling spills and waste.
7. Molecular Biology Laboratory – Pre-PCR
This is one of the most important areas in the design.
Functions
Reagent preparation.
Master Mix preparation.
Sample preparation.
DNA/RNA extraction.
Preparation of PCR reactions prior to amplification.
Equipment
PCR workstation, when required.
Micropipettes.
Microcentrifuge.
Vortex.
Heating block.
Refrigerator.
Freezer.
DNA/RNA quantification system.
Nucleic acid extraction equipment.
Fundamental Principle
Materials or equipment should not be returned from the Post-PCR area to the Pre-PCR area.
This is one of the most important measures for controlling contamination in the molecular laboratory.
8. PCR / qPCR Room
Equipment
Conventional PCR thermal cycler.
Real-Time PCR system.
Computer/workstation.
Refrigerator/freezer.
Appropriate pipettes.
Design Considerations
Temperature control.
Stable electrical supply.
UPS or an appropriate power source for critical equipment.
Adequate space around equipment for maintenance.
Proper cable management.
Avoidance of equipment overcrowding.
9. Post-PCR and DNA Analysis Area
This area should be functionally separated from the Pre-PCR area.
Equipment
Gel electrophoresis system.
Power supply.
Gel documentation system.
DNA visualization system.
Spectrophotometer/fluorometer.
Computer workstation.
Hazards
Molecular contamination.
Electrical hazards.
Chemicals used in certain detection systems.
Radiation/light used in certain imaging systems, depending on the equipment.
10. Protein Analysis Area
Activities
Protein extraction.
Protein quantification.
Electrophoresis.
Protein visualization.
Western blot-related workflows.
Possible Equipment
Electrophoresis system.
Power supply.
Protein transfer system.
Gel documentation system.
Microcentrifuge.
Vortex.
Heating block.
Refrigerator/freezer.
11. Microscopy & Imaging Room
It is preferable to locate this room separately from areas subject to vibration and noise.
Equipment
Bright-field microscope.
Inverted microscope.
Fluorescence microscope.
Digital imaging system.
Camera system.
Computer workstation.
Design Requirements
Minimize vibration.
Control lighting.
Maintain temperature stability according to equipment requirements.
Minimize dust.
Provide adequate space around microscopes.
12. Central Equipment Room
A dedicated room can be provided for equipment requiring special operating or maintenance conditions.
It May Contain
Ultra-low-temperature freezer, when required.
Refrigerators.
Specialized centrifuges.
Spectrophotometers.
Plate readers.
Automated analyzers.
The electrical and thermal load of the equipment should be taken into account when designing electrical, air-conditioning, and ventilation systems.
13. Washing and Decontamination Area
Functions
Washing laboratory equipment.
Preparing materials for reuse.
Decontamination according to approved procedures.
Waste handling.
Equipment
Laboratory sink.
Washing area.
Drying area.
Autoclave, if appropriate for the scope of work.
Waste containers.
Decontamination supplies.
The WHO considers decontamination and waste management essential components of laboratory safety.
14. Electrical System
The electrical system should be designed in collaboration with a qualified engineer.
Main Requirements
Sufficient number of electrical outlets.
Appropriate electrical circuits for equipment.
Proper grounding.
Overcurrent protection.
Separation of high-load equipment.
UPS for equipment requiring continuity.
Backup power for critical equipment.
Clear circuit identification.
Equipment That May Require Priority Backup Power
Depending on the facility plan, this may include:
Freezers.
CO₂ incubators.
Critical monitoring systems.
Selected analytical instruments.
15. Water and Drainage System
The laboratory should provide:
An appropriate water supply.
Laboratory sinks.
Laboratory-designed drainage.
Water points in suitable areas.
A leak-prevention system.
Purified/distilled water or an appropriate system when required for laboratory applications.
16. HVAC System
This is one of the areas that should not be determined generically.
The HVAC system should be specified after determining:
Nature of the materials.
Number of personnel.
Equipment.
Heat load.
Containment requirements.
Chemicals used.
Facility requirements and local regulations.
The WHO emphasizes that design should be based on risk assessment and actual needs rather than uniform requirements for all laboratories.
17. Safety System
The project should include an integrated safety system covering:
Biological Safety
Biological Safety Cabinet, when required.
PPE.
Hand hygiene.
Decontamination.
Waste management.
Chemical Safety
Appropriate chemical storage.
Separation of incompatible materials.
Chemical spill response.
Fume hood when required by the activity.
Fire Safety
Fire alarm.
Appropriate fire extinguishers.
Emergency exits.
Emergency lighting.
Evacuation plan.
Emergency Safety
Eyewash.
Emergency shower according to risk assessment.
First aid.
Spill kits.
Emergency contacts.
18. Waste Flow
I recommend designing a clear waste pathway:
Generation → Segregation → Temporary Collection → Decontamination/Treatment → Final Disposal
With separation of:
Biological waste | Sharps | Chemical waste | General waste
Treatment and disposal methods must comply with local regulations and institutional policy.
19. Proposed Equipment Matrix
| Field | Essential Equipment | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Cell Biology | Microscope, centrifuge, cell counter | High |
| Cell Culture | BSC, CO₂ incubator, inverted microscope | High |
| Molecular Biology | PCR, micropipettes, centrifuges | High |
| qPCR | Real-time PCR | Medium/High |
| DNA Analysis | Electrophoresis, gel documentation | High |
| Protein Biology | Electrophoresis, transfer system | Medium |
| Imaging | Fluorescence microscope | Medium |
| Sample Storage | Refrigerator, freezer | High |
| Long-term Storage | Ultra-low freezer | Project-dependent |
| Sterilization | Autoclave | Scope-dependent |
| Quantification | Spectrophotometer/fluorometer | High |
20. Laboratory Digital Infrastructure
A modern laboratory should not rely solely on physical equipment.
It is preferable to establish:
Laboratory computers.
Secure network.
Automated data backup.
Instrument data storage.
Sample identification system.
Barcode system, when required.
Electronic laboratory records, where available.
Access control for equipment and sensitive areas.
This is particularly important as laboratories increasingly rely on digital systems and molecular information. Modern WHO biosafety guidance also incorporates information security and emerging technologies into risk management.
21. Sample Management
I recommend a standardized system:
Sample Reception → Identification → Registration → Processing → Storage → Analysis → Disposal/Archiving
Each sample should be assigned:
Unique ID.
Date.
Sample type.
Responsible researcher/student.
Storage location.
Experiment/project code.
22. Laboratory Administrative Structure
The following structure is proposed:
Laboratory Director
↓
Laboratory Manager
↓
Biosafety Officer
↓
Technical Staff
↓
Researchers / Students
Planning should preferably involve the laboratory director, scientific specialists, safety specialist, engineer/architect, and facility engineers, as WHO recommends establishing a multidisciplinary planning team from the early stages of the project.
23. Essential Operating Documents
Before opening the laboratory, the following should be prepared:
Laboratory Safety Manual.
Biosafety Manual.
Standard Operating Procedures.
Emergency Response Plan.
Waste Management Plan.
Chemical Safety Procedures.
Equipment Maintenance Plan.
Calibration Plan.
Training Records.
Incident Reporting System.
Sample Management SOP.
Cleaning and Decontamination SOP.
Equipment Qualification/Verification Records.
24. Risk Assessment
The following WHO cycle is proposed:
Gather information → Evaluate risks → Develop control strategy → Implement controls → Review
This structure is explicitly reflected in the WHO risk-assessment framework.
Simplified Example
| Hazard | Source | Potential Consequence | Control |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological exposure | Biological samples | Exposure | BSC/PPE/SOP |
| Aerosol | Centrifugation | Exposure/contamination | Appropriate containment |
| PCR contamination | Amplified DNA | False results | Zoning/workflow |
| Chemical exposure | Reagents | Burns/toxicity | Storage/PPE/engineering controls |
| Electrical | Instruments | Shock/fire | Grounding/maintenance |
| Fire | Electrical/chemicals | Injury/property damage | Alarm/extinguishers |
| Sample loss | Freezer failure | Data/research loss | Monitoring/backup |
25. The Most Important Principle in the Entire Plan
I recommend that the laboratory not be designed around the equipment, but around the Workflow.
That is:
People → Samples → Processes → Equipment → Waste → Data
The architectural and engineering design should then be developed to support this sequence.
This is consistent with the modern WHO philosophy, which places risk assessment, user requirements, and planned activities at the foundation of determining facility design and control measures.
26. Final Proposed Model
The laboratory can be summarized into 8 main functional units:
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
Operational Principle
Clean preparation → Sample processing → Amplification → Post-amplification analysis → Waste/decontamination
while maintaining separation between contaminated material/equipment flows and clean preparation areas.
27. Critical Engineering Note
This plan represents a Conceptual/Functional Laboratory Plan, not a construction-ready architectural drawing.
Before construction, it must be developed into:
URS + Room Data Sheets + Architectural Drawings + MEP Design + Fire/Life Safety Design + Biosafety Risk Assessment
by an engineering team and a qualified biosafety specialist.
This is important because WHO emphasizes that the planning team should first define the activities, biological agents, samples, equipment, and workflow, after which control measures and design requirements are derived. NIH also uses a Program of Requirements (POR) and Basis of Design (BOD) to document project requirements and design decisions throughout the project lifecycle.
Recommended Key References
WHO — Laboratory Biosafety Manual, 4th Edition
WHO — Laboratory Design and Maintenance
WHO — Risk Assessment
CDC/NIH — BMBL, 6th Edition (2026)
NIH — Design Requirements Manual
ISO 15190:2020 — Medical laboratories — Requirements for safety
