Finding Laboratory Reagents in Arc Raiders is one of the biggest progression roadblocks for players upgrading their workshop. These rare Medical crafting materials are required to push your Explosives Station from Level 2 to Level 3, yet they don’t spawn consistently, can’t be bought from vendors, and are often locked behind high-traffic Medical zones.

This guide combines every confirmed spawn location, loot logic, solo and squad farming routes, map-specific advice, and exact item data so you can farm Laboratory Reagents efficiently without wasting raids.

What Are Laboratory Reagents in Arc Raiders?

Laboratory Reagents are a Rare, Recyclable Medical item used primarily for workstation upgrades in Arc Raiders.

Exact item details:

• Rarity: Rare
• Category: Medical
• Item Type: Recyclable
• Weight: 3.0
• Stack Size: 3
• Value: 2000 Coins
• Found In: Medical loot pools

Laboratory Reagents can be:

• Used directly for upgrades
• Sold for Coins
• Recycled into crafting materials

Because they are classified as Medical, they only spawn in areas tied to Medical loot tables, not general world loot.

Why You Need Laboratory Reagents

You need 3× Laboratory Reagents to upgrade the Workshop Explosives Bench (Explosives Station) from Level 2 to Level 3.

Full Explosives Station Level 3 requirements:

• 3× Laboratory Reagents
• 5× Explosive Compound
• 3× Rocketeer Driver

Completing this upgrade unlocks:

• Heavy Fuze Grenades
• Wolfpacks, one of the strongest tools against ARC machines, including high-tier enemies like the Matriarch

This upgrade is a major power spike, which is why Laboratory Reagents are:

• Highly contested
• Farmed early in raids
• Often looted before casual players arrive

How Laboratory Reagents Spawn (Medical Loot Explained Clearly)

This is the part most guides gloss over, and it’s why players struggle.

Laboratory Reagents do not spawn randomly everywhere, even inside Medical locations.

Key spawn rules:

• Laboratory Reagents only drop from the Medical loot pool
• Medical-only locations have the highest chance
• Mixed-category locations split loot between Medical, Commercial, or Industrial items

Where Laboratory Reagents actually appear:

• Cabinets
• Shelves
• Medical supply crates
• Boxes
• Loose spawns on:
  
  • Countertops
  • Chemical stands
  • Lab tables

If you only search drawers, you will miss many valid spawns—especially in Hospitals, Research buildings, and Testing Annexes, where loose items matter.

Even in untouched Medical zones, Laboratory Reagents are not guaranteed. RNG always applies.

Best Places to Find Laboratory Reagents in Arc Raiders (All Locations)

Below are every confirmed farming location, with strengths, weaknesses, and ideal playstyles

Hospital – Buried City

The Hospital in Buried City is the most reliable place to find Laboratory Reagents.

Why it’s strong:

• The only Medical-only major location
• Loot pool is not split
• Highest chance per run

Risks:

• Extremely popular
• Frequent Raider encounters
• Trios often rush this location early

Extra tips:

• Solos often experience less aggression
• Check all floors, counters, and medical stands
• Use nearby lifts and tunnels for fast extraction

Research – Buried City

Research is located close to the Hospital and shares the Medical icon.

• Multiple lootable floors
• Less ARC presence inside
• Lower player traffic than Hospital

While its loot pool is split, the building size and verticality give you more chances to roll Medical items, including Laboratory Reagents.

Pharmacy – Plaza Rosa (Buried City)

The Pharmacy in Plaza Rosa is one of the best solo farming locations in the game.

Why it works so well:

• Strong Medical loot focus
• Compact layout
• Shelves and cabinets across two floors
• Breachable front door shows if it’s been looted
• Extraction zipline directly outside

This allows:

• Quick, repeatable runs
• Safe extraction
• Farming Laboratory Reagents without heavy PvP

Many solo players obtain all three required reagents in just a few runs here.

Testing Annex – Dam Battlegrounds

The Testing Annex is a Medical + Commercial zone with excellent loot density.

Why it’s reliable:

• Second floor packed with:
  
  • Drawers
  • Bins
  • Desks
  • Medical containers
    
• Lower contest rate than Hospital
• Strong Medical-themed loot

This location consistently produces:

• Laboratory Reagents
• Antiseptic
• Rusted Shut Medical Kits
• Cracked Bioscanners

It’s one of the best alternatives when Buried City is crowded.

Arrival Building – Spaceport

The Arrival Building on Spaceport is an underrated option.

• Contains Medical items
• Often marked with High Loot
• Large structure with multiple wings
• Mixed loot pool, but high volume

Laboratory Reagents cannot be purchased from vendors, so locations like this remain valuable for players rotating maps.

Medical Research – Stella Montis

The Medical Research area in Stella Montis is dense with:

• Containers
• Chemical racks
• Medical shelves

However:

• Heavy ARC presence
• Very dangerous
• Best suited for experienced players

High reward, high risk.

Locations You Can Skip When Farming Medical Materials

If you are specifically farming Laboratory Reagents:

• The Blue Gate – no dedicated Medical loot
• Non-Medical Spaceport areas

These locations dilute your Medical loot chances and slow progression.

Best Farming Routes (Solo vs Squad)

Best Solo Route

• Pharmacy → Loot → Zipline extraction → Repeat
• Close doors behind you
• Avoid combat objectives
• Can be done without a weapon

Squad Route

• Hospital rush early in raid
• One player loots loose spawns
• Others secure entrances
• Extract immediately once reagents are found

Should You Recycle Laboratory Reagents?

Laboratory Reagents can be recycled, but timing matters.

Recycling results:

• 16× Chemicals
• 3× Crude Explosives

Salvaging results:

• 3× Crude Explosives

Do not recycle Laboratory Reagents until your Explosives Station is Level 3. They are far more valuable as upgrade materials than crafting components early on.

Common Mistakes That Slow Farming

• Only farming Hospital every run
  Hospital has the best Medical-only loot pool, but it’s also the most visited POI. Repeating it increases PvP risk and failed extractions. Rotate with Research or Testing Annex for consistency.
• Ignoring loose item spawns
  Laboratory Reagents don’t only appear in containers. They can spawn on desks, shelves, and medical carts, especially in Testing Annex and Hospital interiors.
• Staying too long after finding reagents
  Once you secure a Laboratory Reagent, lingering increases death risk. Both Hospital and Testing Annex have nearby lifts or tunnels—use them immediately.
• Mixing Medical farming with combat events
  Triggering ARC patrols or PvP slows runs and increases loss chances. Medical farming works best with low engagement and fast movement.
• Expecting guaranteed drops
  Even untouched Medical locations don’t guarantee Laboratory Reagents. They are RNG-based rare drops, so failed runs are normal.

Final Tips to Find Laboratory Reagents Faster

• Focus on Medical-only zones
  Medical icons offer higher drop chances. Hospital remains the best option because its loot pool isn’t split.
• Learn what Laboratory Reagents look like
  They appear as chemical bottles and can be mistaken for other Medical items if rushed.
• Extract early to avoid losses
  Laboratory Reagents are rare, valuable, and required in sets of three. Early extraction protects progress.
• Rotate maps when RNG is bad
  If Hospital isn’t paying out, switch to Testing Annex (Dam Battlegrounds) or Research (Buried City).
• Avoid peak PvP routes when solo
  Stick to side entrances, tunnels, and lifts to minimize player encounters.