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Subject: Formation of the Global Laboratory Evaluation & Management Program (GLEMP)

/March 14, 2006/Orlando, Florida/ The Global Laboratory Evaluation & Management Program (GLEMP) is a recently-formed, non-profit association exclusively representing industry. Members are industrial companies that are users of commercial laboratory services and that seek reliable analytical results from their laboratories. GLEMP supports its members' pursuit of "best in class" laboratory management programs by providing access to valuable technical information such as performance evaluation (PE) data for and accreditation status of participating laboratories. Additionally, GLEMP will assist members with information on laboratory accreditation program developments, laboratory evaluation approaches, methods developments and requirements, and more.

GLEMP member representatives will become better managers of their corporate resources by identifying where resources are required to obtain analytical results with accuracies commensurate with the project needs. The analytical results reported are critical in determining the cost associated with operational projects required to maintain regulatory compliance, customer satisfaction, verify performance, and etc. Access to laboratory accuracy detail can result in project cost savings or cost avoidance.

Benefits of GLEMP membership for industrial companies include:

• Access to performance evaluation (PE) results for participating laboratories. This information will allow members to evaluate the effectiveness/accuracy of participating laboratories analyzing single-blind, unknown samples (analyte- and media-specific). The PE data will include all standard and many highly-specific analytes and suites of compounds, and media including solids/soils and liquids/water.
• Access to accreditation status and contact details for all participating laboratories, to include respective accreditation contact details for follow-up by the member company representative, as appropriate.
• Status of evolving and emerging laboratory accreditation programs globally, to include regional, national, and state/province-specific issues.
• No-cost attendance for periodic informational meetings and PE data user sessions (preliminary meetings planned for 2006).
• Networking opportunities at GLEMP meetings will provide an outstanding opportunity for attendees to benchmark their laboratory management programs against those represented by their colleagues from fellow member companies.

In addition, GLEMP's member representatives will create a protocol for gathering key information for the purpose of conducting "shared-cost" reviews of commercial laboratories. GLEMP's comprehensive laboratory reviews are anticipated to begin in 2007.

Laboratories participating in GLEMP will represent those laboratories pursuing quality analytical programs. Those having effective quality assurance programs are more likely to consistently generate high-quality, high-confidence analytical results in support of their clients' needs. By proactively participating in the GLEMP PE program, the participating labs are demonstrating to their clients and potential clients their commitment to self-directed quality improvement. Over time, those labs consistently demonstrating reported results near the expected results, and those reflecting on-going accuracy improvements, will be readily identified.

The motivation for creating GLEMP emerged over the past three years as a number of industrial companies, including some members of CHWMEG, Inc. (CHWMEG), became interested in improving their laboratory selection confidence, where the laboratory's accreditation status alone was insufficient. GLEMP is endorsed by CHWMEG (www.chwmeg.org), another non-profit organization comprised of industrial and manufacturing companies, which was formed in 1995.

GLEMP membership applications are now being accepted, and fees for twelve months of membership will range from $5,000. for corporate/parent members to $25,000. for full enterprise members (includes participation by applicable wholly-owned subsidiary employees). Parent/corporate members can also involve the participation of individual wholly-owned subsidiaries for an additional fee per subsidiary.

Questions regarding GLEMP and its activities or membership inquires should be directed to GLEMP's Administrator, Mr. Jeff Sacre, at +1.412.826.3056 and administrator@glemp.org. The GLEMP website is www.glemp.org.