Asbestos Testing Lab in Kalamazoo
In Kalamazoo, "Jerry" sat at his computer, wondering what the best asbestos testing laboratory was. He had a joint compound sample that he wanted tested, but didn't want to take it somewhere unreliable. Afterall, when you choose an asbestos lab, you want to make sure they're the best one possible. You don't want just some Joe Schmo to figure out if you have a carcinogen in your wall or floor. You want the best Joe! But how do you find him/her? Most people think of certifications or reviews, but what about the overall quality of their procedures? At PEL Labs, we keep to governmental standards; here's a look behind the scenes at what that means!
Firstly, we double-check many samples with another analyst. This can either be a part of our monthly quality control assessment, or it could just be that we're not sure about a result. For example, Analyst A tests a 9x9 floor tile, but does not find asbestos; they ask Analyst B to check the sample to be sure that there isn't asbestos (this can happen, even if it's likely for 9x9 tiles!) If Analyst B does not find asbestos, then there's no issue because both agree. You can be assured that your sample has been double checked either way, and the most accurate result will be reported to you.
Secondly, if Analyst B does find asbestos, then Analyst A will reflect on why they did not find it. can result in a corrective action, in which the analyst writes down what they did improperly and studies ways they can do better next time. This can mean consulting with more experienced analysts, figuring out where they went wrong, or whatever we feel is necessary to not repeat a mistake. Was it a difficult tile due to its composition? Was there a better method to find the asbestos? We always try to improve our methods and prevent mistakes; hence, we always rely on each other to check our work. While we're not perfect, you can be rest assured that we're doing our best to use our experience to give you the best results! This is exactly what we told Jerry for his asbestos testing in Kalamazoo. He felt much better afterwards!
Thirdly, we check all our chemicals, tools, and equipment every morning before we begin analysis for the day. Chemicals are checked for any potential contamination with positive samples. If a substance is contaminated, we wash it out, refill it with clean material, and double check it just to be sure. Next, we check our tools for the same thing. While we keep them clean between projects, and even between samples, there's always the chance we did not clean them well enough at the end of the day. Thus, every morning we make a slide, dip our tools in the prepared oil, and check to make sure nothing we're using has asbestos on it. We also check to make sure our microscopes are working properly, as well as our air hoods, stereoscopes, and other equipment. If we did not do all the above, we could potentially give you a false positive and no one wants that! So, we do this every day and fill it out in a checklist.
Keep in mind, this is by no means everything we do to assure quality results for our customers! But, if we told you everything we did, we'd be here for hours. So, this is just a glimpse into how we do our best to make sure your home is safe for renovation, demolition, or whatever reason you've come to work with us. Whether you're looking for asbestos testing in Kalamazoo or beyond, if you're looking for results you can trust, come to PEL Labs!