AHL STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Laboratory Services Division (LSD) confidential information includes standard operating procedures (SOPs), test method information, quality control guidelines, instrument information, testing requirements and method validation data.

As part of our quality program, LSD SOPs are proprietary and are not shared unless agreed to in writing by an LSD Co-Executive Director or designee.

Specimens submitted to the University of Guelph, and any information or Intellectual Property identified by or arising from such specimens, belong to the University unless other arrangements are made in writing at the time of submission.

LSD shall not be used in any way in connection with the sale, offer or advertisement of any article, process or service without written consent of the Co-Executive Director.

Results produced by LSD are included from time to time by researchers in various communications, including peer-reviewed journals, posters, newsletters, platform presentations, etc. Lab Services will supply summarized test methodology for the purpose of publication. By agreement, acknowledgment of LSD as the source of the data is appropriate. Co-authorship may be offered to LSD staff who have made substantive intellectual contributions to a paper, i.e., consistent with the four criteria established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors

http://www.icmje.org/recommendations/browse/roles-and-responsibilities/defining-the-role-of-authors-and-contributors.html  

All client information is treated as confidential and will not be provided to anyone other than the client without the client's prior written permission, except where required by law or OMAFRA surveillance. External auditors who review test reports for accreditation purposes are required to sign a confidentiality agreement.

For AHL client communications and the veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR) see: https://www.uoguelph.ca/ahl/ahl-client-communications-and-veterinarian-client-patient-relationship

Quoted prices include testing of the submitted samples (number and type) listed in the quotation and a written report of those testing results. Any changes in the samples as identified in the quotation or any additional services requested must be agreed upon in advance and may result in additional costs.

The signed quotation constitutes a contractual agreement for this work. In case of dispute, this document will take precedence over other related documents for this work.

Transportation of samples, provision of sample containers, and shipping charges are the responsibility of the client.

Shipping charges are covered by AHL up to 5 kg; additional charges associated with larger non-food animal submissions are invoiced to the client.  

AHL creates customized submission forms after the quotation is approved and these must be used when submitting samples for testing to ensure that all terms and conditions of the quote, including price, are applied.

1. Testing

Please note that we must change or modify equipment, reagents, or methods from time to time, but we do overlap studies to ensure uniformity of results. An agreement to use exactly the same equipment, reagents, or method on all samples over the course of a study may be possible but must be agreed to in writing in advance of the start of testing for a study.

Approximate turnaround times (based on usual working days after receipt at the lab) are given for each in-house test in the Fee Schedule.  To ensure rapid TAT, samples should arrive the day before testing is scheduled to start for most tests.  Results are available electronically as soon as they are entered into our computer system and verified.

LSD reserves the right to suspend or discontinue any work until satisfactory payment arrangements are established.

Rush analysis should be requested in writing on the submission form to the laboratory supervisor by a client representative with budgetary authority. A minimum surcharge of 50% will be applied

2. Reporting 

Refer to Disclosure of Results

Invoices are sent daily after the final report unless otherwise requested. Payment terms are 30 days from the statement date. 

Laboratory Services Division reserves the right to revise prices without notice.  The AHL adjusts prices annually May 1st.   Agreed prices in a signed formal service quotation remain valid for the duration of the quote.

To secure pricing and other testing requirements for your project, the quote number or customized submission form if provided must accompany all samples.

University of Guelph, Laboratory Services Division's liability is limited to the quoted individual sample price.  Please review this proposal and contact us if you have any questions or wish further adjustments.If you wish to proceed as outlined, this quotation must be signed below and received by the Laboratory Services Division within 60 d either by email, fax, or with the samples. It must be re-issued if not accepted within that period.