Brooks Applied Labs, LLC

What Brooks Applied Labs, LLC does

Brooks Applied Labs, LLC is a Bothell, Washington-based analytical laboratory founded in 1982 that provides specialized trace metals and metals speciation testing services to government agencies, private industry, and research institutions across environmental, pharmaceutical, food safety, power generation, and biomonitoring sectors. The company operates a project-based professional services model in which clients submit samples and receive tiered data packages (Certificate of Analysis through Level IV), with custom quotes varying by sample type, analytical method, turnaround time, and required detection limits. Its core technical platform centers on ICP-MS and ICP-QQQ-MS instrumentation with proprietary interference reduction technologies (dynamic reaction cell, collision cell, and High Matrix Introduction systems) that achieve ng/L detection limits in complex matrices such as flue gas desulfurization wastewater, biological tissues, and pharmaceutical samples where standard methods produce biased results.

The company's analytical services span trace element analysis, elemental speciation, selective sequential extractions, stable isotope ratio analysis, microplastics characterization, elemental imaging by laser ablation, and inorganic arsenic speciation in food products. It holds ANAB ISO/IEC 17025 and TNI NELAP accreditations, is FDA-audited for CGMP-compliant pharmaceutical work, and operates as a subsidiary of IEH (Institute for Environmental Health). Distribution is primarily direct, with clients shipping samples to the laboratory for analysis; the company also lists on the Science Exchange research services marketplace and maintains conference presence and peer-reviewed publications as credibility-building channels. Federal customers include the FDA and USDA, while enterprise clients span electric utilities, environmental engineering firms, biopharmaceutical manufacturers, and academic research groups across more than five industry verticals.

Name

Brooks Applied Labs, LLC

Legal name

Brooks Applied Labs, LLC

Website

https://brooksapplied.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brooks Applied Labs is a Bothell, Washington-based analytical laboratory providing specialized trace metals and metals speciation testing services to government agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, environmental firms, food producers, and research institutions. It operates as an IEH subsidiary since its 1982 founding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Analytical Laboratory Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Elemental Impurities & Trace Metals (ICP-MS) (HLAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services (in-house/contract labs; microbiology, metals, organics) (EUANAJAB)

Keywords

• Trace metals analysis
• Metals speciation testing
• Environmental analytical testing
• Pharmaceutical elemental testing
• Analytical laboratory services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bothell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Analytical Testing Services: Laboratory testing services for trace metals and metals speciation. Clients submit samples for analysis and receive data packages (Certificate of Analysis, Level II, III, or IV). Pricing varies by sample type, number of samples, analysis type, turnaround time, and required detection limits. The company operates on a project-by-project basis with custom quotes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Brooks Applied Labs is a contract analytical laboratory specializing in trace metals and metals speciation testing. Clients submit environmental, biological, food, and pharmaceutical samples to its Seattle-area facility for analysis using ICP-MS, ICP-QQQ-MS, CVAFS, and laser ablation platforms, and receive tiered data packages (Certificate of Analysis through Level IV). Services support regulatory compliance, research, and product safety decision-making across environmental monitoring, pharmaceutical quality, food safety, power generation, and biomonitoring applications.

Product overview

Brooks Applied Labs is an analytical laboratory providing trace metals and metals speciation testing services. The company operates as a single unified service offering organized around testing types (Trace Elements Analysis, Speciation, SSE, Stable Isotope Analysis, Microplastics, Air/Gas Testing) and industry verticals (Environmental, Biopharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals, Food/Beverages). The core analytical technology platform centers on ICP-QQQ-MS with interference reduction technology for challenging matrices. Services are delivered through standardized testing methods with multiple data package levels (Certificate of Analysis, Level II-IV) and are accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Trace Elements Analysis High-quality analytical testing for trace metals in various sample matrices (environmental, biological, food, pharmaceutical) using advanced ICP-MS technology. Offered to government agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, food producers, power utilities, and academic research groups needing total metals data at low detection limits.
• Trace Elements Speciation Determination of different chemical forms (species) of trace elements — for example, inorganic vs. organic arsenic or methylmercury vs. total mercury — to inform bioavailability, toxicity, and regulatory interpretation. Targeted at clients requiring species-specific data (food safety regulators, biomonitoring studies, pharmaceutical impurity analyses).
• Selective Sequential Extractions (SSE) Analytical technique that fractionates solid samples (soils, sediments) to identify the mineral phases or components to which metals are bound. Used by environmental scientists, mining researchers, and regulators conducting source apportionment and bioavailability assessments.
• Stable Isotope Ratio Testing Analysis of isotopic ratios to determine source identification, metabolic pathways, and environmental tracers. Used by environmental forensic investigators, academic researchers, and biomonitoring programs.
• Microplastics Testing Services Detection and characterization of microplastic particles in environmental and biological samples. Serves environmental researchers, regulators, and product safety teams monitoring microplastic contamination.
• Elemental Imaging by Laser Ablation ICP-MS Spatial mapping of elemental distribution in samples (e.g., tissues, particles) using laser ablation sampling combined with ICP-MS detection. Used by pharmaceutical researchers, biologists, and materials scientists requiring spatial element localization.
• Inorganic Arsenic in Foods, Beverages, & Supplements Specific testing for inorganic arsenic species (separate from organic forms) in food, beverage, and dietary supplement products for regulatory compliance. Targeted at baby food, infant formula, juice, and supplement manufacturers operating under state and federal heavy metals regulations.
• Biopharmaceuticals Services Elemental analysis services for biopharmaceutical production, including micronutrient optimization, chemically defined media analysis, USP 232/233 and ICH Q3D compliance testing, and contamination source identification for mAb, CAR-T, and viral vector production. Available with CGMP compliance options.
• Micronutrient Optimization Statistical design of experiments combined with high-quality analytical results to optimize trace element compositions in biopharmaceutical production (cell culture media) for improved yield and consistency. Targeted at bioprocess development and MSAT teams.
• Small Molecule Services Elemental analysis for small molecule pharmaceuticals, including catalyst residual testing, side product quantification, and active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) confirmation. Targeted at small-molecule drug developers and manufacturers subject to ICH Q3D.
• Industrial Wastewater Testing Trace metals analysis for flue gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater and municipal wastewater using specialized interference removal technologies. Used by coal-fired power plant operators and environmental engineering firms for NPDES compliance, FGD treatment optimization, and mercury capture evaluation.
• Air & Gas Testing Total mercury testing in ambient air and natural gas using EPA Methods 324 and IO-5 with cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (CVAFS). Achieves reporting levels of 2 ng/trap (iodated carbon) and 0.025 ng/trap (gold sand). Used by utilities, oil & gas operators, and environmental regulators monitoring mercury emissions.
• Tissues & Biological Samples Testing Specialized trace metals and speciation analysis in biological tissues, including arsenic, chromium, cobalt, mercury, methylmercury, and selenium speciation. Used in biomonitoring studies, wildlife toxicology research, and human exposure assessments; supported by a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service import/export license.

Quantifiable outcome

• Demonstrated that EPA Method 7471 for mercury analysis in tissue samples produces results biased low by approximately 20% compared to the Appendix to EPA Method 1631
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brooks Rand LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated laboratory entity that collaborated on method development research. Brooks Rand Labs conducted research on arsenic speciation interferences in tissue samples (EPA Method 1632A) and presented findings at the National Environmental Monitoring Conference. Shared expertise in mercury analysis and speciation techniques.
• IEH Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company or affiliated organization (Brooks Applied Labs is 'An IEH Company'). IEH provides organizational infrastructure and connects Brooks Applied Labs with additional expertise and resources in biotechnology and environmental testing.
• Science ExchangeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline research services platform where Brooks Applied Labs is listed as a verified provider of analytical testing services. The Science Exchange platform connects researchers with CROs and testing laboratories, facilitating access to Brooks Applied Labs' services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ALS Limited: International testing, inspection, and certification company with substantial environmental, food, and pharmaceutical laboratory services. Competes with Brooks Applied Labs in trace metals and speciation across mining, environmental, and life sciences segments globally.
• SGS: World-leading TIC (testing, inspection, certification) company with environmental, food, and life sciences laboratories. Provides overlapping inorganic and metals testing services and competes for global regulatory-driven testing contracts.
• Intertek: International quality assurance and testing provider with environmental, food, and pharmaceutical laboratory services. Competes for analytical testing contracts that include trace metals and contaminant analysis.
• Eurofins Scientific: Global leader in bioanalytical and environmental testing services with significant trace metals and food/pharma testing capabilities. While much broader in scope, Eurofins competes directly with Brooks Applied Labs for inorganic and speciation work, especially in regulated environmental and pharma testing.
• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC services provider with commodity, environmental, and agri-food testing laboratories. Overlaps with Brooks Applied Labs in metals testing for mining, environmental, and consumer products clients.

Emerging players

• RTI International: Nonprofit research institute with environmental and analytical chemistry capabilities including trace metals analysis. Competes for biomonitoring, environmental toxicology, and federally funded research programs.

Direct peers

• Pace Analytical: US-focused environmental and life sciences testing laboratory with trace metals, NPDES, and industrial wastewater testing offerings. Competes for environmental monitoring and mercury testing work in the same US power, mining, and infrastructure client base.
• Brooks Rand Labs: Affiliated/sister laboratory historically focused on mercury and arsenic speciation method development. The closest technical peer given shared lineage, complementary methods expertise, and overlapping federal and research clients.
• EAG Laboratories: Specialty analytical and materials characterization laboratory serving pharmaceutical, environmental, and electronics clients. Overlaps with Brooks Applied Labs in trace metals, elemental impurities, and advanced mass spectrometry techniques for regulated industries.

Others

• Phenomenex (Danaher): Supplier of sample preparation, chromatography, and ICP-MS consumables used in trace metals workflows. Adjacent ecosystem participant — not a direct competitor but closely tied to the analytical testing supply chain BAL depends on.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brooks-applied-labs
• Xx.com/brooksapplied

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brooks Applied Labs, LLC