Championing measurement science and quality control in the Russian analytical market.

LGC Standards has opened its first office in St Petersburg, Russia. This new office, coming only six months after a presence in China was established, demonstrates that LGC Standards continues to grow to support laboratory quality worldwide.

Russia is widely recognised as a ‘pharmerging’ market, with a predicted growth rate in the pharmaceutical sector of 17% per annum to 2013 (Espicom – The Pharmaceutical Market: Russia, 2009.) The initial focus for the Russian team will be this sector, launching the LGC Standards range of 2400 reference standards for pharmaceutical impurities to support quality control.

LGC Standards provides a range of products and services for measurement and laboratory control encompassing reference material distribution and proficiency testing, together with the production of pharmaceutical impurities and custom synthesis. For the first time the company will be able to support Russian laboratories directly by offering logistical and technical advice in their local language.

The new office will be managed by Svetlana Buchaka, who has a PhD in Chemistry from St Petersburg State University and experience in both the industrial and academic sectors. Dr Buchaka will be attending the conference ‘Modern methods of analysis of pharmaceutical products’ in Moscow, 2-4 December 2009 to meet with potential customers.

Dr Matthias Brommer, Director, LGC Standards said: “While Russia has its own metrological system for chemistry (GOST standards), there is increasing interest in the ISO metrological system widely used in the European Union, particularly for those industries seeking export opportunities into this market. With our new office in Russia, LGC Standards will be well placed to support these developments.”

Dr Svetlana Buchaka, Head of Representative Office in St-Petersburg, said “We have Russian-speaking experts in our Russian and Polish offices who have a good understanding of both the GOST and ISO systems, and can advise Russian laboratories on the correct use of laboratory quality products and services under both systems.”

About LGC Standards

LGC Standards provides products and services to improve measurement and quality control within the laboratory, and is part of LGC, whose Research and Technology Division acts as the UK National Measurement Institute for Chemical and Biochemical Measurements. LGC Standards supplies over 20,000 reference materials, pharmaceutical impurity reference standards, proficiency testing and training in analytical quality. LGC Standards is headquartered in Teddington, Middlesex, UK. Its global centre for excellence in proficiency testing is located in Bury (Greater Manchester). LGC Standards has offices in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, China, Russia and the UK, a joint venture presence in India, and representatives in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Romania, Turkey and the US.

About LGC

LGC is an international science-based company and market leader in analytical, forensic and diagnostic services and reference standards. A progressive and innovative enterprise, LGC operates in socially responsible fields underpinning the safety, health and security of the public and the regulation of industry, for UK government departments and blue chip clients.

LGC operates internationally through four divisions - LGC Forensics, Life & Food Sciences, LGC Standards and Research & Technology, which includes specialist laboratories delivering contracts for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and supporting LGC's designated role as the UK's National Measurement Institute for chemical and bioanalysis.

Our methodology is extensively accredited to the international standard ISO 17025. With headquarters in Teddington, South West London, the LGC Group employs over 1250 staff in 26 laboratories and centres across Europe and in India and China. Privatised in 1996 and now majority-owned by funds managed by LGV Capital, LGC was founded almost 170 years ago as the Laboratory of the Government Chemist - a statutory function maintained by LGC today.

For further information please visit www.lgcstandards.com 

The LGC Standards website is available in Russian at www.lgcstandards.ru