7 Criteria to Consider When Choosing an Environmental Testing Lab

Is your school’s water safe to drink? Does your plastic product contain harmful phthalates? Will your automotive part withstand rough road conditions?

Answers to these pressing questions can be found through environmental testing. Choosing the right testing partner can help ensure safety, reliability, and compliance with regulatory and industry standards.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Guidance:

“Careful selection of laboratories and analytical methods is critical to the success of your project. Many routine laboratory procedures may not be able to support your data quality needs and/or report data to low enough limits to support decisions for your specific project…. If an inappropriate laboratory and/or analytical procedure are selected, you may end up having to repeat your entire study.”

When evaluating environmental testing labs, it’s important to find a provider with the team and technology to deliver accurate results, meaningful insights, and customer service that meets your needs and expectations.

As one of North America’s most trusted Lab Services providers, Industrial Inspection & Analysis (IIA) offers these key areas to consider when choosing an environmental testing lab.

Capabilities

There are many different types of environmental testing, and the field is always evolving. Position your project for success by ensuring that your inspection provider has the knowledge and experience to do the job right the first time. Choose a lab that offers the specific tests you need (air, water, soil, hazardous waste, etc.) and can test to the required level of accuracy. It’s also helpful to understand a provider’s ability to assist with data interpretation and additional testing, if needed.

If you are not clear on the specific tests you need, potential partners should be able to provide guidance on the particular analyses required for your project.

Tip: Ask about a potential provider’s testing capabilities and staff qualifications, and inquire about any unique areas of specialization. Be sure that the lab is equipped with modern, well-maintained and calibrated equipment that can test to required detection limits. You may wish to request references or case studies from similar testing projects.

Regulatory & Industry Expertise

Different regulatory requirements and testing standards apply depending on your industry and project. It’s important that potential providers have an in-depth understanding of all applicable codes, standards, and regulations affecting your project.

Tip: Be sure potential lab partners use recognized testing methods (e.g., EPA, ASTM, or ISO) and comply with all local, state, and federal regulations that apply to your project.

Customer Service

Before choosing a testing partner, gauge the level of support you will receive both during and after testing. The best labs are staffed by knowledgeable, experienced personnel capable of interpreting your test results. Beyond technical expertise, your lab partner should provide timely responses and ongoing support.

Lab personnel should always be willing to answer questions, even after the job is done. Some providers may also offer amenities such as sample collection or courier services. Ideally, a lab partner will also be able to offer guidance and support during regulatory audits or legal inquiries, if the need arises.

Tip: Ask about the company’s customer service philosophy, and be clear about your expectations. You may also wish to request references who can provide insight into a provider’s customer service.

Certifications & Accreditations

Look for a respected, reputable lab that is certified by local, state, or federal regulatory bodies and standards organizations like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Specifically, ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation confirms that the lab uses validated methods that meet international standards for competence and quality control. Along with company credentials, be sure that testing will be performed by trained and experienced personnel.

Tip: Ask about company accreditations, QA plans, standard operating procedures, and staff qualifications to ensure a high level of competence and confidence in test results.

Turnaround Time

To ensure that your project’s goals and schedule are achieved, ask potential providers how quickly they can turn your project around. If your preferred provider cannot accommodate your request within your desired timeframe, you may need to widen your search for potential partners.

Tip: Ask about typical turnaround times and whether expedited services are available — if so, do additional charges apply?

Reporting

Before selecting a lab provider, it’s important to have an idea of how they will communicate test results. Top-notch providers will deliver clear, comprehensive reports that will help you plan and prioritize corrective actions.

Tip: Ask to see sample reports, and find out if the lab offers digital data that easily integrates into your organization’s systems.

Cost vs. Value

Cost is a major factor when choosing an environmental testing lab, but it is far from the only consideration. To be sure you understand the full scope of costs, ask for a detailed quote and transparency on all charges.

Beyond dollars and cents, it’s important to consider the value you will receive for the price you pay. Will the provider respond promptly to your questions and requests? Do they have experts who can provide assistance if you need additional testing or regulatory guidance? In the long run, the lowest-cost option may prove more expensive, particularly if a provider is not responsive or provides questionable results that put safety, health, or compliance at risk.

Tip: Ask for a detailed quote, and consider whether the firm’s pricing reflects the level of expertise and post-inspection support you need and expect. As you compare proposals, be sure to balance cost with quality.

Other Factors to Consider

All things being equal, the convenience of a lab’s location may be worth considering. Working with an environmental testing lab in your area may help you reduce sample transport time and costs. However, overnight courier services put out-of-state labs on a more level playing field with local labs.

You may want to tour labs that are within driving distance. For labs further away, consider asking for a virtual tour.

Why Choose IIA?

IIA’s ISO-accredited lab in St. Louis provides an array of environmental testing, as well as material and product testing services and chemical analyses. Our Environmental Testing Services include:

• TCLP
• Water Testing
• Waste Water Analysis
• Priority Pollutants
• Sludge, Trace Elements & RoHS Compliance
• Metals Testing
• Bacteria Testing
• Temperature & Humidity Testing
• Other Testing (FCC, USP, Ink, Cleanliness, Titrations, Phthalates, Flash Point, Anions & More)
• Sampling & Sample Pickup Options

Beyond environmental testing, our full range of lab services includes conventional and advanced NDT, mechanical, chemical, metallurgical, metrology, EMC/RF, fluid analysis, and more.

We are ISO 17025:2017 accredited and certified to test for lead in drinking water (turbidity and pH) and Consumer Product Safety Commission approved.

IIA serves a variety of industries across North America, and our labs are filled with knowledgeable, impartial, and enthusiastic professionals eager to work with you. We understand that testing delays can be costly, so we prioritize quick turnaround times, along with accurate results.

When you need accurate, affordable testing and unrivaled customer support, Industrial Inspection & Analysis is at your service. We’ve been a trusted testing partner for nearly a century, and we hope you will put our reputation to the test.