"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…"

The opening to Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities seems to aptly describe the state of the world today, though the story was set in the late 1700's (and my high school literature teachers thought I was not paying attention!). The impact of a global recession has been significant and sometimes financially devastating to so many people in so many places. We have witnessed a pandemic of the H1N1 virus, and the continued spread of terrorism throughout the world has taken far too many lives. On the other hand, we are beginning to see positive signs of a financial recovery in numerous economies, and tremendous advances in medical research occur at ever increasing rates. The number of people living in free and open societies continues to grow and the hope for peace remains strong.

Imagine for a moment that we are all able to travel back to April 1960 (101 years to the month from the first publication of Dickens' classic). Stanbio Laboratory has just been registered with the State of Texas with the required articles of incorporation. This fledgling company in San Antonio, the brainchild of Charles E. Miles, is taking its first few steps on its path to develop and manufacture clinical diagnostic testing products that will eventually be sold into more than 125 countries throughout the world. Stanbio is already two years old, having started (as legend would be told) in a garage sometime in 1958 in Hallettsville, Texas, a small town about 125 miles east of San Antonio.

The world in that decade was quite different than it is today. Medical technologists are performing routine tests using methods that would probably scare most lab professionals today. Serum glucose levels are often determined using an ortho-Toluidine based reagent (a carcinogen!) that is incubated at 100°C and read in a spectrophotometer. Liebermann-Burchard is the method of choice at the time and is manufactured with concentrated sulfuric acid (also incubated at 100°C). Many med techs' lab coats have holes that were burned into them with the reagent that was accidentally splashed.

As hard as it may be for some of us to remember, it will be 7 years before the first microwave ovens are commercialized, 3 years before the first touch-tone phones are available, and Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color television broadcasts on NBC are still a year away. It will be more than 15 years before Bill Gates and Paul Allen start a company called "Micro-soft" and The University of Texas student Michael Dell won't start selling custom-built computers in Austin for another 24 years. I hope this little historical journey doesn't make anyone who actually lived through this period feel too old, but I thought painting this small picture might stir a memory or two.

Since joining Stanbio Laboratory in 1988, I have had the pleasure of meeting and doing business with our distribution partners and customers around the globe. I never forget that we would not be here today if not for all of you and your willingness to put your trust in us. The entire Stanbio Team pledges to continue to work to earn that trust with every product and service that we offer. Our resolve and desire to be the best continues to be the driving force behind our company.

And speaking of the best, I have had the privilege of working with individuals who are just that, the best. The men and women over the last five decades who have made and continue to make Stanbio Laboratory everything it is today are the key to our growth and success for our first 50 years. While most of our distributors and customers will never have the opportunity to meet these fine folks, they are all true professionals whose dedication and commitment to quality at every level is without equal. I am so fortunate to work with such a great group of people.

Finally, it is with the greatest gratitude to all of our customers that I proudly introduce the Stanbio Laboratory 50th Anniversary Product Catalog. It is indeed a milestone that nearly any company would love to achieve and one that I am both proud and thankful for. The first 50 years has been a tremendous journey for our company, and I cannot wait to see what the next 50 years will bring. And to all of you, I wish only "the best of times".

William R. Pippin
President/Owner