Nashville, Tenn., August 11, 2006 Harwell Howard Hyne Gabbert & Manner assisted American Esoteric Laboratories (AEL), a full service provider of esoteric and clinical reference laboratory services, in acquiring DRL Labs, Ltd. (DRL). DRL was an affiliate of East Texas Medical Center (ETMC) Regional Healthcare System, located in Tyler, Texas.

With more than 1,800 physicians and hospital clients located in various states, DRL was the largest remaining Texas-based independent reference laboratory. The acquisition also brings AEL’s annual revenue to $100 million.

Laboratory industry veterans Brian Carr and Jim Billington founded AEL in 2003. H3GM assisted AEL in obtaining $70 million in equity financing in 2003 and has represented AEL in all of its subsequent mergers and acquisition activities.