LABORATORY ANALYSES

The Analytical Services Unit provides analytical services to in-house projects and external clients, such as hotels, food processors, wastewater producers and private individuals. The main focus is on chemical and microbiological analyses of water/wastewater for various environmental parameters and on food for nutritional content (e.g. protein, fats, minerals) and microbiological quality. These services help clients monitor and maintain product quality, satisfy customer needs, meet international quality standards, reduce spoilage and production costs.

The unit also provides quality tests and analyses to ensure that the superb quality for which Jamaican “essential oils” are known is maintained. This helps Jamaica to strengthen its position in the world market as the most potent source of this very important raw material. These essential oils, such as pimento leaf oil and ginger oil, are used in aromatherapy, flavourings, and in the pharmaceutical industry.

Chemical and Microbiological  Services Available at the SRC

Chemical Analyses:

• Environmental parameters viz, Oxygen demand (chemical & biological), dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids, total dissolved solids, total alkalinity, hardness, conductivity, and pH
• Nutrients viz, nitrate, phosphate
• Nutritional labelling viz crude fat, crude protein, crude fibre, moisture, ash, minerals (calcium, iron, sodium, potassium)
• Heavy metal analysis viz lead, cadmium, iron, manganese
• Gas Chromatography profile of Essential Oils
  

Microbiological Analyses:

• Coliform testing viz total & faecal coliform, E. coli
• Plate counting viz mesophilic aerobic plate counting, yeast & mould counts, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Salmonella counts
• Anaerobic counting & commercial sterility of canned products, thermophiles, flat-sours
• Howard Mould Count, yeast viability
• Swab & rinse testing of bottles and pieces of equipment
• Shelf Life Studies
  

Analytical Services

In addition, a number of miscellaneous analyses are done on request from clients. Clients can take samples to the SRC for testing. A price list for these services is available on request.

click here for additional information on Microbiological Services of the SRC

Quality Systems

The laboratories are completing documentation for the accreditation of some of its water / wastewater analyses to ISO/IEC Guide 17025. The operations of the SRC is guided by international quality standards.