Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). This term is far from new to the world of laboratory science. In fact, the initial development of GLP principles can be traced back to 1978, when the FDA released a set of guidelines intended to create a verifiable testing record in laboratory testing throughout the United States.

Since then, GLP has become the industry’s touchstone for reliability and repeatability in the laboratory setting. Many point to GLP adherence as indicative of an advanced commitment to quality. Though related, the two are actually quite different.

While an advanced quality bioanalytical laboratory like BioAgilytix strictly adheres to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) standards, it is not necessarily the case that a GLP laboratory is also one categorized as ‘advanced’ when it comes to quality.

But how do you differentiate an advanced quality laboratory from one that simply satisfies Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) requirements?

While GLP standards remain a mandatory fixture of reliable laboratory testing, an advanced quality laboratory is not satisfied with data integrity alone. The difference comes down to the advanced quality laboratory’s pervasive and tireless commitment to continual improvement—not only in data integrity, but also in safety, responsibility and innovation.

Let’s take a look how an advanced quality laboratory builds upon the solid foundation set by GLP adherence to set a new standard for excellence in four pillars of laboratory excellence.

  1. Responsibility: The advanced quality laboratory extends quality into every facet of the business—including project management. This means assuming responsibility for project timelines and budgets, identifying potential pitfalls and challenges, and proactively finding solutions.
  2. Cleanliness & Safety: When a laboratory takes an advanced approach to quality, its facility is reflective of such a commitment. The overt measures taken to uphold cleanliness and safety within a bioanalytical laboratory facility are outward indicators of what goes on behind closed doors—the quality of testing services.
  3. Integrity: Integrity is a critical pillar of the advanced quality laboratory. When it comes to data integrity, this means strict adherence to Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) guidelines in the reporting and protection of valuable analysis output. Delivering data in formats that uphold regulatory standards is just as important as providing frequent backups, offsite archiving, redundant power supplies, and security to safeguard that data. When it comes to the laboratory’s character, integrity means reliably rendering services, communicating results, and providing the client with ultimate transparency.
  4. Innovation: Today, a host of laboratory automation tools are available, as well as advanced bioanalytical platforms to support, speed and augment testing services. The advanced quality laboratory is continually looking for new ways to progress, and knows how to apply the same level of quality and performance across methodologies and platforms, both existing and emerging.

With the complexities of bioanalytical laboratory research at an all time high, it is critical that clients seeking a bioanalytical CRO understand the difference between GLP adherence and an advanced approach to quality, and settle for nothing less than a partner that upholds quality as its central goal.

As an advanced quality laboratory, BioAgilytix complies fully with GLP standards while also setting an advanced standard for responsibility, cleanliness and safety, integrity and innovation. To learn more about how we continually perform for our clients to meet all of their bioanalytical testing needs, contact a member of our team.