SGS Expands its Glasgow Facility, Increasing Biosafety Testing Capacity

The investment and expansion project began in March 2021 and was completed in September, adding 550m² and 16 BSL-2 laboratories to our facility. It is now staffed with 130 expert employees, and demonstrates our continued support in the development of biopharmaceutical products and our commitment to the Scottish economy.

The new equipment installed includes BSL-2 cabinets, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) technology, cell culture equipment for virus detection and real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing equipment.

Archie Lovatt, Site Manager & Scientific Director SGS, said: "Most notably, the Biosafety Center of Excellence in Glasgow has participated in the batch-testing and release of over 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccine, helping to increase vaccine access and bring the global population out of the pandemic."

The new expansion completes previous rounds of investment in 2020 and 2019 which increased our capacity for testing cell banks and the routine bulk harvest for vaccines, gene and cell therapies, monoclonal antibodies and other recombinant protein-based biological medicines.

The 3,100m² facility adheres closely to both Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), providing vaccine and biologics manufacturers with access to high-quality batch-testing of their products. Fulfilling that legal requirement is a key step in bringing those products to market, and we are proud of the specialized support we continue to provide to the biologics, drug development, and cell and gene therapy industries.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Archie Lovatt
Scientific Director SGS Center of Excellence
t: +44 141 952 0022

About SGS

We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Our 93,000 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.