News
22-December 2010
– LGC
acquires HFL Sport
Science
LGC announces the acquisition of the world’s largest sports
drug surveillance laboratory
LGC, the international science-based company
and market leader in analytical, forensic and diagnostic services
and reference standards, is pleased to announce the acquisition of
HFL Sport Science (HFL), the world’s
largest independent provider of drug surveillance, doping control
and research activities to human and equine sports. The acquisition
of HFL will extend and complement LGC’s current analytical service
offerings.
HFL has over 45 years’
continuous experience in the science of sports doping control,
including experience testing within the framework of the World
Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and testing human and animal food
supplements for substances prohibited in sport.
Accredited to ISO 17025,
HFL’s qualified team of scientists delivers both operational
screening services and innovative research into prohibited
substance detection and, over the past 40 years, has published more
than 300 scientific papers, pioneering innovative bioanalytical
techniques. In the area of animal sports, HFL has contributed
significantly to animal welfare and the integrity of animal sports,
with research that has helped to develop many international
regulations and drug testing policies. In the human sporting arena,
HFL provides testing for athlete healthcare and nutritional
supplements, giving athletes, coaches and governing bodies’
confidence in supplement manufacturers and suppliers and providing
analytical services relating to biomarkers of fitness and
nutritional health.
The inclusion of these
cutting-edge services, combined with LGC’s current unrivalled
analytical service offerings, further enhances LGC’s reputation as
a world leading independent science provider. LGC's products and
services in the pharmaceutical, consumer product and food sectors
fully complement the work undertaken by HFL. All are based around
the ability to screen and confirm trace components within complex
samples such as on drug and pesticide residues, additives,
contaminants, micro-nutrients and compounds migrating from
packaging and containment devices. The combined business will
benefit from a significant shared customer base and will use the
knowledge and skills of the LGC and HFL teams to deliver a
comprehensive range of services.
Both HFL and LGC are
positioned at the high quality and complex end of the analytical
market and have strong national and international brands.
David Hall, Chief Executive
Officer of HFL Sport Science, commented: “I am extremely
excited at the opportunities that our acquisition by LGC holds
- the combination of LGC and HFL knowledge, expertise and
instrumentation will open a range of market opportunities in the
UK, Europe and the USA, accelerating our development in
the sports testing market”.
David
Richardson, Chief Executive of LGC, said: “This
enhanced analytical service offering by LGC will deliver real
benefits to sports drug surveillance and doping control industry.
With the up-coming 2012 Olympics, LGC is determined to take the
lead in providing quality and outstanding customer service in this
increasingly important area of sports science”.
- Ends -
Notes to
editors:
About HFL Sport Science
HFL Sport Science (www.hfl.co.uk) provides
drug surveillance, doping control and research activities to all
sports, and based in Fordham near Cambridge. HFL Sport Science,
formerly part of the Quotient Bioresearch Group, has over 40 years’
continuous experience in the science of sports doping control
(equine, canine and human). This includes experience testing within
the framework of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and testing
human and animal food supplements for substances prohibited in
sport. Our highly qualified team of scientists deliver both
operational screening services and innovative research into
prohibited substance detection.
- HFL Sport Science has evolved from HFL Ltd,
and is the world’s largest sports drug surveillance laboratory
- HFL scientists have published more than 300
scientific papers over the last 40 years and have pioneered
innovative bioanalytical techniques
- HFL’s work in horseracing has helped shape
the Rules and Regulations of racing and we have worked with the
regulators and organisers of many major international sporting
events.