PHARMACY SCALES

PHARMACY SCALES
• Analytical Balance – One which measures mass to a very
high degree of precision and accuracy. Most analytical
balances have a scale division of 0.1mg or better
(0.0001g).
• Check weighing Scale – One used to verify predetermined
weight within prescribed limits. These scales are typically
used in weighing operations where the operator must fill
and weigh a product to ensure uniform weight. Some
checkweighers will activate remote switches or sound a
buzzer when the target weight has been met.
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• Microbalance – A special balance which has a
readability of 1 microgram (1µg) or better. A
microgram is one millionth of a gram
(0.000001g). These devices require special
care to minimize weighing errors associated
with weighing quantities.
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• Multi-Interval Scale (also Multi-Range, Dual
Range) – A scale having one weighing range
which is divided into partial weighing ranges
(segments), each with different scale intervals,
with each partial weighing range (segment)
determined automatically according to the
load applied, both on increasing and
decreasing loads.
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• Prescription Scale – A scale or balance adapted to
weighing the ingredients of medicinal and other
formulas prescribed by physicians and others used
or intended to be used in the ordinary trade of
pharmacists.
• A Beam balance (or Beam scale) is a device to
measure weight or mass. These are also known as
mass scales, weight scales, mass balances, weight
balances, or simply scales, balances, or balance
scales.
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• Different types of balances are selected
according to the function they must perform.
Laboratory balance types include toploading
balances, portable balances, analytical balances,
semimicrobalances, and microbalances. There
are some overlaps in terms of readability and
accuracy. In these cases, the user’s application
and weighing environment will generally
determine the type of balance required.
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• Toploading balances are appropriate when the
upper margin of error on a weight is 0.05 g or
larger, as opposed to analytical balances,
which have a margin of error of 0.5 mg. The
toploading balance does not offer protection
from air disturbances, and generally can weigh
up to the low-kilogram range.
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• A  Portable Balance may be chosen for field
work or simply for convenience. Durability
becomes a very important feature of a
portable balance, since it is likely to be heavily
used and possibly take some abuse. Many
appreciate a quick response and user-friendly
design in a portable balance, especially if
there is a large number of samples to be
weighed.
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• Most life science laboratories need an analytical
balance for precision weighing. Analytical balances
should only be used by trained personnel, and
require regular calibration and maintenance.
Because of this, they are generally set up in a
separate, interior room of the laboratory, out of the
way of general foot traffic, chemical spills, flying
objects, vibrations, and other disturbances.
Additionally, locking the room can keep well-
intentioned, but untrained, visitors from using them.
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• Semimicrobalances can weigh to
onehundredth of a milligram. They are
generally used for extremely specialized
applications, such as differential weighing of a
sample before and after incineration,
measurement of coatings, or weighing
chemically sensitive samples inside a glove
box.
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• The crucial requirement to fulfill when purchasing a
balance is to meet the accuracy requirements of the
laboratory. After that, it is up to the user to decide what
other factors are important, such as built-in applications,
protection against external influences, corrosion
protection, user safety, cross-contamination risk,
balance longevity, spare parts warranty, and service.
Scientists on a budget may choose to compromise in
certain areas, but the price/performance ratio and the
return-on-investment should also be considered.
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• A balance scale is an instrument used to
measure the weight of objects by comparing
their weights to a set of known weights.