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A framework for the laboratories in our lives

Below (Fig. 1) is a diagrammatic expression of one method of organizing laboratories of the world. The idea behind the framework is that you could name a specific laboratory and be able to put it somewhere within the framework. For example:

• The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation's mobile forensics laboratory would fall under Government > Public > Compliance and Legal > Wet (or Dry) > Mobile.

• An engineering design laboratory based within a for-profit car manufacturing company would fall under Private > Internal Customer > Research / Design > Dry > Fixed.

• A chemistry laboratory housed in a secondary school in Germany would fall under Academic > Teaching > Secondary > Wet > Fixed.

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Figure 1. A diagrammatic representation of laboratory types using both client type and function as the key organizational elements

The original inspiration for this diagram came from Jain and Rao's attempt to diagram Indian diagnostic laboratories in 2015. While their diagram focused entirely on the clinical sphere of laboratories, it was easy to envision expanding upon their work to express laboratories of all types. Additional inspiration came from KlingStubbins architecture textbook Sustainable Design of Research Laboratories: Planning, Design, and Operation, which lists several methods for organizing types of laboratories; Daniel D. Watch's Building Type Basics for Research Laboratories; and Walter Hain's Laboratories: A Briefing and Design Guide.

The benefit of this diagrammatic approach — with client type at its base — becomes more apparent when we start considering the other two methods we could use to categorize laboratories, as described by KlingStubbins et al.: by science and by function. Organizing by science quickly becomes problematic, emphasizes KlingStubbins:

Gone are the days when the division was as simple as biology and chemistry. New science fields emerge rapidly now and the lines between the sciences are blurred. A list based on science types would include not just biology and chemistry, but biochemistry, biophysics, electronics, electrophysiology, genetics, metrology, nanotechnology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physics, and so on.

As for function, we can look at what type of activity is primary to the lab. Is it designed to teach students, function as a base for research, provide quality control functions, calibrate equipment, or act as a routine analytical station? Another benefit of looking at labs by function is it helps with our organization of labs within industry (discussed in the next section) by what they do. For example, we don't have a "manufacturing lab"; rather, we have a laboratory in a manufacturing company — perhaps making cosmetics — that serves a particular function, whether its quality control or research and development. This line of thinking has utility, but upon closer inspection, we discover that we need to look further up the chain at who's running it.

As such, we realize these functions can be integrated with client type to provide a more complete framework. Why? When we look at laboratories by science type — particularly when inspecting newer fields of science — we realize 1. they are often interdisciplinary (e.g., molecular diagnostics integrating molecular biology with clinical chemistry) and 2. they can serve two different functions within the same science (e.g., a diagnostic cytopathology lab vs. a teaching cytopathology lab). Rather than build a massively complex chart of science types, with numerous intersections and tangled webs, it seems more straightforward to look at laboratories by client type and then function, following from the architectural viewpoints presented by KlingStubbins et al.

However, this doesn't mean looking at laboratories by science is entirely fruitless. But rather than focus directly on the sciences, why not look at the industries employing laboratory science? While there is crossover between industries (e.g., the cosmetic and petrochemical industries both lean on various chemical sciences), we can extend from the previous diagram (or work in parallel with it) and paint a broader picture of just how prevalent laboratories are in our life.

In the next section, we look at the private, government, and academic labs in various industries; provide real-life examples; and discuss the various subdivisions (functions) and sciences performed in them.

Labs by industry

Note: This is not a thorough listing of industry categories. More will be added when necessary.

Agriculture and forestry

Insert broad information about the industry here.

Client types

Private - Insert applicable text here.

Examples include:

• A&L Western Laboratories, Inc.
• Agri Analysis, Inc.
• Waters Agricultural Laboratories, Inc.

Government - Insert applicable text here.

Examples include:

• Oregon Department of Agriculture Lab Services Program
• U.S. Department of Agriculture National Laboratory for Agriculture and The Environment
• Wyoming Department of Agriculture Analytical Services Lab

Academic - Also note that agriculture laboratories associated with higher education institutions are often of a hybrid client type and function. They may multi-purpose a laboratory for research, teaching, and analytical testing purposes. Many higher-education agriculture labs also process samples from external third-party clients, acting in some ways like a private analytical lab would. In some cases, non-profit and private entities partner with higher education (public-private) to provide research and training opportunities beneficial to both the entities and the students. (See for example the Cornell-affiliated non-profit Hudson Valley Research Laboratory.)

Examples include:

• Clemson University Agricultural Service Laboratory
• Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory
• University of Nebraska-Lincoln High Plains Ag Lab

Functions

What are the most common functions? Analytical, research/design, and QA/QC

What materials are being analyzed, researched, and/or quality controlled? Animal tissue, compost, feed and forage, fertilizers, irrigation water, manure, plant tissue, soil

What sciences are being applied in these labs? Insert text here

What are some examples of test types, terminology, and equipment? Insert text here

What else, if anything, is unique about the labs in the agriculture industry? The food and beverage industry is closely linked. For example, the State of Pennsylvania's Department of Agriculture includes a food safety laboratory division. However, for the purposes of this guide, food, beverages, and ingredients are separated out as its own industry. Even raw materials that can be consumed alone such as cows milk or apples require some processing and handling (e.g., cleaning and packaging). In other words, the agriculture industry is arguably worried about the research, development, growth, and safety of what goes into what the food and beverage industry provides. Agriculture labs also have obvious tie-ins to environmental laboratories as agricultural activities impact the environment and vice versa. Ties to veterinary labs are also evident.

LIMSwiki resources

• Agriculture industry
• Forest informatics