• The lab should be clean, free of excessive clutter, and with no environmental problems (particulates, dust, outside contamination, odors, etc.).  The labs we visited this summer were all above average.  In the past, we have seen some real horrors!
• Equipment that is reasonably modern and well maintained.  It does not need to be the newest model, but should be clean and functioning.  Instruments with chemical stains, visible residues, and missing/not installed parts do not get good grades.  This year, most were acceptable.
• Effective written laboratory procedures for critical lab operations and methods.  Most labs were operating under GMP, but those requirements don't always mean that the actual procedures are practical or efficient.  We look for details that show the lab is organized, not just controlled.  Mixed grades on this one.
• Staff who are motivated and capable of following the correct procedures.  This criterion usually means that staff are properly trained.  Since many of our visits were for training, the labs were often at a lower level.  However, the fact that we were asked to provide training indicates that the lab is at least making an effort.
• Using instruments and software effectively.  Most labs have equipment and software that can inject samples, collect data, calculate results, and generate reports with little or no analyst intervention. On this topic most labs failed!  Some labs were still collecting paper outputs, typing numbers into Excel, and then transferring to a report.  Some labs still use manual injection for analyses that would be much more cost-effective and accurate if an autosampler were purchased.
• Attitude.  As "outsiders" to the organization, we often get to hear what the lab staff really think about the company and how it is managed.  Results were very uneven, ranging from anger at one extreme to fun and laughter at the other.  (Note to management: spend more time listening.)

So how did these nine labs do?  None failed, but we couldn't really give an "A" grade to any either.  All had room for improvement, some more than others. 

How is your lab doing on these criteria?  What grade would you give your own lab for each item, and overall?

If you are doing HPLC, you can get an idea of how the "good" labs operate their instruments.  We have collected our experiences and advice from 30 years of lab visits into a webinar entitled "Best Practices in HPLC"  We are offering this presentation twice in September.  See details below.

Webinar Training

Best Practices in HPLC

Monday, Sep. 23, 2013 (2 PM ET)
Friday, Sep. 27, 2013 (11 AM ET)

Does your lab do HPLC the right way?  You will learn how the good labs operate during this presentation.

Understanding the Calibration Curve

Friday, Sep. 27, 2013 2 PM ET

Did you know that the correlation coefficient is not always a good indication of calibration quality?  Attend this webinar to learn this and other important facts about your calibrated methods.

Agilent Software/Hardware Training
Is your Agilent equipment not being utilized to its full capabilities?  We have more than a decade of experience training users to fully understand and use the software and hardware.  These highly rated events are sponsored by Agilent at their North American Training Center in Atlanta, GA, and feature lectures with a hands-on laboratory.

Infinity HPLC Maintenance and Troubleshooting
December 17 - 18, 2013 (seats available)
Learn how to maintain your 1220, 1260, and 1290 instruments.

HPLC OpenLab ChemStation Operation
October 15 - 18, 2013 (seats available)
January 14 - 17, 2014 (seats available)
Learn all the features of this new software program.

Introduction to HPLC and the HPLC ChemStation
October 8 - 11, 2013 (seats available)
This course provides complete operations training for ChemStation B.04.03.  Everyone learns something new.

• Secrets of the ChemStation (Parts 1, 2, and 3)
• Reducing Integration Errors in Chromatography (Parts 1 and 2)
• Understanding the Calibration Curve
• Practical Laboratory Statistics
• HPLC Basics for Quality Staff and Auditors
• Best Practices in HPLC Column Selection