Serologicals Corp. expects to commence full production early next year at its production plant in Lawrence, the company said Thursday.

The $28 million plant, part of the company’s Celliance subsidiary, has been idle since March. That’s when Serologicals laid off 19 employees, blaming testing delays by pharmaceuticals companies and other potential customers for the plant’s main product, Ex-Cyte, a liquid that promotes cell growth.

Serologicals reported Thursday that such “validation” testing would be expected to last six months.

“Full manufacturing operations are expected to commence in early 2006,” the company said.

Atlanta-based Serologicals reported Ex-Cyte sales of $9.2 million in the second quarter, down from $9.7 million during the same period a year earlier.