The contract research organisation (CRO) believes that locating its central laboratories across five continents allows it to cut transport costs, reduce concerns about import and export permits, provide local investigator support and enhance sample stability.
By expanding the facility Quintiles has managed to consolidate three buildings into one complex. The new building covers 115,000 sq ft (10,350 sq m) and employs more than 500 people who provide an array of lab services, spanning chemistry, haematology, biomarkers and coagulation.
At the heart of the new facility is an 80,000 sq ft central laboratory which more than doubles previous capacity and increases throughput of clinical trial materials. Furthermore, the site can process up to three times more kits per day.
The site also houses one of Quintiles’ three assay development laboratories. These laboratories specialise in the technical transfer of methods and assays and also validate commercial instruments and assays for research.
Tom Wollman, senior vice president, Quintiles global central laboratories, added: “Every aspect of the building was designed to handle projects with the greatest accuracy, speed and efficiency – delivering high quality consistently to our customers.”
The facility uses “the latest technology and equipment, testing standards, practices and capabilities”, according to Wollman, and is also BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) certified for sustainable design and low environmental impact.
Quintiles claims to have the largest central laboratory network in the world accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP). This includes sites in Scotland, Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Japan, South Africa, the US and Singapore.
Wollman believes this network is an “unsurpassed combination of global resources, state-of-the-art buildings and equipment, staff experience and expertise, and high-quality, accurate service” that makes Quintiles the “provider of choice for laboratory services”.