COVID-19 Update: Steps to Continue Serving You Safely

Dear valued client,

 

AGAT Laboratories continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation and evaluate its risks in real time, closely following the best practices recommended by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health Canada, as well as the directives issued by our federal and provincial authorities.

 

To continue serving you in the safest way possible, we have implemented active prevention steps to address the unfolding crisis, mitigate its impacts and respond to any changing circumstances that affect our clients, our employees and the communities where we operate.

 

AGAT is reinforcing hygiene protocols, halting business travel and providing its employees with all the information and support they need to protect themselves and others around them. We are also urging all our visitors and clients, as well as staff and suppliers, to strictly abide by the guidelines related to social distancing, hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and all the preventative measures recommended by the PHAC and your local health authorities.

 

In addition to safeguarding the well-being and safety of our employees and clients, our utmost priority is to protect the integrity of samples, respect holding times, continue producing reliable data deliverables, and exert our best effort to meet rush turnaround times (TATs) and other time-sensitive commitments. We will also ensure that communication lines stay open and that our clients are kept abreast of any new developments to help them make informed decisions. You will find below a list of the most frequent questions that have arisen from the current COVID-19 situation:

 

What will happen to samples in progress?

 

Currently, we are not anticipating any interruption to any samples in progress. We have instructed each of our laboratories to prioritize time-sensitive and rush samples as per normal protocol, and to attempt to complete all samples in an expedited manner in order to limit the effects of any increased isolation mandates that may interrupt business operations. In the case of longer-TAT analyses that require multiple days uninterrupted (i.e. BOD5), if any interruptions are anticipated to take place, then direct communication with the client will occur on case-by-case basis.

 

What can I expect in terms of turnaround times (TATs)?

 

Turnaround times are expected to remain unimpeded at the present time. We are diligently working through all samples as quickly as possible with the required workforce still on staff to maintain required turnaround times. Unless informed otherwise, you can expect your results to be delivered on the original committed date.

 

Will my Client Project Manager (CPM) be available?

 

Yes, the client services staff are still available as per usual operations. We are encouraging all staff that can work from home to do so, which includes many of our CPMs who will be fully available to support our customers remotely.

 

Are you still accepting samples?

 

Yes, all of our sample reception areas are currently open for normal operations. However, if you are feeling symptomatic for any related illnesses, please do not come to our laboratory and kindly refer to your company's COVID-19 health and safety procedures. Please use the information posted at the door of our sample reception areas to have our staff accept the samples outside of the laboratory.

 

Do you have any contingency plans to address the evolving COVID-19 situation?

 

Yes, AGAT Laboratories has taken steps to run through a variety of different scenarios in which our laboratory operations may be interrupted due to mandated isolation requirements, supplier interruptions, and other potential variables. As this landscape continues to change and unfold, AGAT will be providing updates as to how we are mitigating interruptions to the services that we supply to our valued clients.

 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to us should you require further information. The only way we can defeat COVID-19 is by approaching it with the seriousness and discipline it deserves. We must all work together to flatten the pandemic curve and slow the spread of this disease. We promise to be by your side every step of the way as we stand united to weather this storm.

 

Thank you for your trust,

 

Marissa Reckmann

Chief Executive Officer