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                                                        EXHIBIT 10.27A

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

                  This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT is entered into as of October 12,
2000 by and between Specialty Laboratories, Inc., a California Company (the
"Company"), and Frank J. Spina ("Executive"), and is effective upon approval of
the Compensation Committee of The Board of Directors.

                  1.       DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

                  A. Executive shall serve as the Company's Chief Financial
Officer or such other title or position as may be designated from time to time
by the Company's Chief Executive Officer. Executive shall report to and perform
the duties and responsibilities assigned to him by the Company's President, or
such other person as may be designated by the Company's Board Of Directors.

                  B. Executive agrees to devote his full time and attention to
the Company, to use his best efforts to advance the business and welfare of the
Company, to render his services under this Agreement fully, faithfully,
diligently, competently and to the best of his ability, and not to engage in any
other employment activities.

                  C. Executive shall be based at the Company's office located in
Santa Monica, California, but Executive shall be required to travel to other
geographic locations in connection with the performance of his Executive duties.

                  2.       PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT.

                  A. Executive's employment with the Company shall be governed
by the provisions of this Agreement for the period commencing October 12, 2000
and continuing until this Agreement terminates pursuant to written notification
by either the Company or Executive, which notification may occur at any time for
any reason. The period during which the Executive provides services to the
Company pursuant to this Agreement shall be referenced in this Agreement as the
"Employment Period."

                  3.       CASH COMPENSATION.

                  A. Executive's initial Base Salary shall be Two Hundred Twenty
Thousand Dollars ($220,000) per year payable in accordance with the Company's
standard payroll schedule. Executive's compensation shall be subject to periodic
review by the Company, and may be increased or decreased in the Company's
discretion.

                  B. For each fiscal year during the Employment Period,
Executive shall be eligible for an incentive bonus in the Company's sole
discretion. For each full fiscal year of employment, Executive shall be eligible
for an incentive bonus of up to sixty (60%) of his annual base salary and his
performance objectives shall be set such that 100% completion of his objectives
shall entitle him to at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the bonus (or
forty-five percent (45%) of his annual base salary) ("the Incentive Bonus").
During the first year of employment, Executive shall be eligible for a pro rata
portion of the incentive bonus. The bonus

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amount will be based on the following factors: (1) the financial performance of
the Company as determined and measured by the Company's Board of Directors, and
(2) Executive's achievement of management targets and goals as set by the
Company. The bonus amount is intended to reward contribution to the Company's
performance over an entire fiscal year, and on the basis of continuing,
cumulative contribution, and consequently will be paid only if Executive is
employed and in good standing at the time of bonus payments, which generally
occurs within 45 days after the close of the Company's fiscal year. Bonus
determinations will be made in the Company's sole discretion.

                  C. The Company shall deduct and withhold from the compensation
payable to Executive hereunder any and all applicable Federal, State and Local
income and employment withholding taxes and any other amounts required or
authorized by Executive to be deducted or withheld by the Company under
applicable statutes, regulations, ordinances or orders governing or requiring
the withholding or deduction of amounts otherwise payable as compensation or
wages to employees.

                  4.       EQUITY PARTICIPATION.

                  Separate from this Agreement and pursuant and subject to the
terms and conditions of the Company's Stock Option Plan and Stock Option
Agreement, Executive has been granted options to purchase Fifty Thousand
(50,000) shares of the Company's common stock, which options vest over time. Any
further options will be made pursuant and subject to the terms and conditions of
the Company's stock option plan and stock option agreement.

                  5.       EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT.

                  In addition to the compensation specified in Paragraph 3,
Executive shall be entitled, in accordance with the reimbursement policies in
effect from time to time, to receive reimbursement from the Company for
reasonable business expenses incurred by Executive in the performance of his
duties hereunder, provided Executive furnishes the Company with vouchers,
receipts and other details of such expenses in the form required by the Company
sufficient to substantiate a deduction for such business expenses under all
applicable rules and regulations of Federal and State taxing authorities.

                  6.       FRINGE BENEFITS.

                  A. Executive shall, throughout the Employment Period, be
eligible to participate in all group term life insurance plans, group health
plans, accidental death and dismemberment plans and short-term disability
programs and other Executive perquisites which are made available to the
Company's Executives and for which Executive qualifies. Please refer to the
Company's Employee Handbook and Summary Plan Descriptions for further
information concerning these benefits.

                  B. Executive shall earn vacation time during the Employment
Period at the rate of three weeks per year. Vacation shall accrue and be taken
pursuant to the Company's vacation benefit policy set forth in the Company's
Employee Handbook.

                  7.       SEVERANCE PAY FOR EXERCISE OF THE AT-WILL CLAUSE.

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                  Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Agreement,
Executive's employment with the Company is at will, which means that it is not
for a specific term and may be terminated by either the Company or Executive at
any time, for any reason without advance notice. Similarly the Company may
change the terms and conditions of Executive's employment at any time, for any
reason, without advance notice.

                  Should the Company terminate Executive's employment for Cause,
as defined below, the Company shall have no obligation to Executive under this
Agreement other than for accrued but unpaid salary and vacation as of the date
of termination. Should the Company terminate Executive's employment other than
for Cause during the first three years of this Agreement, the Company shall have
no further obligation under this Agreement, except that the Company will
continue to pay Executive's base salary, (less, if applicable, any long-term
disability payments) for a one year period following termination of Executive's
employment on the normal payroll dates.

                  8.       CAUSE.

                  For purposes of this Agreement, "Cause" shall mean a
reasonable belief by the Board of Directors that Executive has engaged in any
one of the following: (i) financial dishonesty, including, without limitation,
misappropriation of funds or property, or any attempt by Executive to secure any
personal profit related to the business or business opportunities of the Company
without the informed, written approval of the Company's Board of Directors; (ii)
refusal to comply with reasonable directives of the Executive's immediate
supervisor or Board of Directors; (iii) negligence or reckless or willful
misconduct in the performance of Executive's duties; (iv) failure to perform, or
continuing neglect in the performance of, duties assigned to Executive; (v)
misconduct which has a materially adverse effect upon the Company's business or
reputation; (vi) the conviction of, or plea of nolo contendre to, any felony or
a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude or fraud; (vii) the material breach of
any provision of this Agreement; (viii) violation of Company policies including,
without limitation, the Company's policies on equal employment opportunity and
prohibition of unlawful harassment; (ix) death of the Executive; or (x) a
disability which continues for a period in excess of 365 days.
A termination as a result of a Change in Control shall not constitute cause.

                  9.       CHANGE IN CONTROL.

                  For purposes of this Agreement, "Change In Control" shall mean
any of the following transactions effecting a change in ownership or control of
the Company:

                                 (i)   a merger, consolidation or
         reorganization  approved  by the Company's stockholders, UNLESS
         securities representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total
         combined voting power of the voting securities of the successor Company
         are immediately thereafter beneficially owned, directly or indirectly
         and in substantially the same proportion, by the persons who
         beneficially owned the Company's outstanding voting securities
         immediately prior to such transaction, or

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                              (ii) any stockholder-approved transfer or other
               disposition of all or substantially all of the Company's assets,
               or

                              (iii) the acquisition, directly or indirectly, by
               any person or related group of persons (other than the Company or
               a person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by,
               or is under common control with, the Company), of beneficial
               ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the 1934 Act) of
               securities possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total
               combined voting power of the Company's outstanding securities
               pursuant to a tender or exchange offer made directly to the
               Company's stockholders.

                  In no event, however, shall a Change in Control be deemed to
occur in connection with any public offering of the Common Stock.

                  10.      RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.

                  During the Employment Period:

                              (i) Executive shall devote Executive's full time
               and energy solely and exclusively to the performance of
               Executive's duties described herein, except during periods of
               illness or vacation periods.

                              (ii) Executive shall not directly or indirectly
               provide services to or through any person, firm or other entity
               except the Company, unless otherwise authorized by the Board in
               writing.

                              (iii) Executive shall not render any services of
               any kind or character for Executive's own account or for any
               other person, firm or entity without first obtaining the
               Company's written consent.

Executive, however, shall have the right to perform such incidental services as
are necessary in connection with (a) Executive's private passive investments,
but only if Executive is not obligated or required to (and shall not in fact)
devote any managerial efforts which interfere with the services required to be
performed by him, or (b) Executive's charitable or community activities, or
participation in trade or professional organizations, but only if such
incidental services do not interfere with the performance of Executive's
services to the Company.

                  11.      NON-COMPETITION DURING THE EMPLOYMENT PERIOD.

                  Executive acknowledges and agrees that given the extent and
nature of the confidential and proprietary information he will obtain during the
course of his employment with the Company, it would be inevitable that such
confidential information would be disclosed or utilized by the Executive should
he obtain employment from, or otherwise become associated with, an entity or
person that is engaged in a business or enterprise that directly competes with
the Company. Consequently, during any period for which Executive is receiving
payments from the Company, either as wages or as a severance benefit, including
but not limited to severance

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pay pursuant to paragraph 7, Executive shall not, without prior written consent
of the Company's Board of Directors, directly or indirectly own, manage,
operate, join, control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or
control of, or be employed by or connected in any manner with, any enterprise
which is engaged in any business competitive with or similar to that of the
Company; provided, however, that such restriction shall not apply to any passive
investment representing an interest of less than two percent (2%) of an
outstanding class of publicly-traded securities of any Company or other
enterprise which is not, at the time of such investment, engaged in a business
competitive with the Company's business.

                  12.      NON-SOLICITATION.

                  During the Employment Period and for one (1) year following
termination of Executive's employment, Executive shall not encourage or solicit
any of the Company's employees to leave the Company's employ for any reason or
interfere in any other manner with employment relationships at the time existing
between the Company and its employees. In addition, Executive shall not solicit,
directly or indirectly, business from any client of the Company, induce any of
the Company's clients to terminate their existing business relationship with the
Company or interfere in any other manner with any existing business relationship
between the Company and any client or other third party.

                  Executive acknowledges that monetary damages may not be
sufficient to compensate the Company for any economic loss which may be incurred
by reason of his breach of the foregoing restrictive covenants. Accordingly, in
the event of any such breach, the Company shall, in addition to the termination
of this Agreement and any remedies available to the Company at law, be entitled
to obtain equitable relief in the form of an injunction precluding Executive
from continuing such breach.

                  13.      PROPRIETARY INFORMATION.

                  As a condition precedent to Executive's employment with the
Company, Executive will execute the Company's standard Confidential Information
and Assignment of Inventions Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A. Executive's
obligations pursuant to the Confidential Information and Assignment of
Inventions Agreement will survive termination of Executive's employment with the
Company.

                  14.      SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

                  This Agreement is personal in its nature and the Executive
shall not assign or transfer his rights under this Agreement. The provisions of
this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding on each successor
of the Company whether by merger, consolidation, transfer of all or
substantially all assets, or otherwise and the heirs and legal representatives
of Executive.

                  14.      NOTICES.

                  Any notices, demands or other communications required or
desired to be given by any party shall be in writing and shall be validly given
to another party if served either personally or if deposited in the United
States mail, certified or registered, postage prepaid,

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return receipt requested. If such notice, demand or other communication shall be
served personally, service shall be conclusively deemed made at the time of such
personal service. If such notice, demand or other communication is given by
mail, such notice shall be conclusively deemed given forty-eight (48) hours
after the deposit thereof in the United States mail addressed to the party to
whom such notice, demand or other communication is to be given as hereinafter
set forth:

         To the Company:

                  Human Resources Department
                  Specialty Laboratories, Inc.
                  2211 Michigan Avenue
                  Santa Monica, California 90404-3900

         To Executive:

                  Frank J. Spina
                  Current address as noted in
                  personnel file at Company

Any party may change its address for the purpose of receiving notices, demands
and other communications by providing written notice to the other party in the
manner described in this paragraph.

                  16.      GOVERNING DOCUMENTS.

                  This Agreement along with the documents expressly referenced
in this Agreement constitute the entire agreement and understanding of the
Company and Executive with respect to the terms and conditions of Executive's
employment with the Company and the payment of severance benefits and supersedes
all prior and contemporaneous written or verbal agreements and understandings
between Executive and the Company relating to such subject matter. This
Agreement may only be amended by written instrument signed by Executive and an
authorized officer of the Company. Any and all prior agreements, understandings
or representations relating to the Executive's employment with the Company are
terminated and cancelled in their entirety and are of no further force or
effect.

                  17.      GOVERNING LAW.

                  The provisions of this Agreement will be construed and
interpreted under the laws of the State of California. If any provision of this
Agreement as applied to any party or to any circumstance should be adjudged by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be void or unenforceable for any reason, the
invalidity of that provision shall in no way affect (to the maximum extent
permissible by law) the application of such provision under circumstances
different from those adjudicated by the court, the application of any other
provision of this Agreement, or the enforceability or invalidity of this
Agreement as a whole. Should any provision of this Agreement become or be deemed
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction by reason of the scope,
extent or duration of its coverage, then such provision shall

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be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law so as to
be valid and enforceable or, if such provision cannot be so amended without
materially altering the intention of the parties, then such provision will be
stricken and the remainder of this Agreement shall continue in full force and
effect.

                  18.      REMEDIES.

                  All rights and remedies provided pursuant to this Agreement or
by law shall be cumulative, and no such right or remedy shall be exclusive of
any other. A party may pursue any one or more rights or remedies hereunder or
may seek damages or specific performance in the event of another party's breach
hereunder or may pursue any other remedy by law or equity, whether or not stated
in this Agreement.

                  19.      ARBITRATION.

                  Executive and the Company shall separately execute an
Arbitration Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B which, among
other things shall provide for arbitration of all claims which arise out of
Executive's employment under the terms of this Agreement. This Arbitration
Agreement will survive the termination of Executive's employment with the
company.

                  20.      NO WAIVER.

                  The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of
this Agreement shall not operate as or be construed as a waiver of any later
breach of that provision.

                  21.      COUNTERPARTS.

                  This Agreement may be executed in more than one counterpart,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute but one and the same instrument.

                                             Specialty Laboratories, Inc.

                                             /s/ JAMES B. PETER
                                             --------------------------------
                                             By:  James B. Peter M.D., Ph.D.
                                             Title: Chairman and CEO

                                             /s/ FRANK J. SPINA
                                             --------------------------------
                                             Frank J. Spina

                                     7Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION www.edgaradvantage.com

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EXHIBIT 10.1  

  
      PROMISSORY NOTE         

	$6,692,722	 	Omaha, Nebraska
	 	 	July 21, 2000

    FOR
VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, SD ACQUISITION INC., a Nebraska corporation and any surviving entity ("Maker"), hereby promises to pay to the order of
TRANSGENOMIC, INC., a Delaware corporation ("Holder"), the principal sum of SIX MILLION SIX HUNDRED NINETY TWO THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY TWO AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($6,692,722) (the "Principal
Balance") together with interest thereon which has accrued on the unpaid portion of the Principal Balance through the date of payment in full ("Interest"). Interest shall accrue on the Principal
Balance from the date hereof until this Note is fully paid at a rate of eight-and-three-quarters percent (8.75%) per annum computed on the basis of the actual number of days
elapsed without compounding. The Principal Balance and all Interest shall be due and payable on December 30, 2000 (the "Maturity Date"). 

    The
Principal Balance of this Note may be prepaid in whole or in part at any time prior to the Maturity Date. At the time of prepayment there will be due and owing to the Holder all
accrued but unpaid Interest. Payment of the Principal Balance and Interest shall be made by wire transfer to an account designated by Holder or by such other means as the Holder may reasonably
require. 

    Upon
any Event of Default (as defined below), the Holder may, without notice or demand, declare the then outstanding Principal Balance and all outstanding Interest immediately due and
payable. Unless waived by the Holder, any one of the following shall constitute an Event of Default under this Note: 

    (a) Maker
has made any material misstatement of fact, misrepresentation or omission with respect to, or has otherwise defaulted in the performance of any term,
condition, covenant or other agreement, which default has not been waived or cured with respect to, any provision, representation or warranty set forth in this Note, that certain Asset Purchase
Agreement, dated May 16, 2000, between Maker and Holder (the "Agreement"), or any other agreements between Maker and Holder; 

    (b) Maker
fails to pay the Principal Balance and all accrued and unpaid Interest on or before the Maturity Date as may be required herein or in the Agreement; and 

    (c) Maker
(i) fails to pay or otherwise defaults with respect to any material indebtedness, installment contract or any other material obligation;
(ii) becomes insolvent, generally fails to pay, or admits in writing its inability to pay, its debts as they become due; (iii) makes an assignment for the benefit of creditors; or
(iv) files or has filed against it involuntarily a petition in bankruptcy or institutes any action under any applicable laws providing for the relief of debtors or seeks or consents to the
appointment of an administrator, receiver, custodian, or similar official for his assets (or has such a petition or action filed against it and such petition or action or appointment is not dismissed
or stayed within ninety (90) days). The Maker expressly waives presentment, protest, demand, notice of dishonor or default. 

    This
Note shall inure to the benefit of the successors, legal representatives and assigns of the Holder. 

    To
secure the timely payment of all Principal Balance and the Interest under this Note and the performance by Maker of all of its commitments and obligations under the Agreement,
Maker hereby pledges and grants to the Holder a security interest in all of the right, title and interest of the Maker in and to all of the assets, interests and undertakings of Maker, including,
without limitation, all equipment, inventory and accounts, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, existing or arising, tangible or intangible, including, without limitation, all general intangible
property, wherever located, together with all renewals thereof, substitutions therefor and proceeds thereof and all interest, dividends, income and revenue therefrom (the "Collateral"); and Maker
hereby grants to Holder a security interest in the 

1

Collateral and acknowledges and agrees to take all steps necessary to perfect such security interest in accordance with the applicable laws of the State of Nebraska, including, without limitation, the
Uniform Commercial Code of the State of Nebraska as it may be amended from time to time (the "UCC").  This instrument shall constitute a security agreement to the extent the
Collateral constitutes personal property, and Holder shall have all of the rights of a "Secured Party" under the UCC. 

    As
of the date hereof, Maker represents and warrants that there are no liens, mortgages or other encumbrances affecting or otherwise limiting or restricting the transferability of any
or all of the Collateral other than those existing under any capital leases or similar arrangements with respect to property or equipment leased by Maker. Maker waives any right to require Holder to
proceed against another person or to exhaust the Collateral or to pursue any other remedy which Holder may have. Maker waives presentment, demand for performance, notice of nonperformance, protest,
notice of protest and dishonor with respect to the Collateral. Maker waives the right to require Holder to preserve rights against prior parties to instruments or chattel paper. 

    Except
in an Event of Default, Maker shall retain all of its rights to, and use of, the Collateral and to the use of the profits or proceeds from the Collateral. 

    No
amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Note, nor consent to any departure by the Maker from the terms hereof, shall be effective unless the same shall be in a
writing signed by an authorized officer of the Holder, and then only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No failure to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any right under
the Agreement or this Note shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any right under the Agreement or this Note preclude any other or further exercise thereof or
the exercise of any other right. Each and every right granted hereunder or by law or at equity shall be deemed cumulative, and such remedies may be exercised from time to time concurrently or
consecutively. 

    All
notices which may be given in connection with this Note shall be given in the manner required for notices under the Agreement. 

    Any
term of this Note that does not comply with applicable law will not be effective if that law does not expressly or impliedly permit variations by agreement. If any part of this
Note cannot be enforced according to its terms, that fact will not affect the balance of this Note. 

    The
Maker's rights and obligations under this Note are not assignable or delegable without the prior written consent of the Holder. 

    This
Note will be governed by the laws of the United States and the State of Nebraska, including the Uniform Commercial Code. The terms of any agreement securing the payment of this
Note may also be governed by the law of the state where the property is located. 

    IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Maker has executed and delivered this Note effective as of the date first set forth above. 

	 	 	MAKER:
	 

 	 
 	 

SD ACQUISITION INC.
	 

 	 
 	 

By	 
 	 

/s/ STEPHEN F. DWYER   
 Stephen F. Dwyer, President

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PROMISSORY NOTE

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