The National Academy of Sciences has unanimously recommended 13 measures to address problems plaguing crime-lab forensics, including a call for massive forensic-science research sponsored and funded by a science-based agency outside the Department of Justice.

For Florida's Advanced Environmental Laboratories, success is achieved through strong management support and smart hiring.

Most laboratory water purification systems contain a resistivity or conductivity meter and cell to monitor the purity level of the water. Resistivity is the reciprocal of conductivity and either may be used to inexpensively monitor the ionic purity of water.

The role of food labs in the development of new flavours, textures and products.

Launched in 2006 in part to solidify North Carolina's standing as a national biotech hub, the BioNetwork mobile laboratory is outfitted with life science workstations, specialized equipment, and experienced faculty.

Precision Antibody, part of A&G Pharmaceutical, Inc., is a contract company that creates custom antibodies for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and federal and academic research labs. Lab manager Joe Corvera shares how he and his staff of nine successfully manage hundreds of projects each year in their 8,000-square-foot lab.

The U.S. imports food from more than 150 countries and territories. Much of it is fresh produce and seafood, which can carry microscopic contaminants. While these contaminants become smaller and more sophisticated and food safety laws become stricter, food testing laboratories are coming up with new technologies and processes to detect chemical toxins before they reach the consumer.

Contract labs perform scientific research and testing on one or more components of projects for external clients. Contracts can last anywhere from only a few weeks for a single, specific task to many years for extended projects. Taylor Technology Inc., a subsidiary of PharmaNet Development Group Inc., is a drug development contract research organization focused on bioanalysis, the measurement of potentially new chemicals or molecular entities (new treatments) in biological samples.

Lab manager Larry Decker's TestAmerica environmental lab in Connecticut is where he and his staff analyze thousands of soil, wastewater, and monitoring well samples each month. One key to the lab's success is a management team that works on training every individual to be reactive and ready to go if the person is needed in a different department.

Its a little like the hit CBS show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation–a team of experts solving crime by examining pieces of evidence from a scene where things have gone wrong.

Academic labs attract stimulus money but funding challenges remain