##### 



(BIORELIANCE-LOGO)

EXHIBIT 10.3



| |  |               
| |  | --------------
| |  | 26 August 2002

Dr. Raymond F. Cosgrove
Managing Director, BioReliance Ltd.
Stirling University Innovation Park
Hillfoots Road
Stirling, United Kingdom FK9 4NF

Dear Ray:

I am pleased to provide you with this agreement amending your original offer of
employment dated January 29, 1993, as previously amended by Ms. Robinsons
letter of January 16, 1996, and Mr. McDonalds letter of June 6, 2000, as
follows:

Specifically, at paragraph 4. Termination, we henceforth provide the following
agreement which will substitute entirely the paragraph previously in force:



|4. |  | Termination of Employment:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
|-- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  
|A. |  | Termination Upon Change In Control: Notwithstanding any other provision
in this Agreement, if there is a change in control of BioReliance
Corporation (as hereinafter defined) during the term of this Agreement,
and within twelve (12) months thereafter, either (1) the Executive is
terminated Without Cause (as hereinafter defined) or (2) the Executives
responsibilities are significantly reduced and, as a result, the Executive
terminates his employment pursuant to this Agreement, the Executive shall
be entitled to the compensation and benefits set forth below.



| | (1) |  | Base Compensation: The Company shall pay the Executive
sixteen (16) months of his then current base salary. This
compensation will be paid in two parts, as follows: (a) an initial
lump-sum payment of eight (8) months of base salary will be paid
within ten (10) working days of termination of employment and (b)
beginning six (6) months after termination of employment, equal
monthly payments for eight (8) months thereafter. This second
payment in section (b) will be correspondingly reduced by any base
compensation payments the Executive receives through new employment.
The Executive is obligated to inform the Company, its successors and
assigns, in writing within ten (10) calendar days of his acceptance
of such new employment and include in this notice what his base
compensation and expected start date are. However, if the
Executives base compensation at such new employment is equal to or
exceeds his prior base salary at the Company, the Executive may
simply confirm this fact in the notice in lieu of disclosing the
actual new base compensation figure.
| | --- |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------





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| | (2) |  | Stock Options: The disposition of any and all stock options
granted by BioReliance Corporation to the Executive will be governed
by the 1997 Incentive Plan (as amended and restated).                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
| | --- |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| | (3) |  | Bonus Compensation: The Company shall pay the Executive,
within thirty (30) calendar days of termination, his performance
bonus, pro-rated to reflect the date of termination.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
|
| | (4) |  | Medical Benefits: If the Executive elects to continue
medical benefits coverage under the UK Companys Private Healthcare
program, the Company will pay the applicable premium for a period of
the lesser of sixteen (16) months or until such time as the
Executive obtains other employment that provides private healthcare
coverage, provided the Executive and any of his eligible dependants
elect the UK Companys Private Healthcare program. This provision is
otherwise subject to all applicable UK Company Private Healthcare
program continuation requirements and does not alter the Companys
right to amend or terminate its medical plan.
|
| | (5) |  | Other Benefits: The Company will continue to provide other
benefits current at the time of termination, e.g. fully expensed
lease car, for a period of the lesser of sixteen (16) months or
until such time as the Executive obtains other employment that
provides similar benefits.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     



|   |  | A change in control for purpose of this Agreement shall be deemed to
have occurred if BioReliance Corporation is subject to an acquisition in
accordance with Section 2.12 (1) of BioReliance Corporations 1997
Incentive Plan (as amended and restated), which is attached hereto as
Exhibit 1.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
|-- |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  
|   |  | The privileges, compensation, and benefits set forth in this section,
Termination Upon Change In Control, survive the expiration of this
Agreement as long as there is a change in control as herein defined
during the term of this Agreement.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
|  
|   |  | All compensation paid by the Company will be subject to all appropriate
UK tax laws.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
|  
|B. |  | Termination Other Than Upon Change In Control                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|  
|   |  | Termination by the Executive: The Executive may terminate his employment
upon ninety (90) days written notice to the President and CEO. Unless
otherwise provided herein, if the Executive terminates his employment,
the Executive shall only be entitled to base compensation through the
last day actually worked as well as any bonus compensation for which the
work period and performance criteria have been fully met. The Board may
provide the Executive with additional compensation, if the Board in its
discretion deems such additional compensation warranted. Also, the
disposition of any and all stock options granted by BioReliance
Corporation to the Executive will be governed by the 1997 Incentive Plan
(as amended and restated).

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| |  | Termination by the Company: The Executives employment may be terminated
by the Company only on two bases: (1) Cause or (2) Without Cause.
| |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| | (1) | Cause: As used in this Agreement, Cause shall mean that the
Executive:
| | --- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------



| |     |  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
| | --- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| | (a) |  | committed an act or acts of personal dishonesty
intended to result in the Executives personal enrichment at
the expense of the Company, and which constitute(s) fraud,
embezzlement, grand larceny or any felonious act;
|
| | (b) |  | materially failed or refused to perform the
Executives essential duties and obligations as an employee of
the Company;                                                                                                  
|
| | (c) |  | committed an act of willful misconduct;                                                                                                                                                                                  
|
| | (d) |  | was convicted of a felony or other serious crime;                                                                                                                                                                        
|
| | (e) |  | has engaged in the unlawful use of narcotics;                                                                                                                                                                            
|
| | (f) |  | engaged in abusive use of alcohol to a degree, or
in a manner, that would materially and adversely affect the
performance of the Executives assigned work or degrade the
reputation of the Company;                     
|
| | (g) |  | violated the terms of the Confidentiality, Trade
Secrets and Noncompetition Agreement he signed on 6 September
1999;                                                                                                     
|
| | (h) |  | violated or breached the terms of this Agreement;
or                                                                                                                                                                     
|
| | (i) |  | is unable to perform the essential functions of
his position due to disability, as set forth below, or due to
death.                                                                                                     



| |  |  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
| |  |  | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |  |  | In accordance with these definitions of Cause, the Board of
Directors, or a delegated committee of the Board, will in its sole
discretion decide whether the Executive shall be terminated for
Cause after affording the Executive an opportunity to be heard on
the matter. The Board, or the delegated committee of the Board,
will in its sole discretion determine the time, place, and manner
of the opportunity for the Executive to be heard, but to the extent
practicable any such meeting will take place in Montgomery County,
Maryland, USA during regular business hours. If the Executive
fails to appear or to follow the manner of opportunity afforded by
the Board or its committee, the Board, or the delegated committee,
may render its decision without hearing the Executives views.
|
| |  |  | Disability: If the Executive is unable to perform the essential
functions of his position due to illness, injury, or incapacity for
a period of more than fourteen                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

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| |  |  |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
| |  |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |  |  | (14) weeks, the compensation otherwise payable to him under this
Agreement shall cease and the Company may terminate his employment
unless the Board determines otherwise or the Executive is able to
perform the essential functions of his position with reasonable
accommodation.                                                                                                                                                                                     
|
| |  |  | Effect on Future Compensation  Termination for Cause: In the
event Executive is terminated for Cause, Executive will be entitled
to no future compensation from the Company and any and all stocks
options granted by BioReliance Corporation to the Executive will be
disposed of in accordance with the 1997 Incentive Plan (as amended
and restated). Moreover, the Executive will not earn any
additional compensation after the effective date of such
termination.



| |  | Any reason for termination other than those set forth above will be
deemed to be Without Cause.
| |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



| | (2) |  | Without Cause: If the Executive is terminated Without Cause
or the Executives responsibilities are significantly reduced and,
as a result, the Executive terminates his employment pursuant to
this Agreement, the Executive shall be entitled to the compensation
and benefits set forth below.
| | --- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
| |     |  | Effect on Future Compensation  Termination Without Cause: In the
event the Executive is terminated Without Cause and there has not
been a change in control as defined in this Agreement, the
Executive will be entitled to receive the following compensation
and benefits:                  



| |     |  |                                                                  
| | --- |  | -----------------------------------------------------------------
| | (a) |  | notice of at least twelve (12) months of
continued employment, or
|
| | (b) |  | up to twelve (12) months pay in lieu of notice,
or               
|
| | (c) |  | a combination of the two.                                        





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As a new paragraph, 7. Arbitration, we henceforth provide the following
agreement:



|7. |  | Arbitration:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|-- |  | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  
|   |  | Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, any claim or
controversy relating to or arising out of this Agreement shall be
resolved exclusively by arbitration in accordance with the commercial
rules then obtaining of the American Arbitration Association. This
Arbitration provision, including any challenges to its enforceability, is
governed by the Federal Arbitration Act. The arbitration shall take
place in Montgomery County, Maryland. The Company and Executive shall
bear separately their respective attorneys fees. The Company shall bear
the cost of the arbitration and any fees required by the commercial rules
then obtaining of the American Arbitration Association.



Sincerely,

/s/ Capers W. McDonald

Capers W. McDonald
President and CEO

Copy: William Gedale; Chairman, Compensation Committee of the Board

Please indicate your acceptance of this amendment by signing two attached
duplicates of this letter and returning one to my office in the original and
retaining the other in the Companys UK offices also in the original.

Acceptance:





|                 |  |               
|---------------- |  | --------------
|/s/ Ray Cosgrove |  | 30 August 2002
|                 |  |               
|(signature)      |  | (date)        







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(BIORELIANCE-LOGO)

| |  |             
| |  | ------------
| |  | June 6, 2000

Dr. Raymond F. Cosgrove
Managing Director, BioReliance Ltd.
Stirling University Innovation Park
Hillfoots Road
Stirling, United Kingdom FK9 4NF

Dear Ray,

I am pleased to provide you with this letter agreement amending your
original offer of employment dated January 29, 1993, and amended by Ms.
Robinsons letter of January 16, 1996, as follows:

Specifically, at paragraph 4. Termination. we henceforth provide the
following agreement which will substitute entirely the paragraph previously in
force:



|4. |  | Termination                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
|-- |  | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  
|   |  | Your decision to voluntarily resign from your position must provide the
Company with a minimum of ninety (90) days notice. Likewise, a Company
initiated termination will include either (a) notice of at least twelve
(12) months of continued employment, or (b) up to twelve (12) months pay
in lieu of notice, or (c) a combination of the two. According to Company
policy, such pay in lieu of notice will be paid through the normal
payroll and will cease upon your becoming gainfully employed elsewhere.
Regular health care benefits will continue at Company expense throughout
the duration of approved pay in lieu of notice.

Sincerely yours,

/s/ Capers W. McDonald

Capers W. McDonald
President and CEO

|        |  |                                                                                               
|------- |  | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|Copies: |  | William Gedale; Chairman, Compensation Committee
Ralph Adams; Director, Human Resources (U.S.)





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(MICROBIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES-LOGO)

| |  |                                                                                                          
| |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |  | Life Sciences Center
9900 Blackwell Road  Rockville  Maryland 20850
(301) 738-1000  fax (301) 738-1036

January 16, 1996

Raymond F. Cosgrove, Ph.D.
Managing Director
Microbiological Associates, Ltd.
Stirling University  Innovation Park
Hillfoots Road
Stirling
Scotland FK9 4NF

Dear Ray,

We are extremely pleased with your contributions to MA Ltd. over the past three
years and are therefore providing you with this letter agreement to amend your
original offer of employment dated January 29, 1993.

Specifically, at paragraph 4. Termination, we henceforth provide the following
agreement which will substitute entirely the prior paragraph:



|4. |  | Termination                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
|-- |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  
|   |  | Your decision to voluntarily resign from your position must provide MA
with a minimum of ninety (90) days notice. Likewise, a Company initiated
termination will include either (a) notice of at least one hundred eighty
(180) days of continued employment, or (b) up to one hundred eighty (180)
days pay in lieu of notice, or (c) a combination of the two. According
to Company policy, such pay in lieu of notice will be paid through the
normal payroll and will cease upon your becoming gainfully employed
elsewhere. Regular health care benefits will continue at Company expense
throughout the duration of approved pay in lieu of notice.

We feel this agreement represents our recognition of your increased
responsibilities since your initial offer of employment, and we trust this is
acceptable to you.

Sincerely,

/s/ Constance J. Robinson

Constance J. Robinson
Director of Human Resources

CJR:rlb





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##### 



(MICROBIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATES-LOGO)

| |  |                                                                                                          
| |  | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |  | Life Sciences Center
9900 Blackwell Road  Rockville  Maryland 20850
(301) 738-1000  fax (301) 738-1036

January 29, 1993

Raymond F. Cosgrove, Ph.D.
3 Marlowe Road
Wallasey,
Merseyside, L44 3BZ
United Kingdom

Dear Ray,

I am extremely pleased to provide you with this offer of employment. Upon
acceptance, I believe we have embarked upon what will prove to be a very
fruitful and enjoyable relationship.

This letter sets forth our agreement for your employment as follows:



|1. |  | Responsibilities:
|-- |  | -----------------

You will be employed as Executive Director of MA International, Ltd. (MAI),
reporting to me as President and Chief Executive Officer of Microbiological
Associates, Inc. (MA). A description of the managing and operating
responsibilities of the position are attached to this letter.

As Executive Director, you will devote your full time and best efforts to the
business and affairs of MAI and agree that you will not perform services for
remuneration for any other firm or organization, whether or not in competition
with MA or MAI, without my consent as MA President.



|2. |  | Compensation:
|-- |  | -------------

Base Salary: You will be paid an initial base salary of £42,000 per year under
MAIs normal payroll schedule.

Performance Bonus: You will be eligible to participate in MA Corporate bonus
and profit sharing plans, as approved annually by the MA Board of Directors,
based on acceptance performance as mutually determined.





---



##### 



Stock Options: The Board of Directors will be petitioned to approve an initial
grant of qualified incentive stock options for you to purchase 40,000 shares of
MAs authorized common stock at an exercise price at the Fair Market Value as
established by the Board.

The exercise price and all other terms governing the grant of these options
will be in accordance with MAs then current qualified stock option plan and
stock option agreement.

Annual Reviews: Your base salary will be reviewed annually with appropriate
increases based on performance versus position requirements and mutually agreed
objectives.

Benefits: You will be eligible to participate in and receive benefits under
all present and future life, disability, medical, and pension plans generally
made available to all MAI employees.

Four weeks of personal vacation and ten paid holidays will be made available to
you each year. This includes nine standard U.K. holidays and one personal day
annually.

Relocation assistance will be provided up to maximum of 17% of your initial
base salary. In the event you should voluntarily terminate your employment
with MAI within twelve (12) months of your start date, you will be responsible
for repaying to MAI the costs paid by the Company relating to your relocation.

For your exclusive use, MAI will lease an automobile and reimburse you for the
costs of maintenance and insurance. Through June 1995, this will be the 1992
BMW 520iSE currently on lease to the Company. Thereafter, an appropriate lease
cost level will be determined for an automobile of your choosing.

Additional details about these plans are described in the attached Benefits
Summary and in individual plan statements to be provided upon your acceptance.



|3. |  | Start Date:
|-- |  | -----------

You have agreed to start work as soon as practical, within three weeks from
your date of signing this letter agreement. We should agree on a specific date
as soon as possible.



|4. |  | Termination:
|-- |  | ------------

Your decision to voluntarily resign from your position must provide MAI with a
minimum of sixty (60) days notice. Likewise, a company initiated termination
will include sixty (60) days pay in lieu of notice.





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##### 





|5. |  | Confidentiality Agreement:
|-- |  | --------------------------

During your employment with MAI you may not directly or indirectly engage in,
own an interest in, or enter the employment of or act as an agent, advisor, or
consultant to any person or business entity that is, or is about to become
directly involved in competition to MAI or MAs then current businesses.

You have agreed to execute the Companys Employee Confidentiality and Trade
Secrets Agreement, as attached, as part of your acceptance.



|6. |  | Timing of Offer:
|-- |  | ----------------

This offer is valid through Friday, February 12, 1993. Please complete the
attached Confidentiality Agreement and sign your acceptance of this offer on
the enclosed copy and return both to my office prior to the above date.

When you have signed and delivered the Company copies of these documents to me
or to Mr. Robin Orr at MAI, you may elect to also sign out your assigned
automobile at any time prior to commencing full time work.

Ray, I am excited about your joining MAI. Your strengths will add
significantly to the Corporation.

Sincerely,

/s/ Capers W. McDonald

Capers W. McDonald
President and Chief Executive Officer

Attachments



Accepted and agreed:

|        |                  |  |              | 
|------- | ---------------- |  | ------------ | 
|        | /s/ Ray Cosgrove |  | 1st Feb 1993 | 
|        |                  |  |             
|CWM/cjk |                  |  |