A new state laboratory that will help Missouri’s state agencies team up on testing will open in 2026. A groundbreaking took place earlier this summer on a new multi-agency state laboratory that focuses on human, animal, environmental, and criminal testing in Missouri.
Participating state agencies will share information, expertise, equipment, supplies, and support services to better serve the public.
Dru Buntin, Missouri’s director of the Department of Natural Resources told Missourinet that his organization focuses on air and water quality, environment, and chemical analysis.
“It’s going to offer additional equipment, newer equipment. It’s going to allow us to expand our physical footprint, and you know, a lot of these monitoring efforts are done in conjunction with our sister agencies,” he said.
Buntin’s department provides investigative and laboratory testing for environmental health and disease. In addition to being able to expand and use modern equipment, he is eager to collaborate with the other participating state agencies.
“So, there’s overlap in our implementation of all of these things whether it be public drinking water quality, or whether it be the quality of water in our rivers and streams and lakes that are in our state public lands,” Buntin said.
The other collaborating state agencies include the Departments of Agriculture, Conservation, Health and Senior Services, and Public Safety. The Missouri State Highway Patrol, serving under the Department of Public Safety, provides forensic evidence testing and crime and criminal activity for the state.
Cpt. Scott White with the state highway patrol felt that this collaborative approach will promote a culture of shared learning.
“You know, for example, the patrol’s crime laboratory has previously collaborated with the Department of Health and Senior Services, their state public health laboratory, on cases involving unidentified materials,” White said. “Both of these labs under one roof will streamline these collaborations, just making them just more efficient and more effective.”
The estimated project cost is $183 million.
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