IRRI SERVICE LABORATORIES
provides quality and efficient integrated laboratory testing services and expertise
About Us
Our Goal
In supporting IRRI’s goals to innovate, catalyze impact and transform rice-based agri-food systems, the IRRI Service Laboratories play a vital role by providing solutions to laboratory testing and support services needs of research and agricultural industry. We provide high quality, timely, reliable, and cost-effective analytical tests, grain quality evaluation, genotyping, sampling, DNA extraction, and lab instrument support services that satisfy the needs of its customers and meet the requirements of the ISO/IEC 17025 standard. Equipped with qualified and competent staff, ISL is committed to deliver quality services.
Who we are
IRRI Service Laboratories (ISL) traces its beginnings in 1977 when IRRI established Analytical Services Laboratory (ASL) to provide testing support services to its research programs at subsidized rates. In 2010, ASL was awarded its first ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation by the Philippine Accreditation Bureau for its plant and soil.
In 2014, ASL was merged with Grain Quality Evaluation Laboratory, the service component of Grain Quality and Nutrition Center, and became the Grain Quality and Nutrition Services Laboratory (GQNSL) which after a year succeeded in adding grain quality evaluation services to its scope of ISO/IEC 17025 accredited test parameters.
In 2018, an IRRI-wide re-organization took place integrating IRRI's research support services. Service laboratories, such as the Grain Quality and Nutrition Services Laboratory and Genotyping Services Laboratory were merged into one service unit, the IRRI Service Laboratories, headed by Lilia Molina.
How we work
The Grain Quality and Nutrition Services Laboratory (GQNSL)
GQNSL provides analytical testing, grain quality evaluation and lab instrument support services to IRRI research groups, collaborators and external customers in research and agricultural sector. It maintains metrological traceability of its tests and lab instrument support services and ensures its customers of its outmost impartiality and confidentiality. Allocated with resources such as licensed and competent staff, facilities, equipment, system and support services, the laboratory is well equipped with necessary elements to manage and perform all of its laboratory activities.
The Genotyping Services Laboratory (GSL)
GSL provides sampling, DNA extraction and genotyping services in-house, coordinates outsourced genotyping services, and continues to offer new added value services and new markers based on the evolving needs of the global rice research community.
It works closely with groups and projects that encourage sound data management practices in order to make data available and usable. In order to ensure data integrity and ease of sample tracking, genotyping requests are strictly raised through the Breeding4Results (B4R) information management system. Genotyping data will be curated and made available by the Genomic and Open-source Breeding Informatics Initiative (GOBII), a genomic data management systems which will include databases, imputation systems, and decision support tools for plant breeders.