Outsourcing Analytical Laboratory Services: Why LGM Pharma?

When is outsourcing Analytical Testing Services the right strategy, and what criteria should be considered?

Labs often need to outsource their analytical testing when faced with challenges such as equipment costs, time pressures, and specialized competencies. In complex industries like drug development and pharmaceutical compounding, meeting testing expectations while staying on time and within budget can seem like an impossible task.

Outsourced analytical testing services provide a logical solution to these challenges while also opening new opportunities. However, choosing the right analytical laboratory partner to outsource to is critical. Let’s take a closer look at when outsourcing lab testing is beneficial and why LGM Pharma is often the right lab partner to select.

Key Takeaways

• Companies typically outsource analytical testing due to a lack of in-house expertise, the high cost of specialized equipment (like ICP-MS for elemental analysis), tight turnaround needs, or limited internal capacity.
• Rapid sterility testing can cut turnaround from 4 weeks down to 5-7 days when outsourced to the right partner.
• Compounding pharmacies (503A/503B), small-to-mid-sized drug developers, and nutraceutical companies are especially well-suited to outsourcing, since they often lack dedicated lab infrastructure.
• LGM Pharma’s microbiology lab supports testing across USP <51>, <60>, <61>, <62>, <71>, and <85>, alongside ICP-MS elemental analysis and rapid sterility testing.
• A strong outsourcing partner should combine speed, data consistency, communication, and competitive pricing, not force a tradeoff between them.

Overcoming Analytical Testing Challenges

Companies that seek analytical laboratory services face some common challenges, including:

Lack of capability and resources:

Many companies lack the internal resources necessary for specialized analytical testing, whether it be experienced scientists, infrastructure, or equipment. Advanced analytical techniques may fall outside a company’s core competencies, making it more practical to partner with a contract testing organization (CTO) rather than investing in new capabilities.

Specialized equipment or instruments:

Some  analytical testing methods require highly specialized, capital-intensive equipment. For example, elemental analysis requires Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), equipment not found in every lab. Small to mid-sized pharmaceutical companies may not be able to justify the investment. Outsourcing provides access to these capabilities with significantly lower financial risk.

Turnaround Time:

Outsourcing can accelerate timelines by providing access to dedicated analytical scientists and advanced capabilities. For example, an outsourcing partner offering rapid sterility testing can deliver results in 5 to 7 days instead of up to 4 weeks with conventional sterility methods.

Specialized focus:

Certain types of testing, such as microbiological analysis, require specific expertise. For more routine testing, companies often find their resources are better allocated to higher-priority activities like discovery and development. In either case, outsourcing may be more cost-effective than investing in the equipment and personnel.

Who Will Benefit from Analytical Laboratory Services and Outsourcing Analytical Testing?

Some industries are particularly well suited for outsourcing. Here are just a few:

Compounding pharmacies

Both 503A and 503B facilities often lack in-house laboratory equipment and face tight turnaround times. Their challenge is finding a reliable lab that can provide fast turnaround times with advanced capabilities such as microbiological testing and elemental analysis.

Small to mid-sized drug development companies

Smaller companies developing new drugs, including virtual companies and incubators, also benefit from outsourcing. These companies may have promising pipelines but often lack their own facilities, labs, or personnel. That means they need external support for analytical testing, whether it’s for space, equipment, or expertise.

Nutraceuticals

 These companies frequently turn to analytical laboratory outsourcing partners that can provide quick turnaround times, cost-effective services, and high-quality testing. Cost is a key factor for them, but they also require quality work.

Why Choose to LGM Pharma for Your Analytical Testing Outsourcing Needs?

LGM Pharma offers a combination of fast turnaround times, high-quality results, strong communication, and competitive pricing. Other labs may offer one or two of these qualities, forcing clients to make trade-offs. LGM Pharma also offers a much broader range of capabilities in a cGMP facility. We understand that smaller companies deserve dedicated service – their missions are just as critical, with important outcomes at stake.

We hold regular project meetings with our clients, provide ongoing email updates, and do whatever we can to help the client achieve aggressive deadlines—without sacrificing the integrity of test results. It’s not just about delivering results; it’s about offering the personalized service they need.

Many differentiating capabilities help us stand out from other testing labs, including:

• Consistent and accurate test results, meeting the demands for quality control and regulation compliance. Our clients have validated our data quality against known data and have chosen us as their preferred partner as a result.
• Our sterility testing lab is an important capability that many clients appreciate for its rapid turn-around. Rather than waiting up to 4 weeks, we can provide results in just 5-7 days.
• Elemental analysis capabilities, including ICP-MS testing, are another reason compounding pharmacies turn to LGM Pharma.
• The microbiology lab at LGM Pharma provides testing capabilities per USP 51, 60, 61, 62, 71, and 85.

One customer’s story

A 503B compounding pharmacy had been working with large analytical labs that were providing inconsistent data. When out-of-specification (OOS) results occurred, the investigations were not thorough or reliable. On top of that, turnaround times seemed excessive, frustrating the pharmacy.

Seeking a better solution, they assigned LGM Pharma small projects which were completed quickly.

LGM Pharma has a proven track record of delivering high-quality analytical testing results with the personalized service today’s companies require. Contact us to make LGM Pharma your go-to partner for analytical testing outsourcing.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When does it make sense to outsource analytical testing instead of building in-house capability?
   When the required equipment is highly specialized or capital-intensive (like ICP-MS), when turnaround time is critical, or when internal resources are better spent on core priorities like drug development rather than routine testing.
2. How much faster is outsourced sterility testing?
   Traditional sterility testing can take up to 4 weeks. A rapid sterility testing partner can often deliver results in 5-7 days.
3. Which industries benefit most from outsourcing analytical testing?
   Compounding pharmacies (both 503A and 503B), small-to-mid-sized drug development companies without their own labs, and nutraceutical companies that need fast, cost-effective, high-quality testing.
4. What microbiological testing standards does LGM Pharma support?
   LGM Pharma’s microbiology lab covers USP <51>, <60>, <61>, <62>, <71>, and <85>.
5. What should companies look for in an analytical testing partner?
   Consistent, accurate results; fast turnaround; strong communication (like regular project updates); and pricing that doesn’t force a tradeoff against quality.