| For Industrial Hygienists and Indoor Air Quality | | | | Quality Programs |
| professionals, choosing a good microbiology lab is one | | | | - Participation is not enough: check EMPAT results. |
| of the most important business decisions you can | | | | Look for scores consistently higher than 100. If your |
| make. How do you know that the fungal data that you | | | | microbiology lab doesn't publish all their results, ask |
| are receiving is accurate? Will it stand up in court? Has | | | | yourself why. |
| an educated, experienced, trained analyst actually | | | | - Are there clear, written procedures for every |
| thought about your sample and your project, | | | | function in the lab and for the quality system? Are |
| understood what you were looking for, and then used | | | | these procedures rigorously followed and enforced? |
| their knowledge to answer the question you were | | | | The best way to find out is to quiz lab employees at |
| asking? The answers to these questions can mean | | | | random (over the phone or in person) about |
| the difference between winning lawsuits and leaving | | | | procedures and quality systems. |
| you and your clients exposed. This article outlines how | | | | - Does the lab perform blind duplicate comparisons |
| to choose the best lab for you - and how to get the | | | | amongst analysts to assure consistent, reliable and |
| most out of your current microbiology lab. | | | | provable analysis quality? |
| What's Important? | | | | Laboratory Tour |
| Most professionals want a laboratory that provides | | | | A lab tour gives you the chance to "kick the tires," |
| high quality analysis, good service, fast turnaround time, | | | | meet the analysts, and evaluate the overall |
| and reasonable prices. The first step in selecting a lab | | | | professionalism of the lab. A reputable laboratory |
| is to decide which factors are most important to you. If | | | | should always give clients the opportunity to visit. |
| your business provides advice related to human health | | | | Ultimately, a lab tour is the best way to make an |
| or legal contests, then I would argue that quality and | | | | informed decision. |
| reliability should probably be the most important factors. | | | | Lab Services |
| What do I mean by "quality"? | | | | How good is the service, including phone support, web |
| Well, for example, how confident are you that starch | | | | references, online access to your data, or customized |
| granules, which can be common in indoor | | | | reports? For example, a good microbiology lab should |
| environments, are not being reported as mold spores? | | | | be proactive about calling you to discuss unusual |
| This is just one of the common mistakes I have seen | | | | results, mislabeled samples, etc. If you request a same |
| from experienced laboratories due to poor quality | | | | day rush, does the laboratory consistently deliver on |
| systems or inadequate analyst training, education or | | | | time? How good is their data management and |
| experience. A mistake like that can lead to | | | | tracking? Can they quickly tell you who received the |
| inappropriate recommendations, unnecessary | | | | sample, who prepared it, who analyzed it, who |
| expenditures, or can cause your client to lose a lawsuit. | | | | reported it, and when? Are they able to consistently |
| Asking the following questions will help you identify the | | | | remember your preferences? Do you have someone |
| best laboratories: | | | | you can call if you have a question, and does that |
| Analysts | | | | person consistently provide you with useful answers? |
| What percentage of the analysts have Ph.D.'s or | | | | Conclusion |
| Master's Degrees in mycology, microbiology or a | | | | Finally, before you settle on a microbiology lab, you |
| related field? A good lab should probably have close | | | | might consider asking the advise of independent |
| to half of the analysts with advanced degrees. Does | | | | experts in the field. Ask public departments of health, |
| every analyst have at least a Bachelor's degree in | | | | recognized industry experts, or other professionals for |
| biology or microbiology? | | | | their opinions. Choosing a good lab can mean the |
| Training | | | | difference between winning lawsuits and leaving you |
| Has every analyst undergone formalized, documented | | | | and your clients exposed, and ultimately can save you |
| training with a qualified expert? | | | | trouble - and money. |