How to Choose Analytical Laboratory Services
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Analytical laboratories offer services that classify, assay and/or analyze chemical, material, biological, geological and environmental samples. Since the breadth of services offered at individual laboratories varies significantly, most laboratories specialize in one or more...
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Q & A on Analytical Laboratory Services
We asked our users for their input on Analytical Laboratory Services. Here are the results of 84 users familiar with Analytical Laboratory Services.
Who Took Our Poll? | Design Trends | Applications and Use | Features | Buying Advice |Design TrendsTop
What new technologies are influencing analytical laboratory services?
13 answers
In our setting there is no new technology being introduced due to financial constraints.
~Quality Control/Assurance, Asmara, Eritrea
Microfluidics, nanotechnology (e.g., Nano EHS concerns & related testing).
~Research & Development, Salt Lake City, UT
New instrumentation techniques (ICP/MS), fast GC and HPLC methodologies.
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~Technical Support/Services, Columbus, MS
From your perspective, which companies are creating the most innovative analytical laboratory services?
13 answers
Agilent, Hewlett Packard, Hach Products, Orion Laboratory Products and others
~Azamat T, Instrument analysers specialist, Guzar district, Uzbekistan
Chemir Bonner Analytical Testing Laboratory
Arkansas Analytical
~Technical Support/Services, Columbus, MS
Perkin-Elmer, Thermo, Fisher Scientific, Memmert, Shimadzu
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~Laurentiu Speri, Service Engineer, Bucharest, Romania
What would your design or feature "wish list" be for this service's capabilities?
10 answers
Online testing capabilities and application of chemometrics in the pharmaceutical manufacturing towards full implementation of PAT process analytical technology.
~Chris C, Technical Support, Capetown, South Africa
Dew point calculation of petrochemical gas products. Cooling and filtering system of stack monitoring sample system.
~Engineering Consultant, Yanyang city, Korea (South)
Nothing more than what they do currently - we are pleased with the service and quality of outsourced analyses.
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~Technical Support/Services, Columbus, MS
Applications and UseTop
What are some of the projects you have used analytical laboratory services for?
24 answers
I used to be an analytical chemist and retired in my position as professor of analytical chemistry in Padjadjaran University Indonesia. My PhD from New South Wales University in 1989 in the field of Mass Spectroscopy. Unfortunately, I have no published papers, due to no facility to do good quality research.
~Other, Bandung, Indonesia
1. for development of analytical methods for a generic pharmaceutical formulations
2. for analytical method validation and verification of official method
3. providing contract based analytical services for pharmaceutical products, cosmetics and food
~Quality Control/Assurance, Asmara, Eritrea
EDS to confirm differences in elemental composition. High temperature molecular weight analysis, polymer additives analysis, FTIR for reverse engineering polymers.
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~Research & Development, Houston, TX
Please share with us any “non-standard” projects that analytical laboratory services have been used for.
8 answers
You need to have a confirmatory test using different method so as to have acceptance of the non standard method. For example: if you have a method that requires UV method you need to set a method to counter check the obtained results.
~Quality Control/Assurance, Asmara, Eritrea
Direct orders from SME's with special conditions, some "non - usual" methods of characterization.
~Sorina M., Research & Development, Bucharest, Romania
Material identification at the Romanian-Ukrainian border for the smugglers' traffic.
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~Laurentiu Speri, Service Engineer, Bucharest, Romania
Do you know of any disastrous mistakes that occurred due to faulty or incompetent practices of analytical laboratory services?
3 answers
We were looking for halogenated compounds in a compressor slurry that formed over time. The analytical lab dissolved the residue in methylene chloride, thus dissolving the compounds we were interested in studying. Any proof that halogens were leaking and reacting with the gas stream was obliterated by this mistake.
~Research & Development, Houston, TX
Someone from an analytical lab forgot the acetylene supply with leakages not closed and the next day a small explosion took place in their lab.
~Laurentiu Speri, Service Engineer, Bucharest, Romania
The wrong results were produced, the ammendment report had to be issued and the laboratory credibility suffered.
~Margaret P, Laboratory Coordinator, Sydney, Australia
Buying AdviceTop
Do you have any advice for people relative to buying or using analytical laboratory services?
6 answers
Be familiar with the test method before asking information on a service. Many times I have found that asking questions about the detection limits have scrapped labs from my list of potential vendors.
~Research & Development, Houston, TX
Companies should be encouraged to out source lab services to encourage independence and objective assessment of their product quality.
~Chris C, Technical Support, Capetown, South Africa
To choose the correct price-quality ratio analytical lab instrumentation, for their present and future analytical needs.
~Laurentiu Speri, Service Engineer, Bucharest, Romania
Look for price, but also look for quality. Cheapest is not always the best. The integrity of results do matter.
~Margaret P, Laboratory Coordinator, Sydney, Australia
They have to pay attention to the measuring principles of analyzers.
~Azamat T, Instrument analysers specialist, Guzar district, Uzbekistan
Compare
~Sohaib B, Materials Lab, Dallas, TX
Is there any advice you want to share with users to help them avoid common errors in selection or usage of analytical laboratory services?
7 answers
Find out what the results consist of. Sometimes reports consist only of observations. If the requesting party is unfamiliar with the methodology used, they will most likely have to hire the services of a technical specialist to understand the results.
~Research & Development, Houston, TX
Labs to provide services should meet minimum bench marks before they are selected with regards to regulatory and compliance.
~Chris C, Technical Support, Capetown, South Africa
Don't choose the lowest price analytical laboratory services and please, make a proper selection of them.
~Laurentiu Speri, Service Engineer, Bucharest, Romania
Carefully check the quality of result provided. Do a laboratory tour to check.
~Margaret P, Laboratory Coordinator, Sydney, Australia
Better to understand the product first prior buying it
~Felix A, Technical Support, Mackay, Australia
They have to use instruments in their range.
~Azamat T, Instrument analysers specialist, Guzar district, Uzbekistan
Test
~Sohaib B, Materials Lab, Dallas, TX
