TRADE NAMES

Tom McGlynn's company tries to keep people honest, and it's
no easy job.

Scientific Testing Laboratories Inc. often matches wits with people
who try to cheat on drug tests. But McGlynn said his Chesterfield
County laboratory has kept pace with the schemes to doctor urine samples.

The company has honed its skills in performing drug tests for the
criminal justice system. Now it wants to use those skills on an
expanded scale in testing for corporate clients.

About 92 percent of STL's business now involves drug testing for
parole and probation agencies. McGlynn's goal is for 20 percent of his
business to come from the corporate world.

STL processes more than 2,000 urinalysis tests per day. McGlynn wants
to raise that number to at least 3,500 tests daily.

"Working in criminal justice makes us all a lot sharper. It assures
we're at the top of our game in serving corporate clients," he
said.

McGlynn said the company, which he founded in 1992, turned its first
profit last year.

In working with the criminal justice system, McGlynn said many of
those tested as part of their conditions for probation or parole
consider themselves experts at beating the system.

But McGlynn said his company makes extra efforts to expose their
tricks.

"We've made it our business to know more," he said. "We constantly
test against ourselves, and the result is not only a near-perfect
accuracy record but street smarts about the latest schemes to fool us
and our customers."

McGlynn said STL's staff of 30 tests for alcohol and all known illegal
drugs. The most frequently detected drugs are marijuana and cocaine.

In the corporate marketplace, demand for drug testing comes primarily
from manufacturers and construction companies. McGlynn said drug
testing also is prevalent in the food service industry.

"We are really interested in corporate testing," McGlynn said. "We
have one person here who is fully dedicated to the corporate testing
marketplace."

McGlynn believes a company that insists on a drug-free environment is
better able to meet deadlines, to operate safely and, in general, to
be prosperous because it has better workers.

"The difference in corporate testing is that you are testing to get a
better employee, so you can be better positioned in the marketplace,"
he said.

Critics of drug testing say the procedure violates the privacy of
workers.

McGlynn doesn't buy that argument. He has encountered workers who
would rather keep their drug habits than keep their jobs. He said some
employees quit immediately when their company announces plans for drug
testing.

Their hope, McGlynn said, is to find jobs with another company in the
same industry that doesn't conduct drug testing. He said that strategy
would be foiled if drug testing was more extensive.

McGlynn said the company rechecks drug test results for accuracy but
it still is able to provide results within 24 hours.

"The real time is spent on the positives samples that show evidence
of drugs," McGlynn said, to prevent sending in a false positive.

Chrissy Brubaker, clinical director at Air Park Medical & Occupational
Health Service, finds the staff at STL helpful and supportive in many
ways. Her company deals with work-related injuries, alcohol and drug
problems in companies and also offers primary health care from its
clinic in Hanover County.

"If the lab staff doesn't know about something that I ask, they find
out," she said. "All of our drug testing goes to them."

McGlynn believes a cooperative effort among laboratories and other
segments of society is essential to fighting the growth of illicit
drugs.

"We have a lot of people here with a lot of knowledge," McGlynn said,
"and we are willing to share the basics of what we know."

RESUME

Name: Thomas E. McGlynn

Current position: President and chairman, Scientific Testing
Laboratories Inc.

Born: April 17, 1944, in New Britain, Conn.

Education: Bachelor's degree in business administration, State University
of New York, Buffalo, N.Y.

Career path: Technical sales manager in Richmond, Upson Co. of
Lockport, N.Y., 1976-77; eastern regional technical sales manager in
Richmond, Simplex Industries of Adrian, Mich., 1977-80; partner,
Lehman & Co., 1977-81; co-founder and vice president, Fiber-Lam Inc.,
Doswell, 1980-89; chairman and vice president, Scientific Laboratories
Inc., 1989-94; founder, president and chairman, Scientific Testing
Laboratories Inc. (formed as part of Scientific Laboratories, kept
when former company was sold), 1992 to present

Family: Married to the former Lorani Lee Bertholf of Seagirt, N.J.; two
grown children; lives in Chesterfield County

Spare-time pursuits: Skiing, surfing

Trade Names is a regular feature about established businesses in the
Richmond area. Metro Business Monthly profiles start-up companies.