Waltham, Massachusetts-based PerkinElmer, an analytics technology company producing scientific instruments and supplies for healthcare, industrial, and commercial use, has announced the permanent closure of its operations at the California Department of Public Health’s laboratory in Valencia, California.
The closure will impact 75 employees and is scheduled between May 15, 2022, and June 4, 2022.
The decision was driven by the loss of a $1.4-billion contract to provide COVID-19 lab testing and reporting services to the State of California. The $COVID-19 testing contract was mired in controversy as several whistleblowers alleged "significant deficiencies" with the testing operation.
According to a company spokesperson, “We are proud that we have enabled California to increase testing availability in communities at high risk for contracting COVID-19. Early in the pandemic, when testing was scarce and supply chains were challenged, the Valencia Branch Laboratory helped provide consistent access to COVID-19 testing and increased capacity for surges. As of March 29, 2022, the lab had processed more than 9 million samples from a network of more than 4,700 specimen collection sites developed with churches, schools, clinics, workplaces, and community-based organizations. Moving forward, we will be working with CDPH to ensure a smooth transition period.
Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?