Fraud Blocker Laboratories - Weston Solutions

Laboratories

Accurate and actionable information

Customizable lab services produce cutting-edge analysis

There is an increasing need to support local communities in limiting their exposure to pathogenic contaminants in air, water, soil, and biota. Environmental regulations are becoming progressively stringent, so in addition to protecting our families, friends, and neighbors, commercial and government entities are facing the complex challenge of maintaining regulatory compliance without sacrificing profitability. With a vested interest in people and emerging technologies, Weston offers a wide range of high-quality, innovative laboratory services at competitive prices to help our clients make informed decisions for protecting human health and the environment.

Our molecular biology and air quality laboratories work seamlessly with our clients to meet critical timelines and regulatory requirements. Weston leads one of the only two Microbial Source Tracking laboratories licensed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the nation. For over 20 years, our air quality laboratory, certified under the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP), has provided in-house testing and analytical excellence with quick turnaround times for our clients.

Both laboratories work seamlessly to meet critical timelines and regulatory requirements by offering customizable services, state-of-the-art analysis, and sustainable practices for risk management and compliance.

 

Molecular Biology Laboratory Services

  • Cyanobacteria in Surface Water
  • SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater
  • Microbial Source Tracking
  • Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA)

Air Quality Laboratory Services

  • Emissions testing
  • Industrial Air Emissions
  • Cluster Rule
  • CCA
  • MATS
  • Boiler MACT Programs

We serve your laboratory needs from the forefront of innovation and discovery.

Molecular Biology Laboratory Services

Weston’s Molecular Biology Laboratory provides state-of-the-art quantification of a wide range of biological targets, which includes detection of pathogens and microbial source tracking markers in a variety of environmental matrices (soil, sediment, surface and groundwater, wastewater, air, etc.), cyanobacteria in surface waters, SARS-CoV-2 testing in wastewater, and many more.

Cyanobacteria in Surface Water

Blooms of harmful algae with toxin-producing cyanobacteria are steadily increasing in occurrence and intensity. These blooms adversely affect our rivers, streams, lakes, and even drinking water reservoirs, presenting a very serious danger to animals and humans alike. Our scientists and engineers test water samples to assess and remediate recreational waters of toxic algae, demonstrating our strong commitment to public health.

SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater

Originally intended to supply health officials with information about community transmission of COVID-19, wastewater testing has proven to be an essential tool for identifying early warning signs of surges. Like many global communities, our clients saw a direct correlation between increases in SARS-CoV-2 concentrations and increases in reported illness. As a proud service provider of SARS-CoV-2 testing since April 2020, Weston recognizes wastewater-based epidemiology will remain integral to the fight against future and existing outbreaks.

Microbial Source Tracking

Weston deploys this versatile tool for fecal source identification, whether to protect swimmers from pathogenic diseases, investigate E. coli outbreaks and foodborne illnesses, evaluate pathways of contamination, track wind deposition of feedlot manure, or protect against aerosol emissions from wastewater treatment plants. Our staff has conducted over 100 Microbial Source Tracking studies, leveraging cutting-edge equipment for a wide range of fecal markers. Licensed under EPA, our laboratory employs patented assays and methods including EPA Methods 1696 and 1697 to detect and quantify pathogen genes and, ultimately, reduce health risks to the communities and clients we serve.

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA)

Weston implements this modeling approach to estimate exposure risk to infectious pathogens from recreational activities such as swimming or surfing. Our laboratory is well-equipped to detect and quantify a broad spectrum of pathogens through various sample matrices that ensure scientifically sound results. We also use QMRA to develop site-specific criteria where sources are largely characterized as non-human or non-fecal; optimize treatment systems to eliminate pathogens, and deduce potential health impacts of stormwater runoff.

High-quality defensible data

Testing with the Molecular Biology Laboratory includes the following features and benefits:

  • Commercial EPA license for various assays
  • Rigorous QA/QC analog to chemical analytics
  • MIQE compatible results
  • Matrix inhibition assessment and process controls in every sample
  • Quantitative PCR (qPCR) and Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) testing formats available
  • Reaction ddPCR for absolute gene quantification

MOLECULAR SERVICES (qPCR and ddPCR)

  • Over 30 targets
  • MST (e.g., human, dog, bird, cow, horse)
  • Pathogen quantification (e.g., norovirus, adenovirus, enterovirus, Campylobacter, Salmonella)
  • Indicator organisms (e.g., E. coli, enterococci, general Bacteroidales)
  • Invasive species
  • Cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin genes

Air Quality Laboratory Services

Comprehensive testing

Our air quality laboratory supports emissions testing for Industrial Air Emissions, Cluster Rule, CCA, MATS, and Boiler MACT Programs. We analyze ammonia, chlorine, formaldehyde, hydrogen chloride, methanol, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), particulate matter, terpenes, and many other air pollutants.

Unparalleled follow-through

Our staff work tirelessly to meet client deadlines, paying close attention to detail when analyzing results and looking for trends to identify potential issues early. We take care of every client, new or existing, by monitoring our samples from arrival to reporting; delivering accurate defensible results; improving processes and procedures; and building trusting relationships.

Air quality laboratory services

Compliant and adaptive to changing regulations, our services test for the following contaminants:

  • ammonia
  • chlorine/chlorine dioxide
  • formaldehyde
  • HAPs
  • hydrogen halides and halogens
  • mercury
  • methanol
  • particulate matter
  • sulfur dioxide
  • sulfuric acid
  • terpenes.