Microbac Laboratories
Microbac Laboratories is a family-owned, US-based third-party analytical testing network operating 30+ ISO 17025-accredited laboratories serving municipalities, food manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and industrial clients with environmental, food, life sciences, and specialty testing services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1970
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount501–1,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Microbac Laboratories does
Microbac Laboratories, Inc. is a privately held, family-owned analytical testing laboratory founded circa 1970 and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Operating 30+ ISO 17025-accredited laboratories across the United States, the company positions itself as the nation's largest family-owned third-party testing laboratory and one of the top five US analytical networks. Microbac provides accredited analytical testing services across four primary categories: environmental testing (water, wastewater, soil, air, and drinking water compliance), food testing (pathogen detection, allergen, nutritional labeling, environmental monitoring), life sciences testing (pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, medical device, disinfectant efficacy, and personal care products under cGMP/GLP/GCP protocols), and specialty testing including Legionella, PFAS, and viral detection.
The company's technology stack relies on EPA-approved analytical methods, PCR-based molecular detection, mass spectrometry, chromatography, culture-based microbiology, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for trace metals analysis. Notable proprietary capabilities include the Legiolert AFNOR-validated platform for Legionella quantification (reducing turnaround from 21 to 7-10 days), a CDC-certified virology laboratory in Sterling, Virginia for live-virus disinfectant efficacy testing, an Oak Ridge, Tennessee core laboratory for whole genome sequencing and Big 9 allergen testing, and the AXIS cloud-based SaaS platform for digital chain of custody and real-time audit trails.
Microbac generates revenue primarily through per-sample analytical testing fees billed on a transaction basis, supplemented by professional services from embedded field technicians (including emergency response surcharges) and ancillary sales of sample containers, preservatives, chain-of-custody supplies, and Legionella sampling kits. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific with Net 30 standard terms, volume discounts for guaranteed volumes, and various surcharges for customization, rush handling, and minimum invoice thresholds. Go-to-market is sales-led, combining a national field sales team, inside sales for inbound inquiries, embedded field technicians for large accounts, and content/thought-leadership marketing (webinars, podcasts, technical guides) targeting municipalities, food manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and industrial operators. Customer concentration spans regulated water utilities, K-12 schools and childcare facilities, food processors, and pharmaceutical manufacturers, with regulatory compliance driving demand rather than discretionary spending.
Microbac Laboratories firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Microbac Laboratories
- Legal name
- Microbac Laboratories, Inc.
- Website
- https://microbac.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1970
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 501–1,000 employees
- Short description
- Microbac Laboratories is a family-owned, US-based third-party analytical testing network operating 30+ ISO 17025-accredited laboratories serving municipalities, food manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and industrial clients with environmental, food, life sciences, and specialty testing services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Microbac Laboratories industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Analytical Laboratory Testing Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Medical Laboratories (621511)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental Monitoring & Cleanroom Testing (GMP) (HLAGADAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Microbiology & Infectious Disease Testing Laboratories (HLAFAMAD), Water Sampling, Testing & Laboratory Analysis (Legionella/Microbiology) (BPABAJAB), Molecular Diagnostics & Genomics Laboratories (HLAFAMAE)
Keywords
Where Microbac Laboratories is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices7 records
Markets served
Microbac Laboratories business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Analytical Testing Services: Third-party laboratory testing services for environmental, food, life sciences, and specialty testing. Revenue is generated through per-sample testing fees, with pricing varying by test type, sample count, and turnaround time requirements. The company serves municipalities, food manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, and industrial clients under contract and project-based arrangements.
- Field Services: Embedded field technician services and sample collection support, including routine process control monitoring and emergency response. Billed separately with surcharges for non-core business hours and short-notice scheduling.
- Sample Handling and Supplies: Revenue from sample containers, preservatives, chain of custody supplies, hazardous shipping materials, and specialized testing kits such as Legionella testing kits with sampling bottles, packing materials, ice packs, and shipping coolers.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Project-based analytical testing with pricing varying by test complexity, sample volume, and turnaround requirements. |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Microbac Laboratories product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Microbac Laboratories is a third-party analytical testing laboratory network that provides accredited environmental, food, life sciences, and specialty testing services. Operating 30+ ISO 17025-accredited facilities nationwide, the company delivers EPA-, FDA-, USP-, AOAC-, and ASTM-compliant testing using methods such as PCR-based detection, mass spectrometry, chromatography, ICP-MS, and culture-based microbiology. Services are complemented by embedded field technician support, sample collection, digital chain-of-custody documentation, and the proprietary AXIS SaaS platform for data management.
Product overview
Microbac Laboratories offers a comprehensive portfolio of laboratory testing services organized across four main testing categories: Environmental Testing, Food Testing, Life Sciences Testing, and Specialty Testing. The company operates as the nation's largest family-owned third-party laboratory network with 30+ ISO 17025-accredited locations. Key sub-products include Municipal Drinking Water Testing with UCMR 4 support, Legionella Testing using the Legiolert platform, COVID-19 Wastewater Testing for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, Pharmaceutical Testing Lab Support, and Disinfectant Efficacy Testing. Their Core Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tennessee provides specialty molecular biology services including food allergen testing and viral detection. The AXIS Platform is their proprietary SaaS platform for customer data management and reporting. Testing methodologies follow EPA, FDA, USDA, USP, AOAC, and ASTM standards.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AXIS™: Software-as-a-service platform marketed under the name AXIS™ for data management and compliance tracking.
Products and services
- Environmental Testing Comprehensive analytical testing of water, soil, wastewater, and air samples for municipalities, industrial operators, and environmental consultants requiring EPA and state regulatory compliance.
- Food Testing Microbiological, chemical, nutritional, allergen, and environmental monitoring testing for food processors, pet food manufacturers, and beverage producers requiring FDA and FSMA compliance.
- Life Sciences Testing Analytical testing services for bio/pharmaceutical, medical device, disinfectant, and personal care product companies requiring cGMP/GLP/GCP, USP, AOAC, and ASTM protocol studies and stability storage.
- Specialty Testing Specialty analytical services for uncommon contaminants and complex testing programs including PFAS analysis, whole genome sequencing, GMO detection, and Big 9 allergen testing.
- Municipal Drinking Water Testing Drinking water analysis for public water systems and municipalities including lead and copper rule monitoring, disinfection byproducts (TOC, THMs, HAAs), and UCMR 4 unregulated contaminant testing.
- Legionella Testing Detection and quantification of Legionella bacteria including L. pneumophila for buildings, hotels, hospitals, and industrial facilities using the Legiolert rapid method (7-10 day turnaround) and conventional culture methods.
- COVID-19 Wastewater Testing Wastewater surveillance testing for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection enabling population-level COVID-19 monitoring to predict outbreaks before clinical diagnoses, supporting universities, municipalities, and K-12 schools.
- Pharmaceutical Testing Lab Support Full-service analytical testing for bio/pharmaceutical, medical device, infection control, and personal care products including stability, raw material, and protocol-compliant studies.
- Disinfectant Efficacy Testing Testing services evaluating antimicrobial performance of disinfectants and disinfecting agents for pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical, infection control, and consumer product companies.
- AXIS Platform Cloud-based SaaS platform providing data management, reporting, chain-of-custody documentation, and laboratory information system capabilities for customers across all testing programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Legiolert platform reduces Legionella testing turnaround from 21 days to 7-10 days
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Microbac Laboratories
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Microbac Laboratories technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Microbac Laboratories partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- 120WatercoreStrategic partnership during the COVID-19 pandemic for wastewater-based epidemiology testing. 120Water handles logistics, sample kit fulfillment, and customer communications, while Microbac performs SARS-CoV-2 wastewater testing using their Sterling, Virginia virology lab and Oak Ridge core laboratory. The partnership enabled population-level COVID-19 monitoring for universities, municipalities, and school districts. Dr. Aaron Peacock from Microbac served as the primary technical contact, while 120Water CEO Megan Glover led the partnership from the other side. The relationship continues post-pandemic with expansion into other public health testing applications.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Microbac Laboratories competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Customer concentration
Microbac Laboratories social profiles
Digital presenceMicrobac Laboratories compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Microbac Laboratories financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Microbac Laboratories leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Microbac Laboratories funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Microbac Laboratories M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Microbac Laboratories
What does Microbac Laboratories do?
Microbac Laboratories is a third-party analytical testing laboratory network that provides accredited environmental, food, life sciences, and specialty testing services. Operating 30+ ISO 17025-accredited facilities nationwide, the company delivers EPA-, FDA-, USP-, AOAC-, and ASTM-compliant testing using methods such as PCR-based detection, mass spectrometry, chromatography, ICP-MS, and culture-based microbiology. Services are complemented by embedded field technician support, sample collection, digital chain-of-custody documentation, and the proprietary AXIS SaaS platform for data management.
Is Microbac Laboratories a public or private company?
Microbac Laboratories is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Microbac Laboratories founded?
Microbac Laboratories was founded in 1970. It employs 501 to 1,000 people.
Where is Microbac Laboratories based?
Microbac Laboratories is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does Microbac Laboratories make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Analytical Testing Services are the primary driver. The others are field Services and sample Handling and Supplies.
Does Microbac Laboratories have an API?
No public API is recorded for Microbac Laboratories.
What industry is Microbac Laboratories in?
Microbac Laboratories's product category is Analytical Laboratory Testing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGADAL, Environmental Monitoring & Cleanroom Testing (GMP), with a secondary code of HLAFAMAD, Microbiology & Infectious Disease Testing Laboratories. Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8734.