At PTL, we take pride in the special care we give each sample submission. From projects of ambitious scale to single, one-time analyses, our process is tested and reliable to bring you results you can count on every time. But what does that process look like? Let’s step inside PTL’s front doors and take a broad look at the project lifecycle here in our lab, following samples from the time they first land in our hands to the delivery of your final report.
Whether you are a repeat client who we know well or someone interested in contacting us for the first time, we hope to show you that no matter how big or how small your needs, you are in good hands at PTL!
May I Take Your Order?
The first stop on a sample’s journey is right inside PTL’s doors. Every day, delivery drivers drop off samples in our Order Entry team’s care. Our Order Entry specialists take their time opening these packages, checking and double-checking that we have received everything in good order. Our team are experts at sample shipping and receiving, and, should anything look out of place, they are quick to pick up the phone or email you for clarification or guidance as needed to ensure that things are done right the first time. Once they have checked that we received all samples, required paperwork, and any other relevant information, the fun can truly begin.
From here, the Order Entry team enters each project into our project workflow database. Every project is assigned a unique project number, and each sample is labeled with a unique PTL sample ID for internal tracking purposes. All of the paperwork is collated into a file while the samples themselves are labeled, collected together into a container, and stored under appropriate conditions. Then, the files are distributed across PTL to move on to the next step of the process.
Assignment: The Unsung Hero
Perhaps the most underappreciated part of the project lifecycle, all projects go through assignment before officially heading off to the lab for analysis. Project files pass through the offices of one of our lab managers or team leads where analyses are assigned to trained chemists. During this step, the assigner will make sure that the correct techniques and/or test methods and procedures are being applied to each project and give guidance to the lab staff that will be involved in the analyses if necessary.
If it is your first time or if you are a repeat client with a new sample type, our knowledgeable assigners will sometimes take a closer look at your samples to make sure that we provide the best results possible the first time around. Is the requested analytical technique correct for these samples? Is the particulate agglomerating or does it contain particles outside of the ideal analytical range? What carrier fluids and dispersion methods should be evaluated for the proper dispersion of this sample type? All of these questions and more can be answered by our assigners who add further value through their first hand sample observations and attention to analytical detail, and that information is passed along to the chemists who will ultimately perform your testing.
Into the Lab We Go
Next, projects move into the lab to be analyzed by our capable team of chemists. Here, testing is carried out on the samples following the requested techniques and procedures. Our chemists work diligently not only to provide results in a timely fashion but also with an eye for quality and analytical integrity.
After analysis, the data are reviewed; first by the chemist, then by a technical reviewer. A number of our clients, particularly those working in the world of pharmaceutical development, request an additional review by our quality assurance team at this stage as well. Once all reviews are completed, and we are sure that the data we are providing is of the highest quality, the preliminary data is sent to you.
So, the data is in your hands. That means we are done, right? Think again! There is yet one more stop in the lifecycle of a project here at PTL, and it is no less important than all that has come before.
The Final Step: Reporting
Here, at the final destination on our lifecycle tour, is where we tie everything up with a bow on top. After the preliminary data is sent, the project file will go over to one of our Technical Writers. In this phase, the project information and data are collected and summarized into a final report. This report is the final deliverable provided to our clients at the project’s end.
The report is first drafted wherein all project details and data are summarized, and any comments are included if the project scope/complexity calls for further written detail. Then, the draft is typically reviewed by the project director (the chemist) and the technical reviewer. Here, the lab staff get another chance to review all of the data and project details.
When the draft review is complete, a final report is prepared on PTL’s letterhead and signed by the project director and the technical reviewer. Then, if the client has requested regulatory compliance (cGMP or ISO 17025), it is off to one of our quality assurance team members for final review and their signature. Once that is done, the final report is sent to you!
Conclusion
Like gears in a well-oiled machine, everyone at PTL works together to get the job done and to get it done well. Whether you work in pharmaceuticals, beauty and cosmetics, environmental, or one of the many other industries that PTL has years of experience working with, you can rest easy knowing that our team is well-practiced at bringing quality results to you.
Interested in getting started? Contact us today or request a quote for all of your analytical needs!
