USPE Facility Planning Series

University Cadaver Lab Equipment Checklist

The procurement checklist for donor-based anatomy programs — per-station equipment, cohort math, fluid logistics, and the academic-calendar timeline that makes fall openings actually happen.

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Cohort Math First

Standard planning ratio: 4–6 students per donor station. A 30-student cohort → 5–7 stations; add one flex station for prosection demonstrations and overflow. At 90–110 sq ft per station, that cohort needs roughly 600–800 sq ft of dissection floor before scrub and storage.

Per-Station Checklist

Item USPE Spec
Immersion table (preservation + dissection) 1035-03P electric or 1035-03M manual
Dissecting pans 1035-16SDT stackable ×2–3
Wax dissection tray 1035-15BWB

Lab-Wide Checklist

Item USPE Spec
Entry scrub station 1035-06-3 triple scrub
Prosection / demo table USPE-RDT2 rotating two-body
Teaching models Torso, skull, chart set
Donor transport 1038-1CST stretcher cart

The Academic-Year Timeline

Spring: finalize spec and station count; route ventilation and drainage checklists to campus facilities. Early summer: issue the PO — built-to-order stainless needs the runway. Summer break: delivery, rough-in connections, and fluid-fill dry run. One week before classes: full inspection log baseline with lab staff.

Fluid logistics: plan preservative supply and end-of-semester disposal before the first fill — many sewer authorities restrict formaldehyde-bearing discharge. The immersion maintenance guide covers the operating routine.
Compliance Notice: Equipment selection should be reviewed with facility safety officers, licensed contractors, ventilation engineers, and applicable authorities having jurisdiction. USPE equipment supports professional workflow and cleanability but does not independently guarantee OSHA, EPA, CAP, Joint Commission, state, local, or institutional compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Electric or manual immersion for a teaching lab?

High-turnover labs with daily lift cycles favor electric (1035-03P); manual (1035-03M) saves budget for programs with fewer cycles. Mixed fleets are common.

What's the biggest scheduling mistake programs make?

Issuing the PO in late summer for a fall opening — built-to-order equipment can't compress physics. Spring spec, early-summer PO.

Does USPE support bid documentation?

Yes — itemized quotes, spec sheets, and W-9 formatted for university purchasing files; see the university buyer hub.

Opening or renewing a cadaver lab?

Send cohort size and room dimensions — we return the station plan and bid-ready quote.

Call 1-888-792-9315 or email cool@mymortuarycooler.com