Receiving a laboratory shipment: a practical checklist
The fifteen minutes after a consignment arrives determine how much you can prove about it later.
Published 31 Aug 2026 · Updated 31 Aug 2026
Most disputes about a shipment are lost at the receiving bench, not in the courier's van. The fix is a short, boring routine performed every time.
Before you open anything
Photograph the outer carton, including the label and any damage. If the box is crushed, wet or has been re-taped, photograph that first and note it on the courier's record before signing.
Check against the paperwork
Count the items. Compare item codes and batch references against the packing note, not against your memory of the order. Discrepancies reported the same day are routine; discrepancies reported next month are an argument.
Assess the packaging condition
For temperature-controlled consignments, note whether cold packs are still cold and whether insulation is intact. Record it, even when everything looks fine — an unremarkable record is what makes a remarkable one credible.
Move it to its storage location immediately
Items left on a bench "just for now" are the ones that end up unaccounted for. Log the location as you put them away.
Close the loop
File the photographs and the annotated packing note with your inventory record. If something needs raising with the supplier, do it while the consignment is still traceable at both ends.
General logistics and record-keeping guidance only. No handling, preparation or usage instructions are provided.