If an individual or company must choose a laboratory to conduct an analysis, choosing a laboratory can be overwhelming, even if you know what to look for. If the purchasing department is left with the decision, the answer would more than likely be cost. If the decision is left to those who are aware of what it takes to operate a quality laboratory, the decision becomes much more involved. When we evaluate an individual's exposure in the workplace or the burden placed on the environment due to emissions and waste, we must employ a process that in many cases includes analysis of samples by a laboratory. The aspects of sample collection and analysis are complex.
Numerous procedures are available from various sources.
What these sources do not provide us with is information on which laboratories are qualified to provide accurate and precise results. In our personal lives, when we are in the market for a car, a home, an appliance or a service, we look for and expect the best quality and value for our dollar. When it comes to choosing a laboratory, the same rules must apply. Unfortunately, it may be more difficult to evaluate the quality of a laboratory's performance versus the performance of an automobile. After all, we do not have a Consumer Reports for laboratories.