You should work with environmental testing labs if you run operations that could generate pollution. They will help you reduce pollution and protect the environment. Finding the right laboratory is no different from finding the right accountant or event caterer. You will get recommendations from people from your social circle.

You will look at the laboratory’s marketing materials, experience, capabilities and references. You will also compare the prices and get a tour of the facility. You will be able to make the right decision if you get the right information.

But the problem is that testing requires a level of technical expertise. Most compliance managers don’t have the required technical expertise. This puts managers at a disadvantage in choosing a lab that meets their needs. There will be two consequences if your lab provides erroneous results. The first consequence is that if the results of the lab are used and they are wrong then you will be found in violation of the regulations and environmental laws. You will be slapped with penalties. The second consequence is that you may find yourself complying with the regulations but shouldering pollution measures when you do not have to do so.

We aren’t suggesting that compliance managers should study biology or chemistry to know which laboratory is right for them. But it is necessary for them to be deliberate in choosing a lab to analyze the samples. Consider the following things to choose the right environmental testing professionals.

Experience

The experience of the lab in analyzing the types of samples you want to be analyzed should be considered. Make sure the lab performs the specific analyses that you need. Some labs may be niche organizations that specialize in analyses based on a particular matrix or a particular analyte. Others are full-service companies that can deal with different types of analyses and media.

A lot of labs perform routine groundwater or surface water analyses. Organic chemistry analyses for drinking water and dioxin analyses are the two water analyses types.

Certification

You should consider the certification of the lab when choosing a testing lab. Check whether the certification includes the types of sample media and analyses you need. Some certifications cover drinking water and others may cover water, different types of solid waste, hazardous waste and so on. You should ask what the certification covers.

Capacity

You should check and ensure the lab you are considering has the capacity to handle your samples on your schedule. Check whether the lab has sufficient instruments and personnel to handle the sample load you want to test. Most laboratories can handle less than forty samples without any problem.

You should get lab assurance that the lab can handle your workload if you want to analyze a large number of samples at once. A lab that doesn’t have the capacity to handle your load will not meet your needs.

Other factors

Other factors you need to consider when choosing environmental testing labs include turnaround time, location, the quality assurance of the lab, the qualification of the staff, record retention, chain of custody of samples, contents of the report you’ll get and whether the lab subcontracts some of your work.