2.	SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(a)

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

(b)

Revenue Recognition

The majority of our service contracts involve the development of analytical methods and the processing of bioanalytical samples for pharmaceutical companies and generally provide for a fixed fee for each sample processed. Revenue is recognized under the specific performance method of accounting and the related direct costs are recognized when services are performed. Our research service contracts generally consist of preclinical studies, and revenue is recognized based on the ratio of direct costs incurred to total estimated direct costs under the proportional performance method of accounting. Losses on both types of contracts are provided in the period in which the loss becomes determinable. Revisions in profit estimates, if any, are reflected on a cumulative basis in the period in which such revisions become known. The establishment of contract prices and total contract costs involves estimates we make at the inception of the contract. These estimates could change during the term of the contract and impact the revenue and costs reported in the consolidated financial statements. Revisions to estimates have generally not been material. Research service contract fees received upon acceptance are deferred until earned, and classified within customer advances. Unbilled revenues represent revenues earned under contracts in advance of billings.

Product revenue from sales of equipment not requiring installation, testing or training is recognized upon shipment to customers. One product includes internally developed software and requires installation, testing and training, which occur concurrently. Revenue from these sales is recognized upon completion of the installation, testing and training when the services are bundled with the equipment sale.

(c)

Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

One or more of the financial institutions holding the Company’s cash accounts are participating in the FDIC’s Transaction Account Guarantee Program. Under that program, through December 31, 2010, all noninterest-bearing transaction accounts are fully guaranteed by the FDIC for the entire amount in the account. Pursuant to legislation enacted in 2010, the FDIC will fully insure all noninterest-bearing transaction accounts beginning December 31, 2010 through December 31, 2012, at all FDIC-insured institutions.

For financial institutions opting out of the FDIC’s Transaction Account Guarantee Program or interest-bearing cash accounts, the FDIC’s insurance limits were permanently increased to $250,000, effective July 21, 2010. At September 30, 2011, the Company did not have any cash accounts that exceeded federally insured limits.

(d)

Accounts Receivable

We perform periodic credit evaluations of our customers’ financial conditions and generally do not require collateral on trade accounts receivable. We account for trade receivables based on the amounts billed to customers. Past due receivables are determined based on contractual terms. We do not accrue interest on any of our trade receivables. The allowance for doubtful accounts is determined by management based on our historical losses, specific customer circumstances, and general economic conditions. Periodically, management reviews accounts receivable and adjusts the allowance based on current circumstances and charges off uncollectible receivables when all attempts to collect have failed. Our allowance for doubtful accounts was $108 and $165 at September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

A summary of activity in our allowance for doubtful accounts is as follows:

	2011			2010

Opening balance	$	165		$	110
Charged to expense, net		(48	)		61
Accounts written off		(9	)		(6	)
Ending balance	$	108		$	165

(e)

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) cost method of accounting.

(f)

Property and Equipment

We record property and equipment at cost, including interest capitalized during the period of construction of major facilities. We compute depreciation, including amortization on capital leases, using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which we estimate to be: buildings and improvements, 34 to 40 years; machinery and equipment, 5 to 10 years, and office furniture and fixtures, 10 years. In our European operations, we depreciate leasehold improvements, using the straight-line method, over 7 years, corresponding to the terms of the operating lease for the European facility. Depreciation expense was $2,085 in fiscal 2011 and $2,287 in fiscal 2010. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred.

Property and equipment, net, as of September 30, 2011 and 2010 consisted of the following:

	2011			2010

Land and improvements	$	527		$	488
Buildings and improvements		21,433			21,296
Machinery and equipment		22,361			20,652
Office furniture and fixtures		949			952
Construction in progress		493			109
		45,763			43,497
Less: accumulated depreciation		(25,364	)		(24,058	)
Net property and equipment	$	20,399		$	19,439

(g)

Long-Lived Assets including Goodwill

Long-lived assets, such as property and equipment, and purchased intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized of the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of the asset.

We carry goodwill at cost. Other intangible assets with definite lives are stated at cost and are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. All intangible assets acquired that are obtained through contractual or legal right, or are capable of being separately sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged, are recognized as an asset apart from goodwill. Goodwill is not amortized.

Goodwill is tested annually for impairment, and more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired, using a two-step process. In the first step, we compare the fair value of each reporting unit, as computed primarily by present value cash flow calculations, to its book carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value exceeds the carrying value, no further work is required and no impairment loss is recognized. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value, the goodwill of the reporting unit is potentially impaired and we would then complete step 2 in order to measure the impairment loss. In step 2, the implied fair value is compared to the carrying amount of the goodwill. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than the carrying value of goodwill, we would recognize an impairment loss equal to the difference. The implied fair value is calculated by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit (as determined in step 1) to all of its assets and liabilities (including unrecognized intangible assets) and any excess in fair value that is not assigned to the assets and liabilities is the implied fair value of goodwill.

The discount rate and sales growth rates are the two material assumptions utilized in our calculations of the present value cash flows used to estimate the fair value of the reporting units when performing the annual goodwill impairment test. Our reporting units with goodwill at September 30, 2011 are Vetronics, which is included in our Products segment, McMinnville, Oregon and Evansville, Indiana, which are both included in our Services segment, based on the discrete financial information available which is reviewed by management. We utilize a cash flow approach in estimating the fair value of the reporting units, where the discount rate reflects a weighted average cost of capital rate. The cash flow model used to derive fair value is sensitive to the discount rate and sales growth assumptions used. We performed our annual impairment test for all reporting units mentioned above at September 30, 2011. Using a discount rate of 22% and a revenue growth rate of 0%, the fair values of our Vetronics, McMinnville, Oregon and Evansville, Indiana reporting units is greater than the carrying values by approximately $12.7 million.

Considerable management judgment is necessary to evaluate the impact of operating and macroeconomic changes and to estimate future cash flows. Assumptions used in our impairment evaluations, such as forecasted sales growth rates and our cost of capital or discount rate, are based on the best available market information. Changes in these estimates or a continued decline in general economic conditions could change our conclusion regarding an impairment of goodwill and potentially result in a non-cash impairment loss in a future period. The assumptions used in our impairment testing could be adversely affected by certain of the risks discussed in “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of this report. There have been no significant events since the timing of our impairment tests that would have triggered additional impairment testing.

At September 30, 2011 and 2010, remaining recorded goodwill was $1,383, and the net balance of other intangible assets was $54 and $84, respectively. The components of intangible assets subject to amortization are as follows:

		September 30, 2011
	Weighted average life (years)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization

FDA compliant facility	10	$	302	$	248

		September 30, 2010
	Weighted average life (years)	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization

FDA compliant facility	10	$	302	$	218

Amortization expense for intangible assets for fiscal years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was $30. The following table provides information regarding estimated amortization expense for the next five fiscal years:

2012	$	30
2013		24
2014		—
2015		—
2016		—

(h)

Advertising Expense

We expense advertising costs as incurred. Advertising expense was $229 and $180 for the years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

(i)

Stock-Based Compensation

We have a stock-based employee compensation plan and a stock-based employee and outside director compensation plan, which are described more fully in Note 9. All options granted under these plans have an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common shares on the date of grant. We expense the estimated fair value of stock options over the vesting periods of the grants. Our policy is to recognize expense for awards subject to graded vesting using the straight-line attribution method, reduced for estimated forfeitures. Forfeitures are revised, if necessary, in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates and an adjustment is recognized at that time.

We use a binomial option-pricing model as our method of valuation for share-based awards, requiring us to make certain assumptions about the future, which are more fully described in Note 9. Stock-based compensation expense for employee stock options for the years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 was $153 and $226, respectively.

(j)

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. We record valuation allowances based on a determination of the expected realization of tax assets.

We may recognize the tax benefit from an uncertain tax position only if it is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination based on the technical merits of the position. The amount of the accrual for which an exposure exists is measured as the largest amount of benefit determined on a cumulative probability basis that we believe is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement of the position.

We record interest and penalties accrued in relation to uncertain income tax positions as a component of income tax expense. Any changes in the liability for uncertain tax positions would impact our effective tax rate. We do not expect the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits to significantly change in the next twelve months.

(k)

New Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2009, the FASB issued an Accounting Standards Update on the accounting for revenue recognition that amends the previous guidance on arrangements with multiple deliverables. This guidance provides principles and application guidance on whether multiple deliverables exist, how the arrangements should be separated, and how the consideration should be allocated. It also clarifies the method to allocate revenue in an arrangement using the estimated selling price. This guidance was effective for revenue arrangements entered into or materially modified beginning October 1, 2010. We adopted this update during fiscal 2011. This adoption did not materially impact revenue in the periods presented or the methods in which we have historically reported revenues.

In May 2011, the FASB issued updated fair value measurement and disclosure guidance that clarifies how to measure fair value and requires additional disclosures regarding Level 3 fair value measurements, as well as any transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements. The updated accounting guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011 on a prospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the updated fair value guidance, and it does not expect the adoption to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In June 2011, the FASB amended the manner in which an entity presents the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single, continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amendment eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of equity. The amendment is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011 on a retrospective basis. The adoption of this guidance will not change the previously reported amounts of comprehensive income but will change the Company’s presentation of comprehensive income in the condensed consolidated financial statements for the period ending December 31, 2011.

In September 2011, the FASB issued an accounting standards update that amends the two-step goodwill impairment test by permitting an entity to first assess qualitative factors in determining whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the entity determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then performing the two-step goodwill impairment test is unnecessary. The amendment is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011 on a prospective basis, early adoption is permitted. The Company will consider adopting the guidance when completing its annual impairment test during the fourth quarter of 2012 and does not believe the adoption of this guidance will have an impact on its consolidated financial statements.

(l)

Fair Value

The provisions of the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosure Topic defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and provides the disclosure requirements about fair value measurements. This Topic also establishes a hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value that maximizes the use of observable inputs and minimizes the use of unobservable inputs by requiring that the most observable inputs be used when available. Observable inputs are inputs that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s judgment about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. The hierarchy is broken down into three levels based on the inputs as follows:

•

Level 1 – Valuations based on quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Company has the ability to access.

•

Level 2 – Valuations based on quoted prices in markets that are not active or for which all significant inputs are observable, either directly or indirectly.

•

Level 3 – Valuations based on inputs that are unobservable and significant to the overall fair value measurement.

There are no assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring or nonrecurring basis. The carrying amounts for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, inventories, prepaid expenses and other assets, accounts payable and other accruals approximate their fair values because of their nature and respective duration. The fair value of the revolving credit facility and certain long-term debt is equal to their carrying values due to the variable nature of their interest rates. Some of our long-term fixed rate debt was adjusted to a market rate on June 30, 2010. The other long-term fixed rate debt agreements were initiated in February 2011. Our interest rate swap expired under its terms in fiscal 2011.

(m)

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Significant estimates as part of the issuance of these consolidated financial statements include but are not limited to the determination of fair values, allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory obsolescence, deferred tax valuations, depreciation, impairment charges and stock compensation. Our actual results could differ from those estimates.

(n)

Research and Development

In fiscal 2011 and 2010, we spent $534 and $546, respectively, on research and development. Separate from our contract research services business, we maintain applications research and development to enhance our products business.

(o)

Comprehensive Income (Loss)

We report comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated statement of shareholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) represents changes in shareholders’ equity and is comprised of foreign currency translation adjustments.

(p)

Foreign Currency

For our subsidiary outside of the United States that operates in a local currency environment, income and expense items are translated to United States dollars at the monthly average rates of exchange prevailing during the year, assets and liabilities are translated at year-end exchange rates and equity accounts are translated at historical exchange rates. Translation adjustments are accumulated in a separate component of shareholders' equity in the consolidated balance sheets and are included in the determination of comprehensive income (loss) in the consolidated statements of shareholders' equity. Transaction gains and losses are included in the determination of net income (loss) in the consolidated statements of operations.