CERTEK History

In 1997, CERTEK designed and developed the concept of modular containment laboratories. Institutions working with pathogenic organisms are required to have these type of laboratories by the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The requirements are listed in their publication "Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories". Laboratories may also be constructed to the Canadian or World Health Organizations standards. The first laboratory was delivered in 1997 and placed on top of a five story building. CERTEK has built laboratories for use by major universities, research agencies, diagnostic laboratories, etc. CERTEK laboratories are now being shipped overseas for use with the avian flu virus.

James I. Grantham - Founder of CERTEK

Mr. Grantham holds a BS degree in Agricultural Engineering from Auburn University, as well as an MS degree in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York.

Jim has been actively involved in air filtraton systems design including design, construction and testing of clean rooms and containment facilities for 25 years. He served on the subgroup to write the ANSI/ASME N510-1980 Standard for "Testing of Nuclear Air-Cleaning Devices." Jim acted as a committee member in the Contamination Control Standards and Practices Program for the IEST, contributing to the Standards for HEPA Filters, Adsorber Cells and Clean Room Construction. He participated on the design team for the Cancer Center Isolation Facility at Duke University (P2* and P4). Mr. Grantham is a charter member of the American Biological Safety Association, and is recognized as a Registered Biosafety Professional. He has authored two chapters in the "Anthology of Biosafety" series on BL3+ Laboratories, published by the American Biological Safety Association.

CERTEK is proud to have Mr. Grantham as a Biosafety Professional consultant.