Start a Laboratory
Independent Reference + Physician Office Labs
Looking to start a lab testing business but not sure where to begin?
Lighthouse Lab Services has the expertise to get your lab running in as little as 90 days. Whether you are building a lab from the ground up, adding new lines of testing, or simply adding testing capacity – we’re here to help!
The nation’s leading medical laboratory consulting and recruiting firm
Offering unparalled experience, Lighthouse Lab Services is a trusted partner of clinical laboratories across the country.
200+
Laboratories Built
150+
Lighthouse’s Industry Experts
1,500+
Laboratory Clients
200+
Laboratories Managed
Types of Laboratories We Help to Start
Hospital Labs
Toxicology Drug Testing
Pharmacogenomics
Infectious Disease
Molecular Diagnostics
Genetic Labs
Allergy Labs
Our Six-Step Startup Process
Starting a medical laboratory is never easy. Fortunately, Lighthouse Lab Services provides the expertise and startup procedures to make this process easier and more efficient. We have a proven step-by-step method that will take you from concept to completion. When you work with Lighthouse Lab Services, your team will start with:
Initial Consultation
Once we hear your plan and assess your start-up needs, we will build a project plan and timeline tailored for your laboratory.
Resources Allotment
Our team of consultants will create test menus, choose your instrumentation and software, detail the supplies you will need, and help you select a laboratory location that is right for your lab’s needs.
Credentialing
Our team at Lighthouse will take the lead with processing and enrollment for required CLIA certificates and any required state licensing.
Staffing
We will help you build a team of qualified laboratory professionals so you are completely staffed. From medical lab technicians to lab directors, we will provide the best quality perm or temp candidates in the timeliest manner.
Implementation
Our team will assist in writing standard operation procedures (SOPs), method development, and/or validation of the equipment. We will make sure your staff is trained on how to run specimens properly.
Go-Live
Ready for launch! We’ll help you begin operations and ensure your lab is ready for initial inspections. Unlike other companies, we also offer continued support for three years as your lab runs and grows.
Get Started with Your Physician Office Laboratory
Owning a clinical laboratory is a rewarding venture, but getting there takes knowledge and experience. Our team of over 250 industry experts is dedicated to successfully launching your new laboratory.
Contact us for more information.
Our Technical Consulting
Management Team
Our Team is highly qualified across various specialties within the clinical laboratory industry. They will guide your lab throughout the process and ensure the technical and scientific aspects of your lab meet compliance standards.
Chief Consulting Officer
Megan White Younts
Megan brings more than a decade of industry experience in laboratory operations and management and has personally overseen the up-fit, build-out, and go-live of more than 40 toxicology and 50 molecular laboratories in more than 20 states across the nation.
Chief Technical Officer
Dr. Sarah Harris, PhD, TC(NRCC)
Dr. Sarah Harris managed daily laboratory operations for a leading national reference lab processing more than 50,000 samples per month. She also oversaw the development and implementation of methodologies for clinical testing that reduced costs by more than 20%.
Director of Consulting
Matt Thacker
Senior Project Manager
Lindsey Lamont
Lindsey has over 10 years of experience in Account and Project Management. During her time at Lighthouse, she has overseen the build-out of over 50 molecular labs and dozens of labs with various other specialties.
Megan White Younts
Chief Consulting Officer
Megan brings more than a decade of industry experience in laboratory operations and management and has personally overseen the up-fit, build-out, and go-live of more than 40 toxicology and 50 molecular laboratories in more than 20 states across the nation.
Megan has degrees in biology, toxicology, and entomology and is currently completing an MS program in Toxicology at the University of Florida.
Dr. Sarah Harris, PhD, TC(NRCC)
Chief Technical Officer
Dr. Harris managed daily laboratory operations for a leading national reference laboratory processing more than 50,000 samples per month at its peak. Dr. Harris also oversaw the development and implementation of methodologies for clinical testing that reduced costs by more than 20% and resulted in a decrease in average turnaround by more than 25%.
Dr. Harris earned her B.S. in chemistry from St. Norbert College and a master’s degree from Notre Dame before earning a Ph.D. from the University of South Carolina.
Matt Thacker
Director of Consulting
Matt has 5 years of research and 9 years of clinical laboratory experience ranging from high throughput testing to specialized laboratory developed testing. He is experienced in laboratory design and facilities, lab information and billing systems, laboratory automation, and a host of laboratory processes.
Matt has been involved in over 75 lab builds from scratch ranging from fully automated high-capacity molecular builds to single tech in-office labs.
Lindsey Lamont
Senior Project Manager
Lindsey has over 10 years of experience in Account and Project Management. During her time at Lighthouse, she has overseen the build-out of over 50 molecular labs and dozens of labs with various other specialties.
In her role as Sr. Project Manager, she and her team play an instrumental role in the success of our laboratory builds, whether it be an addition of a line of testing or a complete start-up project from the ground up. She organizes an interdepartmental team to complete the project on-site, to specifications, and with accuracy and efficiency.