After 22 years at Abbotstown, the State Laboratory was moved to state of the art laboratory facilities at Backweston earlier this year. In designing the laboratory facilities, the Office of Public Works architects aimed to 'rise above pure utility, beyond basic construction, to combine all that is practical and necessary with landscape and architecture that is meaningful and beautiful'. In the construction of the Laboratory the external fa�ade is made of recycled glass panels covered by a low maintenance fa�ade render. The Laboratory exhaust flues are incorporated into vertical timber clad 'chimneys'. The extensive mechanical and electrical services necessary for a state of the
art complex are contained in the attic space.
Each wing incorporates laboratories and offices with adjacent meeting rooms, back-up support services and
staff social spaces. The total floor area for the new Laboratory is 12,600 sq.m.
The State Laboratory is a Scheduled Office under the aegis of the Department of Finance and provides an analytical and advisory service to government departments and offices. In the Revenue sector, the Laboratory advises the Revenue Commissioners on the correct classification of goods under the Customs and Excise Tariff of Ireland and the application of appropriate excise duties on hydrocarbon oil products and alcoholic beverages. In the Agriculture sector, animal feeding stuffs, fertilisers, food and plants are analysed to monitor compliance with EU and national legislation covering the production, distribution and sale of agricultural products.
Environmental samples are screened for the presence of toxic or potentially toxic hazardous substances. An analytical service is also provided to assist architects and conservators in the Office of Public Works and cultural agencies. To assist coroners in determining the cause of death, the Laboratory analyses post mortem samples to identify and quantify both authorised and illegal drugs. Analysis of pharmaceutical products is carried out for the Irish Medicines Board. A tobacco chemistry service is being established to provide the Office of Tobacco Control with data to monitor compliance with legislation.
With the relocation to the new facility, the Laboratory upgraded its instrumental capability. There is now available a range of tandem GCMS and LCMS including a triple quadrupole LCMS and an ICP-MS. For molecular biology analysis, real time PCR equipment is available. A Category 3 facility has been incorporated in the laboratory design for analytical techniques requiring a rigorously clean environment.
Contact: Dermot Hayes,
State Laboratory,
Young's Cross, Celbridge, Co. Kildare;
Tel: + 353 1 5057000;
E-mail:
[email protected]
; Web:
www.statelab.ie
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