GENERAL BACKGROUND FOR THE FEE INCREASE

Analytical Services (the State Chemist's Laboratory) is authorized by statute to make its analytical services available to the general public at a reasonable cost. The statute further states that these fees shall be comparable to those charged by commercial laboratories operating within Wyoming providing the same types of service. In order to meet this requirement we are raising the fees we charge for our analytical services effective November 1, 1999.

The last fee increase occurred January 1, 1992. The fees we charge, as well as being comparable, must also reflect the actual cost of the analyses performed. Many changes transpired in the last 8 years, which have driven up the cost of the analysis. Some of these factors are:

• The prices for reagent chemicals, solvents and laboratory supplies have increased.

• The increased quality assurance requirements imposed on the laboratory by federal certifying authorities have dramatically increased the cost of making each analysis. Additionally, required audit samples were furnished for no charge by the certifying agency and now must be purchased, at considerable expense, by the laboratory from the private sector.

• The cost of analytical instrumentation has actually declined in some cases but maintenance costs and the consumables they require, such as sample vials, graphite tubes, pump tubing, source lamps, columns, etc., have taken some large increases.

• Consumer demands for better reproducibility and lower detection limits have further increased the costs of analysis.

These factors effect all analytical laboratories and the fees they must charge for their services. Every attempt has been made to keep our service analysis fees as low as possible while meeting the requirements of state statute.

Back to Top

USING THE FEE SCHEDULE

The first section of the fee schedule lists the analyte fee by program and test. This is the fee, which would be charged to analyze a single sample for that specific analyte plus any applicable sample preparation charge. The second section lists the fees for specific analytical packages and the analyses included. When a single sample is submitted for several analyses the approximate service fee may be calculated by adding the individual fee for each analyte plus sample preparation, if applicable, and multiplying the total by 0.8. If for example a forage sample was submitted to the lab for protein, fat, crude fiber and carotene analysis the fee would be calculated as follows:

This routine will work in all analytical programs except water and pesticide residue analyses.

The laboratory should always be contacted prior to sampling for price quotations, verification of services and special sampling instructions. A quality analysis requires a quality sample. Contact the Analytical Services Lab at (307)-742-2984

Back to Top

PROGRAMMATIC INFORMATION

PESTICIDE RESIDUE ANALYSES

The laboratory should always be contacted prior to sampling for pesticide residue analysis to ascertain the laboratory's capability for the pesticide residue of interest and to obtain information on pricing and sampling.

Always contact the laboratory prior to sampling or submitting samples for pesticide residue analysis.

METAL ANALYSES

The laboratory utilizes four methods for determining metals in all samples and while we have the capability to determine most of the elements, the capability is not the same for each technique. The methods are all based on the various atomic spectroscopy techniques and they all have different detection limits, linear dynamic working ranges, abilities to correct for interferences and costs. We will select the method, which is appropriate for the sample, unless you contact the lab prior to sample submission.

WATER MICROBIOLOGY

Water samples analyzed for total coliform will be billed at the rate of $12.00 per sample. Samples which test positive for total coliform will have fecal coliform determined and both results will be reported at no additional cost.

FAX TRANSMISSION OF RESULTS

If requested, the laboratory will FAX your analytical report at the rate of $2.00 for up to three pages of the report, excluding the cover page. Each additional page of the report will be billed at $0.25 per page. The official final report will still be sent to you via first class mail.

QUALITY ASSURANCE/QUALITY CONTROL

This laboratory routinely performs duplicate analyses, the analysis of quality control samples and maintains a quality assurance program, which meets the requirements of various certifying authorities, such as the USDA, the USFDA and the USEPA. These procedures and the associated records may be inspected upon request and by appointment. Our analytical reports do not normally include QA/QC information.

If you require QA/QC data with your analytical report or you know the sample will be part of any litigation, requiring chain-of-custody documentation, please communicate your requirements to the laboratory prior to ample submission. The fee for providing non-routine QA/QC and providing written documentation along with the analytical report will be determined on a case-by-case basis, however such fees will be in the range of $50.00 - 500.00.

MULTIPLE SAMPLE DISCOUNTS

Discounts will be given for multiple samples requiring the same series of analytes, when the samples are submitted at the same time by a single submitter. These discounts are as follows:

This discount is in addition to any other discounts based on the sample and the combination of analytes.

The laboratory must be contacted prior to sample submission to receive this discount.

PREPAYMENT DISCOUNT

This discount applies ONLY to an individual who submits an occasional sample or small batch of samples at a time on an irregular basis. If payment accompanies the sample the submitter is entitled to an additional 10% discount, to be calculated after all other pricing considerations.

PREPAID ANALYTICAL SERVICE ARRANGEMENTS

These arrangements are designed for those customers who submit samples on a regular basis over an extended period of time for a specific set of analyses. These agreements require the prepayment of all fees for the analysis of all samples covered under the agreement. These arrangements can cover a time period of 6 months to 2 years and utilize the lab’s unified collection and analysis report. If an agreement of this type meets your requirements for analytical services, contact the laboratory. The potential exists for some significant savings and shortened analysis times.

ANALYSIS TIME

The staff at Analytical Services analyzes samples as quickly as possible, however there are many factors to consider when judging analysis times. The major factors influencing analysis times are the highly variable number of samples we receive, the fixed size of our professional staff and the type of samples we receive (official regulatory samples vs. service samples).

Regulatory samples have priority over service samples, however processing of all samples is fairly continuous. Samples, which have an effect on public health, have priority over all other samples. These samples are followed, in priority, by samples effecting livestock health. Beyond these constraints, samples are processed on a first-in first-out basis.

Analytical Services has a fixed number of employees, which limits our ability to respond quickly to large influxes of samples. When sample submissions increase dramatically, as is usually the case between April and September, analysis times are longer.

Many factors influence the analysis time of your sample, including: the way we batch analyses, the type of samples, the number of samples already in the lab when your sample is received, the day of the week your sample is received and the number of determinations which must be performed on your sample. Our goal is to have the analysis of all samples completed within one month of sample receipt. Analysis times range from a few days to as long as six months but in Fiscal Year 1999 Analytical Services completed the analysis of 84.1% of all samples within 1 month.

You can help speed up the analysis process by:

• Clearly communicating your analytical needs to the laboratory, when the sample is submitted.

• Submitting your samples between October and March, if possible.

• Shipping your samples to the lab early in the week.

• Contacting the lab prior to sampling or shipping if you have any questions at all.

• Including a daytime telephone number where you can be reached if we have any questions concerning your sample.

• Planning far enough ahead, so as not to place unnecessary or unrealistic demands on the lab.

Occasionally emergencies arise and there is a legitimate need for rapid analysis of a sample. In these cases it is best to telephone the lab and advise them of the circumstances. This gives laboratory personnel time to schedule and prepare for the sample. If we are unable to meet your deadlines, we can advise you, thereby not wasting valuable time.

Good communications will help both you and the laboratory realize our respective goals.

Back to Top

SINGLE SAMPLE - SINGLE ANALYSIS FEES

Antifreeze

** Contact the lab prior to sampling to ensure availability of analysis and sample requirements.

Petroleum Products and Natural Gas

Pesticide Formulations