For each staff member the laboratory manager must investigate if there are potential conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest could be defined (in this context) as a staff member having multiple, competing interests. He/she could exploit a professional activity in some way that it has a personal benefit.

Example of a conflict of interest: A staff member works at a public laboratory in the morning but in a private laboratory in the afternoon where he/she may receive a higher salary. This staff member could encourage clients to go to the private laboratory instead of the public laboratory to ensure the availability of work for him/her in the private laboratory.