The laboratory you choose is probably the most critical decision you will make with regards to your project. Choosing the right lab ensures that you, and ultimately your clients, are given quality data that enable you to make timely, cost-effective, legally defensible, and correct decisions. Finding a lab has become considerably easier with the proliferation of over 1200 environmental labs nationwide. This expansion over the past ten years has been a boon to lab users, who have seen analytical prices tumble dramatically. However, as labs struggle to remain competitive, economic pressures have caused many to resort to cost-cutting measures that are not always apparent (nor beneficial) to the customer. Data quality is oftentimes sacrificed as labs hire less experienced personnel, perform fewer data reviews, reduce quality control testing, cut back on technical training, retain older equipment, and purchase lower quality instruments and supplies. Additionally, reductions in technical and customer support services and other cost-cutting measures have been tried in order to increase output at the expense of the customer. Although the apparent affect has been to reduce analytical costs over the past several years, the lower prices you are paying may actually be affecting the quality of the data that you are receiving. Even more disconcerting is the recent proliferation of lab mergers, buyouts, and closures. The legal defensibility of data that you are basing your decisions on today may become a serious question if the lab no longer exists several years from now. But probably the most important reason for making an informed choice regarding the lab you use, is that your decisions today will not only affect the cost and completion time of your current project, but may also significantly impact your company’s future finances and reputation.