GIBRALTAR LABORATORIES
IS YOUR PLACE FOR EXTRAORDINARY TEST SERVICES

The Swine Flu and Influenza: What a Difference a Number Makes

Over 36,000 people in the US die of Influenza infection each year.  Frequently we are concerned about the possible risk of a pandemic because the virus is spread through the air and enters our respiratory system. A few years ago it was bird flu (H5N1) mostly a scare, and this year it is swine flu (H1N1) a real threat.  In the 60s we feared horse flu  H3N8 but not the equine strain H7N7. The differences lie in the numbers 1,2 and 3, it must  be one of these three to infect a human. Influenza A virus strains are categorized according to two viral proteins, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). All influenza A viruses contain hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, but the structure of these proteins differs from strain to strain due to rapid genetic mutation in the viral genome. Influenza A virus strains are assigned an H number and an N number based on which forms of these two proteins the strain contains. Procedures to inactivate H1, H2 and H3 are available at Gibraltar in our ATCC/US Government-approved BSL-3 pathogen lab- Please contact us for more information.

This 39+ year old company has an international reputation for customer service, quality research, quality control and testing in bacteriology, mycology, virology, chemistry and in vitrotoxicology. Gibraltar Laboratories Inc. serves the pharmaceutical, medical device, orthopedic, tissue bank, biopharmaceutical, chemical, and cosmetic industries. The company, headed by Daniel L. Prince, Ph.D., operates approximately 20,000 square foot laboratories in Fairfield, NJ.

The company is extraordinary in that: (a) all departments are headed by Ph.D. or master’s level scientists with prior experience in industry or academia, (b) it has a research policy that has resulted in over 60 papers or publications in the archive or trade literature, (c) it maintains committee assignments or contacts with regulatory personnel in FDA, EPA, USP (d) is involved with trade organizations such as A2LA, AACC, AAMI, AATB, ACIL, AOAC, ASM, ASTM, CSPA, NJPQCA, and PDA and (e) maintains an International harmonized scope of services including, BP, EP, FDA, ISO, JP, OECD and USP.

Gibraltar is FDA registered, ISO 17025 certified and is accredited by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation. Gibraltar is proud that it has been a member of the New Jersey Branch of the SIM since 1975 and has actively supported the purposes of SIM since that time.

MISSION STATEMENT
“Gibraltar Laboratories will provide quality independent laboratory services in the biological and chemistry sciences.”

QUALITY POLICY STATEMENT
“Achieving 100% customer satisfaction through fully understanding and always meeting the requirements of those we service and relating to our clients, co-workers, suppliers and community in a fair and ethical manner.”