Intertek has announced that its Cortland, NY, personal protective equipment (PPE) microbiology laboratory has increased its microbiological testing capabilities to Bio-Safety Level 2 (BSL-2). With this achievement the lab provides testing with a broad spectrum of bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms.

To meet the BSL-2 requirements, Intertek invested in state-of-the-art engineering safety controls and conducted extensive training for an already highly experienced staff. “We invested in expanding our chemistry, microbiology, flame, impact, fall from height and physical capabilities to provide a complete solution for our customers. This creates efficiencies for our customers and ultimately works to shorten their time to market,” said Intertek senior microbiologist Adrian Buzea. “This lab allows us to provide unparalleled service to the market as we can deliver on a diverse set of performance requirements.”

With the enhanced capabilities, the products tested at the lab have also become more diverse. Projects are already underway to test blood-borne pathogen-resistant gloves, hypoallergenic air filters and Bacterial Filtration Efficiency (BFE) of medical face mask materials.