Aside from breakthrough discoveries, BIOTECH has income-generating service laboratories that provide technical information and support services to the institute's projects and other clients such as private individuals and companies, NGOs, regulatory agencies, research institutions, and students. BIOTECH consistently rate as one of the top generators of resources within UPLB mainly from income earned by its service laboratories. It is the only government-owned and operated R&D Institute which offers complete facilities that include microbial depository, testing laboratory, and pilot-plant services. Laboratories are accredited and recognized by Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR), Bureau of Food and Drugs(BFAD), Department of Health (DOH), and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). BIOTECH's laboratories serve as the venue for research and development activities of the university as well as for its partners and clients. They contribute significantly in the generation of additional funds to propel its RDE projects. The Central Analytical Services Laboratory (CASL) handles routine chemical analysis of food, feeds, plants, soils, fertilizers, water, wastewater, raw materials, by-products of fermentation processes, and even cosmetics. It modifies and standardizes analytical methods for applications to specific samples, as well as develops new analytical techniques. The laboratory implements and maintains a high quality system based on ISO 17025 guidelines for laboratory competence. CASL is accredited/recognized by the Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR), Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD), Department of Health (DOH), and Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). Click here for ANALYTICAL SERVICES The scanning electron microscope and (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) find their home in the Electron Microscopy Services Laboratory (EMSL). This laboratory provides structure analysis of biological and non-biological samples by light photomicroscopy and the ultra-structure analysis of samples by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. It is also capable of developing and improving species (biological)-specific sample preparation techniques suitable for magnification using the electron and light microscopy. It houses both the transmission electron microscope (TEM), Hitachi Model H-300 and the scanning electron microscope (SEM), Hitachi Model S-510. Other equipment includes the ultramicrotome (Ultracut E), the critical point drying apparatus, the ion sputter and the high vacuum evaporator. EMSL is capable of developing and improving species (biological)-specific sample preparation techniques suitable for magnification using the electron and light microscopy. Click here for MICROSCOPY SERVICES PNCM is a national repository of microorganisms recognized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) since 1996 for having the biggest general collection of its kind. It maintains a total of over 2000 strains of bacteria, yeasts, filamentous fungi, algae and protozoa It is a member of the World Federation of Culture Collections (WFCC) and the headquarters of the Philippine Network of Microbial Culture Collections (PNMCC). PNCM has active linkages with culture collection laboratories here and abroad. Click here for SERVICES *For inquiries, please contact: Rosario G. Monsalud, Ph.D., Head, PNCM at rosegm@laguna.net BIOTECH Pilot Plant, a vital facility instrumental in testing the industrial requirements of the Institute's researches and technologies is maintained and operated by the Fermentation Engineering and Service Laboratory (FESL). It provides technical support for the optimization of upstream process parameters through R & D collaboration and the optimization of product recovery and downstream process parameters. Click here for EQUIPMENT and SERVICES The National Immunological Testing Laboratory (NITL) is the diagnostic center for the rapid detection of mycotoxins and plant, food, and feed pathogens. The laboratory can determine the concentrations of the mycotoxins, aflatoxin B1 and M1, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, fumonisin and red tide toxins to as low as 5 ppb. NITL provides monoclonal antibody-based diagnostic kits for economically important crops, in-vitro mass propagation of virus-free banana, and training programs on disease control and management. Click here for DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES |