Parties
Identify each legal entity by full legal name, entity type, and address; include contact and billing contacts for notices and invoicing.
A clear, written agreement reduces ambiguity about testing scope, responsibilities, sample custody, turnaround times, confidentiality, and payment, lowering the risk of disputes and regulatory noncompliance.
Signatories usually include an authorized representative from the laboratory and an authorized representative of the client or sponsor; witness or notary requirements depend on jurisdiction and document purpose.
Identify each legal entity by full legal name, entity type, and address; include contact and billing contacts for notices and invoicing.
Describe tests, methods, acceptance criteria, and which laboratory or subcontractor performs each assay; attach a statement of work or test menu as an exhibit.
Define sample collection, labeling, chain-of-custody procedures, storage conditions, retention period, and return or disposal instructions.
State fees, billing frequency, due dates, acceptable payment methods, late payment interest, and any deposit or prepayment requirements.
Specify protected health information handling, data ownership, permitted uses, and any required data de-identification or secure transfer protocols.
Limitations of liability, indemnities, warranty disclaimers, insurance requirements, and dispute resolution processes including governing law.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signature Field | Require signer signature and date in signature block |
| Initials Field | Place initials on each page or section as agreed |
| Conditional Fields | Show payment or insurance fields only if checkbox selected |
| Authentication | Use email + SMS code or higher for sensitive data |
Select a platform that provides audit trails, secure storage, and HIPAA-capable controls if handling protected health information; configure retention and access accordingly.
State expected days for testing and reporting
Agreement begins on the effective date entered
Specify days for termination and dispute notice
Define retention days and disposal notices
Net payment terms (e.g., Net 30) and late fees
Client submits request and purchase order; lab confirms acceptance
Samples collected and shipped with chain-of-custody
Assays performed and QC documented
Final report delivered to client and archived
Provide signed agreements and reports as PDF/A for long-term preservation and as DOCX for editing when allowed.
Retain a tamper-evident audit trail with timestamps, IP, and signer actions to support attribution and dispute resolution.
Track document versions, changes, and who approved each revision; record version date and effective date in metadata.
Store signed records in encrypted repositories with access controls and retention settings consistent with policy.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial, no card required | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor | Varies by vendor |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No envelope cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |