Pandemic In the Lab Expansion Guide: Samples, Sequencing & Cure Testing
Pandemic: In the Lab changes the cure-discovery process. Instead of simply collecting a matching set of city cards and using Discover a Cure, players work through a dedicated Lab board to collect samples, sequence diseases and test cures.
What In the Lab adds
- Lab board
- Cure vials
- Sequence cards
- New roles and events
- Lab reference cards
- Team-game material
Collecting samples
Players use disease treatment to move samples into the laboratory system. The disease cubes become part of a new research workflow rather than only being removed from cities.
Sequencing and characterization
Samples are processed through the Lab board and matched to sequence requirements. Players must coordinate who gathers material and who spends actions inside the lab.
Testing cures
Once a disease has been sufficiently characterized and sequenced, the team can complete the cure process. This makes discovering cures more spatial and action-intensive than in standard Pandemic.
Player count
Z-Man lists In the Lab for 1–6 players, using components and rules from the required expansion stack.
Why it feels harder
The base game already asks players to balance outbreaks against card collection. In the Lab adds another action economy on top: treating disease can now be part of research preparation, and cure discovery requires more coordinated steps.
Who should add In the Lab?
Choose it after your group is comfortable with On the Brink and wants the cure process itself to become a deeper puzzle.
Related guides
Publisher source
Expansion requirements checked September 2026.