Controllab

What Controllab does

Controllab is a Brazilian laboratory quality control provider founded in 1977 by Marcio Biasoli and headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, operating from approximately 10,000m² of built facilities. The company delivers an integrated portfolio of proficiency testing (Ensaio de Proficiência), internal quality control (Controle Interno), certified reference materials (MRC under ISO 17034), reference strains (NCTC/NCPV/NCPF distributions), instrument calibration (ISO/IEC 17025), and the ICLAP international laboratory accreditation program. Its software platforms include CI ONLINE for real-time QC monitoring with LIS integration and Metricare for laboratory indicator benchmarking. The company serves clinical laboratories, blood banks, veterinary laboratories, microbiology laboratories, physical-chemical testing laboratories, and in vitro diagnostic manufacturers, with more than 20,000 users across 40+ countries and 3,500+ tests covered.

The business model is predominantly subscription-based, with annual recurring revenue from proficiency testing rounds, internal QC materials, and reference strains, supplemented by professional services (calibration), transactional fees (IVD batch certification), and a one-time component for certified reference materials. Pricing is custom and not publicly disclosed, structured around laboratory size, test count, and round frequency. Controllab distributes through enterprise field sales, inside sales, WhatsApp-led service channels, and an online self-service platform, with exclusive endorsements from SBPC/ML and SBMV scientific societies and strategic partnerships with Fiocruz (2007) and UKHSA (2017).

The company's competitive position rests on four INMETRO Cgcre accreditations (ISO/IEC 17043, 17025, 17034, ISO 9001), ANVISA/REBLAS habilitation, BPF certification, and ISQua recognition for ICLAP — collectively validated under ILAC and IAAC mutual recognition agreements. International expansion accelerated between 2017 and 2023, including UKHSA partnership, COVID-19 and Monkeypox quality control launches (with COVID-19 being a global first-mover), and 2023 memberships in IFCC and EQALM. Operational leadership is held by Vinícius Biasoli (Executive Director), son of the founder, with the company remaining privately held and family-controlled.

Name

Controllab

Legal name

Controllab Controle de Qualidade para Laboratórios LTDA

Website

https://controllab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Controllab is a Brazilian laboratory quality control provider, founded in 1977, serving clinical, veterinary, microbiology, and blood bank laboratories across 40+ countries with proficiency testing, internal QC, certified reference materials, instrument calibration, and laboratory accreditation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Quality Control Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Laboratory Quality & GLP/GCLP Compliance (HLAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Laboratory Quality Systems, Accreditation & Proficiency Testing Programs (HLAJAIAM)

Keywords

• Laboratory quality control
• Proficiency testing services
• Instrument calibration services
• Certified reference materials
• Internal quality control software

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio De Janeiro

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Proficiency Testing (Ensaio de Proficiência): Periodic external quality assessment services for laboratories. Organized in rounds with unknown samples sent for analysis. Core subscription-based service covering 3,500+ tests.
2. Internal Quality Control (Controle Interno): Continuous monitoring materials for laboratory analytical phase. Includes CI ONLINE software platform access. Materials considered third-opinion materials with interlaboratory valuation.
3. Reference Strains (Cepas de Referência): NCTC-certified reference microorganisms delivered ready for use. Program replaces laboratory maintenance (subcultures) with certified, authenticated strains.
4. Certified Reference Materials (Materiais de Referência Certificados): ISO 17034 certified reference materials for chemical, physical, environmental, and clinical properties. Provides traceability and precision to analytical processes.
5. Instrument Calibration (Calibração de Instrumentos): Laboratory instrument calibration services covering balances, pipettes, pH meters, centrifuges, autoclaves, thermometers, and volumetric glassware. Accredited under ISO/IEC 17025.
6. Batch Certification Program (Certificação Lote a Lote): In vitro diagnostic lot certification service for manufacturers, evaluating each new lot against previous lot performance before use in routine testing.
7. Education and Training (Ensino): Online courses, webinars (Encontro Online), case studies, books, and educational materials for laboratory professionals. Includes Conversa D events and scientific publications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Controllab provides laboratory quality control solutions including periodic proficiency testing rounds (unknown sample analysis), continuous internal quality control programs with the CI ONLINE software platform, ISO/IEC 17025-accredited instrument calibration, ISO 17034 certified reference materials, NCTC-certified reference microorganism strains, and the ICLAP international laboratory accreditation program. Services target clinical, blood bank, veterinary, microbiology, and physicochemical laboratories as well as in vitro diagnostic manufacturers worldwide, with bundled offerings and digital benchmarking through Metricare.

Product overview

Controllab is a Brazilian full-solution provider of laboratory quality control services founded in 1977, offering an integrated portfolio of proficiency testing (Ensaio de Proficiência), internal quality control (Controle Interno with CI ONLINE software), certified reference materials (MRC), reference strains (Cepas de Referência), instrument calibration, and the ICLAP international accreditation program. The company's offerings span clinical, blood bank, veterinary, microbiology, and physicochemical segments. Key software platforms include CI ONLINE for real-time quality control monitoring and Metricare for indicator benchmarking. For in vitro diagnostics manufacturers, Controllab provides batch certification and performance testing services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Metricare: Comparative management of indicators for strategic decision-making.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,500+ tests covered by quality control programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• IFCC - International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory MedicineflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Member organization since 2023. IFCC is the global authority for clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine, providing international recognition and network access.
• EQALM - European Organisation for External Quality Assurance Providers in Laboratory MedicineflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Associate member since 2023. European quality assurance organization connecting Controllab with international peers and best practices.
• UKHSA - UK Health Security AgencyflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership with UK Health Security Agency providing exclusive access to NCTC, NCPV, and NCPF reference culture collections. Controllab is the exclusive maintenance service provider for these collections in Brazil.
• Fiocruz - Fundação Oswaldo CruzflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Partnership established in 2007 with Oswaldo Cruz Foundation for scientific collaboration and quality advancement in laboratory medicine.
• SBPC/ML - Sociedade Brasileira de Patologia Clínica e Medicina LaboratorialcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive endorsement from the Brazilian Society of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Medicine for proficiency testing programs. Provides credibility and market access in the clinical laboratory segment.
• SBMV - Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina VeterináriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership with Brazilian Veterinary Medicine Society for veterinary proficiency testing programs and market credibility.
• NCTC - National Collection of Type CulturescoreTechnology or IntegrationWorld's oldest type culture collection (founded 1920) providing authenticated reference microorganisms. Controllab distributes NCTC strains in Brazil.
• NCPV - National Collection of Pathogenic VirusescoreTechnology or IntegrationUK Health Security Agency collection of pathogenic viruses available through Controllab for reference and quality control purposes.
• NCPF - National Collection of Pathogenic FungicoreTechnology or IntegrationUK Health Security Agency collection of pathogenic fungi available through Controllab for reference and quality control purposes.
• CDBL - Câmara Brasileira de Diagnóstico LaboratorialminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate member of Brazilian Chamber of Laboratory Diagnostics providing industry representation and networking.
• ABIMOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociate member of Brazilian Association of Medical and Dental Products Industry.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Merck (Sigma-Aldrich): Global supplier of certified reference materials, analytical standards and laboratory consumables. Broad incumbent in the certified reference material space — directly relevant to Controllab's ISO 17034 CRM line.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Global life sciences and laboratory tools giant with broad QC, reference materials and proficiency testing offerings via its Analytical Instruments and Specialty Diagnostics segments. Broad incumbent rather than a direct specialty competitor.
• Bio-Rad Laboratories: Global life science tools company with the largest commercial proficiency testing and quality controls portfolio (Unity, EQAS). Directly comparable as a multi-segment PT/QC/reference materials provider, but operates at much broader scale and across many more geographies than Controllab.

Emerging players

• Qualiology / Qualiplus: Smaller national PT and inter-laboratory comparison providers in Latin America. Adjacent/emerging competitors that overlap with Controllab in select clinical or food-micro segments without Controllab's full accreditation stack.

Direct peers

• INSTAND e.V. German non-profit PT provider (INSTAND Reference Institute) offering proficiency testing in clinical microbiology, virology, and clinical chemistry under international accreditation. Closely comparable as a multi-disciplinary accredited PT provider serving medical labs.
• UK NEQAS: United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service — long-established multi-disciplinary PT scheme operator for clinical laboratories. Comparable as an academic/charitable-accredited PT provider with global participation.
• College of American Pathologists (CAP): Operates the CAP Laboratory Accreditation Program and CAP Surveys proficiency testing. Comparable as a globally recognized accredited PT and accreditation provider serving clinical laboratories, including ICLAP-like accreditation offerings.
• LGC Limited: UK-based life sciences measurement and reference materials company operating the Maine Standards PT/QC business and producing certified reference materials. Direct peer as a credentialed PT/CRM/calibration provider with international reach.
• Randox Laboratories: Global PT and QC manufacturer (RIQAS, EQA programs) serving clinical laboratories with proficiency testing, internal QC materials and reference materials. Directly comparable in product offering, customer base and business model.

Regional players

• RCPAQAP: Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs — non-commercial PT provider for Asia-Pacific laboratories. Comparable in service scope but geographically distinct from Controllab.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/controllab

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Controllab