Laboratory Capabilities

Where Knowledge Meets Innovation

Supporting public health and large-scale epidemiologic studies for over two decades.

For over two decades, clients have come to DLH in search of expertise, scientific acumen, and innovative solutions. Our laboratory and database staff customize services to meet the specific needs of each client – from specimen collection protocols to specimen receipt, collection kit design and assembly, shipping, processing, storage, analysis, and beyond.

Our Capabilities

Specimen Collection

Customized Protocols

Quality Assurance

Laboratory Support

Field Studies and Specimen Collection

Beyond specimen management, we offer guidance in planning specimen collection and coordination of field activities, including identifying risks and proposing solutions. DLH’s Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) Central Processing Laboratory (CPL) in Durham, NC has managed the efficient tracking of over 5.8 million NIEHS specimen for more than 100 protocols

We develop protocols informed by our epidemiologic and clinical experience and methodology. Our full-service support includes: 

  • Managing regulatory guidelines, material transfer agreements (MTA), and IRB materials  
  • Ensuring human subject protection  
  • Managing inventory with BSI tracking systems 
  • Study Kit development and assembly 
  • Staffing and on-site training 
  • Phlebotomy services  
  • Field and laboratory specimen processing  
  • Shipping requirements  
  • Transport and cold chain  
  • Selection of testing and assay laboratories for biomarker analyses 
  • Coordinating long-term storage 
  • Preparing samples for assays at external laboratories 
  • Quality control and assurance of assay results 

Customized Protocols and Standard Procedures

Just as no to clients are the same, no two scientific protocols are the same. Our client-specific protocols and standard operating procedures (SOP) are tailored for your requirements, with a priority always on processing materials securely to maintain viability and scientific integrity.  We offer specialized procedures including:

  • Cryopreservation  
  • Blood processing  
  • Selected waived clinical testing such as chemical urinalysis  
  • Aliquoting large sample volumes and quantities 
  • DNA / RNA extraction 

Quality Assurance

Precision and accuracy are at the center of everything we do. All  specimen activities are guided by well-honed standardized project management procedures, designed to proactively identify and mitigate challenges inherent in the work that our customers undertake. If a study extends for five or more years, or  involves geographically disparate collaborators, repositories, clients, and subcontractors, clients can rest assured that our experienced program managers have faced the issues relevant to specimen collection, processing, and storage.

  • Laboratory and biobank audits  
  • Bench monitoring  
  • Selection and performance monitoring of sites  
  • Competitive outsourcing of clinic activities  
  • Training and staffing clinical sites and laboratories  
  • Ensuring accurate documentation 
  • Quality control and evaluation of laboratory results 

Laboratory Support Services

Industry-leading laboratory operations expertise is the foundation for broad suite of scientific services that we offer to clients. We have assisted clients in establishing, selecting, using, and monitoring sites and laboratories nationally and internationally. Additional laboratory and complementary research support services include:

  • Program and Project Management  
  • Conducting specimen literature reviews and  pilot and feasibility studies  
  • Study design and documentation development 
  • Sample handling and processing protocols development 
  • Study and specimen budget development and management  
  • Coordinating partnerships with subject matter experts  
  • Sourcing and maintaining laboratory equipment and supplies  
  • Quality management and compliance monitoring  
  • Staff training and  coordination of multi-site studies  
  • Participant recruitment and retention 
  • Multi-modal data collection  
  • Data processing, management, and documentation  
  • Analysis, publication, and dissemination  
  • Readiness and rapid research response 
  • Medical record ascertainment and abstraction

Our Customers

Our Experts

Lisa R. Treviño, PhD

Director, Clinical Trial Services

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Sakhi Abraham, MS

Sr. Lab Operations Manager

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Jennifer Emerson, PhD

BSI Expert and Study Manager

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Sarah Cohen, PhD

Director and Senior Research Leader

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Vicki Hart, PhD

Director, Epidemiology & Biostatistics

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Victoria Stevens, PhD

Lab Scientific Director

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