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Huzaifa Gulzar: FIFO Method in Laboratory Inventory Management
Huzaifa Gulzar/LinkedIn
Oct 15, 2026, 17:24

Huzaifa Gulzar: FIFO Method in Laboratory Inventory Management

Huzaifa Gulzar, Andrology Technologist (IVF) at Shifa International Hospitals, shared on LinkedIn:

“FIFO Method in Laboratory Inventory Management.

Quality-Safety-Compliance

In laboratory practice, inventory management is not just about storing supplies – it is about maintaining quality, ensuring traceability, minimizing waste, and protecting patient safety.

What is FIFO?

FIFO stands for First In, First Out. It means that the items received first should be used first, provided they remain within their expiry date and meet the required storage conditions.

How to implement FIFO in laboratories:

  1. Organize Stock: Place older stock at the front and newly received stock behind it.
  2. Check Expiry Dates: Review expiry dates during receiving, storage, and routine inventory checks.
  3. Label and Track: Record the product name, lot/batch number, date of receipt, expiry date, and storage requirements.
  4. Monitor Short-Expiry Items: Maintain an expiry tracking sheet and communicate upcoming expiries to the relevant staff.
  5. Follow Manufacturer Instructions: Ensure proper storage conditions and quarantine expired, damaged, or unsuitable materials.

FIFO vs. FEFO – Know the Difference!

  • FIFO: First In, First Out – use the stock received first.
  • FEFO: First Expiry, First Out – use the stock with the earliest expiry date first.

Important: For laboratory reagents, culture media, and IVF/andrology consumables, FEFO is generally the preferred approach when expiry dates differ, while FIFO can support stock rotation when expiry dates are the same or otherwise appropriate. Always follow manufacturer instructions and your laboratory’s approved SOPs.

The goal: Reduce wastage, prevent avoidable expiry-related losses, improve inventory control, and support a robust laboratory quality management system.

Good inventory management is a small daily practice that makes a big difference in laboratory quality and patient safety.”

Other articles featuring Huzaifa Gulzar on Fertility News.

Andrology FEFO Fertility Fertility News FIFO Huzaifa Gulzar OB-GYN reproductive health Reproductive Medicine Women’s Health
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