Company background:
(1) owners and management structure
(2) history of sanctions
(3) where testing will be performed especially if there is more than one location
References:
(1) list of clients
(2) list of clients who have recently joined
(3) other people who can comment on the company
Certification:
(1) agencies
(2) recent deficiencies
Operations:
(1) test menu
(2) referral to other laboratories if testing not done
(3) computer interface
(4) shipping specimens
(5) ordering supplies
(6) willingness to handle chain of custody
(7) periodic reports of problems that have occurred with your laboratory and their resolution
(8) person handling your account
(9) chance of being a local competitor
Contract and billing:
(1) fee schedule and discounts
(2) contractural requirements (percent of specimens, etc)
Professional services:
(1) consultant
(2) test interpretation
(3) ability to testify in legal cases (drug confirmation, genetic identification, etc)
A final decision often entails a site visit.
