We move fast. Discovery inspires us, and we are consistently trying to uncover new methods and ways to better serve our clients—and keep us excited about our work.
Daane Labs offers new rapid methods that many other labs don’t. In addition to more traditional methods for microbiology, we are on the hunt for better, faster most cost-efficient ways to test, such as the AOAC rapid methods.
We are transparent. When our clients have questions, we answer them clearly and comprehensively. If an issue arises that affects billing, testing, delivery or another part of our relationship with you, we proactively communicate.
We are also nimble. Your reporting needs, financing preferences and processes are different from those of the lab down the street. While food testing is at the heart of what we deliver, we tailor our process to clients to suit them. When your process changes or we find a better way to make your work life more efficient, happier or simpler, we adjust.
We’ll admit, it might be hard to tell the difference between food testing laboratories upon first glance. We all perform the same tests, right? And you’re going to get a Certificate of Analysis one way or another, right?
Right. The difference between labs isn’t usually in what we do. It’s in how we do it.
Daane Labs was not founded by someone who worked for a lab. We were founded by someone who worked for a manufacturer. The manufacturing business – your business – is part of our DNA and is the foundation upon which this laboratory was built. We see every sample that comes through our doors from the perspective of the manufacturer, which means we treat every sample like it’s the most important sample we’ll receive all day.
But what does that mean? Let us tell you a couple stories. The first is the story of how your sample is treated by other food testing laboratories, and the second is how your sample is treated by Daane Labs (Spoiler Alert: the second story is better).
The Story of Your Sample: The Other Lab
Your sample arrives at The Other Lab and someone in the sample receiving department enters your sample information into their system. They will most likely put your sample on hold for a few days, unless you opt to pay a rush fee to expedite the analysis. When The Other Lab finally decides, they have time to get to your sample, it will be moved from the holding area to the microbiology department for testing.
The Other Lab will likely default to testing your sample using USP methods, which require a 5-7 day incubation period. After the incubation period is complete, an analyst will enter the data into their system and flag it for review. 1-2 business days later, a lab manager will review the data and prepare a Certificate of Analysis. And finally, after yet another 1-2 business days, the CoA will be reviewed and emailed to you. That’s at least 10-15 days between the time they received your sample and the time you get your report. We know The Other Lab does good work, but who has that kind of time?
Your credit card will get charged at some point in the next few weeks by The Other Lab’s accounting department. If you have questions about your sample or the analysis, press 1 to speak with a customer service representative. If you have questions about pricing, press 2 to speak with a sales rep in your area. If you have questions about how to prepare for your upcoming FDA audit, press “end” to hang up because they won’t help you.
The Story of Your Sample: Daane Labs Edition
Your sample arrives at Daane Labs and a microbiologist enters your sample information into the system. You will receive an email by the end of the day letting you know that we received your sample and when we expect to have the results ready. Your sample is immediately taken to the microbiology lab for testing. No hold period. No rush fee.
We begin the analysis that very same day, and default to the rapid AOAC methods to test your sample. The sample incubates for just 2 days, then a microbiologist reads the plates and enters the data into our system. The Lab Director reviews the data, prepares your Certificate of Analysis, and emails it to you by the end of the business day. You get your report just 2 days after Daane Labs receives your sample. If you require traditional USP testing, have no fear – you’ll get your Certificate of Analysis 5 days after we receive your sample.
Our Lab Director, Andrew, will send you an invoice at the end of the month detailing all the samples we analyzed for you, and then you will have 30 days to pay the invoice. Questions about your invoice? Need help understanding your report? Want some help troubleshooting a contamination issue you’re facing? Give us a call and speak directly to the Lab Director. Don’t press 1. Don’t listen to jazzy hold music. Just get in touch, and we’ll do everything we can to help.
Our typical process is simple by design:
- Daane Labs educates a new client on our services, accessibility, prices and timeline.
- The client receives a digital form to complete via email with their sample information.
- Daane Labs intakes the sample and carries out the requested test(s).
- Between 48 and 72 hours, the client receives results via email.
- Repeat Steps 2-4.
You’re not typical, you say? That’s fine. We tailor our process to how you like to work. Tell us how you like to work by contacting us.
You have your pick when making a choice between food testing laboratories, so first of all, thanks for considering us. One thing you may find when you begin comparing food testing laboratories is that we all perform the same tests, more or less. We’ll let you in on a little secret. The difference isn’t in what we do, it’s in how we do it.
Here are just a few ways Daane Labs is different from other food testing laboratories:
- Daane Labs starts every sample on the day we receive it, and we never charge rush fees. You get your report just as quickly as the method allows.
- At Daane Labs, we don’t believe in dialing extensions or pressing 1 to speak to a customer service representative. When you call us, the Lab Director answers the phone. He can answer any question you may have from invoicing to how we test for Salmonella.
- Daane Labs’ capabilities are not set in stone. If you have a specific need for a test that we don’t currently offer, we are more than happy to try and accommodate your needs. You will never hear us say “We can’t test for that bacteria”. Instead you’ll hear “Let us look into that and see if it is something we can do”.