Terms & Conditions of Laboratory Services

A

Section A

Confidentiality and Acceptance

1. Reports and results produced by SSS will be kept confidential through legally enforceable commitment.
2. SSS will not release reports or results to third parties without client approval unless required by law.
3. If SSS must release confidential information by law or contractual agreement, the client will be notified.
4. Submission of samples under a Chain of Custody (COC) indicates acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

B

Section B

Credit and Terms of Payment

1. Accepted payment methods are check, cash, ACH, and Zelle.
2. Standard payment terms are Net 30 unless otherwise agreed in writing. Invoices requiring upload to a third-party electronic system are charged $10 per invoice uploaded.
3. Third-party billing is permitted only with written authorization from the submitting client. The submitting client remains responsible if the third party is delinquent, and SSS reserves the right to refuse third-party billing requests.
4. Orders from customers with invoices 90 days or more overdue will only be accepted on a C.O.D. basis until credit is re-established to SSS’s satisfaction. SSS reserves the right to withhold reporting of results if a client fails to pay any invoice beyond 90 days.
5. A finance charge of 1.50% per month applies to balances not paid by the invoice due date. Unpaid invoices more than one year overdue may be subject to collections at SSS’s sole discretion, and overdue accounts are responsible for all legal and collection fees.

C

Section C

Expedited Turnaround Times

1. Standard turnaround time for laboratory service is 5 to 10 business days for most analyses.
2. Expedited turnaround times are typically available for most analyses. Clients should contact an SSS Project Manager in advance of sample delivery to request a quote and discuss availability at laboratory@synergysciencesolutions.com or 678-744-4184.
3. Completion of rush or standard turnaround service is subject to SSS’s availability and schedule and may change after samples are received. SSS will make every reasonable effort to meet quoted or acknowledged completion dates, but unforeseen circumstances may prevent rush turnaround from being achieved.
4. If rush data cannot be completed for all requested analyses in the Work Order, a partial report may be emailed on the due date followed by the final report upon completion.
5. Samples received after 5 PM are considered received on the next business day for turnaround time purposes.

D

Section D

Cancellation and Changes

1. Rush samples must be canceled within 3 hours of laboratory receipt. Standard turnaround samples must be canceled within 12 hours of laboratory receipt.
2. Extraction charges, cancellation charges, hold fees, and disposal fees may apply. Samples canceled after the stated deadlines may incur extraction and analytical fees depending on processing status.
3. Cancellation fees include a $50 minimum fee, disposal fee, and a 40% charge for prepared samples.
4. Additions to the scope of work may extend turnaround time. Turnaround time for analytical additions begins on the date the change is made.
5. All changes or amendments to a Work Order must be submitted in writing, preferably by email to laboratory@synergysciencesolutions.com.

E

Section E

Sample Receiving

1. Receiving hours are Monday through Tuesday, 10 AM to 6 PM, and Friday through Saturday, 10 AM to 3 PM.
2. Questions about receipt should be directed to 678-744-4184.
3. Samples received after 5 PM, including samples transported by SSS courier, are considered received on the following business day for turnaround time purposes. Turnaround time begins when the samples are relinquished to SSS via the Chain of Custody and after any questions regarding the sample submission have been resolved.
4. Clients are encouraged to drop off rush samples directly to the lab to help assure timely processing. SSS can usually arrange a private courier at the client’s expense, but SSS cannot guarantee that couriers will return to the lab by 5 PM.
5. Samples received and placed on hold are charged $10 per sample. Samples are held for 60 days total unless other arrangements are made in writing. If held samples are later analyzed, the hold fee is credited and analytical fees are charged.

F

Section F

Sample Container Preparation and Delivery

1. The lab must be given advance notice of sample delivery schedule. Delivery is either arranged and paid for by the client at the client’s expense, or provided by SSS courier by arrangement.
2. Samples must be submitted in appropriate analytical quantities. Manufacturing-scale quantities of chemicals are not permitted unless specifically requested by the laboratory. Analytical scale usually means milligrams to grams, while manufacturing scale usually means kilograms to tons. Manufacturing-scale quantities mistakenly shipped to SSS will be returned or disposed of according to regulations at the client’s expense.
3. Hazardous chemicals must be packaged and shipped in accordance with applicable regulations, such as 49 CFR 173.4b de minimis exceptions. Any hazardous material must be clearly identified and announced to SSS prior to shipment.
4. The client is responsible for the cost of return shipment of samples unless otherwise arranged with SSS.

G

Section G

Courier Service and Sample Pick-Up

1. SSS offers courier services throughout the greater Atlanta area.
2. All sample pickup and sample requests must be emailed to laboratory@synergysciencesolutions.com or called in to 678-744-4184 at least 24 hours in advance. Larger orders should be requested at least one week in advance.
3. SSS makes every effort to accommodate desired pickup and delivery timeframes, but is not responsible for expired sample hold times while samples are en route to the lab. A 3-hour time window is required for pickups and deliveries.

H

Section H

Sample Storage and Disposal

1. A sample disposal fee does not apply unless excessive material is delivered beyond what is typically required for the requested analyses. In such cases, the client is responsible for return shipment or disposal fees.
2. Any hazardous material must be clearly identified and announced to SSS prior to shipment. SSS does not accept samples containing Hydrofluoric Acid (HF).
3. Samples are disposed of two weeks after report delivery unless other arrangements are made in advance.
4. Samples can be held longer than 14 days after report delivery upon written request to a Project Manager, preferably by email at laboratory@synergysciencesolutions.com or by calling 678-744-4184. Clients will be billed $5 per sample per month for extended sample storage.

I

Section I

Reporting and Data Archiving

1. SSS delivers completed reports by electronic email in PDF format.
2. When requested, SSS can deliver analytical data via Online Portal.
3. SSS may assess additional fees for modifying or developing electronic data deliverable formats that are not already available. Additional fees may also apply for retroactive deliverables based on the labor and materials needed to retrieve or generate the data.
4. Data and reports are archived for a minimum of five years from the reporting date.
5. Contact your Sales Representative or Project Manager at laboratory@synergysciencesolutions.com or 678-744-4184 to inquire about availability and pricing for additional deliverables.

J

Section J

SSS Disclaimer

1. SSS’s Reporting Limits, Detection Limits, and Control Limits are subject to change as they are updated periodically to reflect analytical sensitivity and capability.
2. Reporting limits cited do not take into account sample dilution or matrix interference.
3. SSS reserves the right to dilute samples as necessary to avoid damaging instrumentation. If a client requests that samples be analyzed undiluted, additional charges may be assessed.
4. Clients should contact their Project Manager at laboratory@synergysciencesolutions.com or 678-744-4184 to inquire about service availability for a project.

K

Section K

Quote

1. Project-specific quotes are recommended and available upon request. All quotes are confidential and unique to the client and the specific project.
2. Quoted pricing is valid through the dates specified on the quote or for the specific length of the project or contract.
3. Analyses not listed under quotes or contracts will be charged at standard rates.
4. Surcharges may apply for higher-level data deliverables, expedited turnaround times, and custom electronic formats.
5. SSS routinely accepts projects requiring extensive research and development. Special studies will be quoted on a case-by-case basis.
6. Analytical set-up fees are non-refundable regardless of outcome.

L

Section L

Limitation of Liability / Waiver

1. SSS will perform requested analyses using standard methods but may deviate from those methods when necessary based on reasonable judgment.
2. In any dispute between SSS and the client, SSS’s liability is limited to damages no greater than the cost of the analytical testing for the disputed Work Order.
3. Failure by SSS to enforce any term or condition, or to exercise any right or privilege, does not constitute a waiver of that provision.