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Testing Services - IFOS Program and QC Program
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IFOS Program
NDI, through its certified and accredited reference laboratory partners, tests omega-3 and whole fish products
for PCB, Mercury, Heavy Metals, and Oxidation levels in accordance with Council for Responsible Nutrition’s
voluntary monograph on omega-3 products and safety standards for human consumption. Dioxin and Furan levels
are tested against the World Health Organization’s standard and omega-3 concentration is tested and compared
with the product label claim.
PCB, Dioxin and Furan levels are tested using gas chromatography mass spectrometry at a detection limit of
parts per trillion. Mercury is tested using cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy at a detection limit
of parts per billion. Omega-3 content is tested using gas chromatography advanced capillary techniques as a
percentage of weight. Heavy metals are prepared by microwave assisted digestion in nitric acid, the resulting
solutions are diluted to volume for trace element analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
and inductively coupled optical emission spectroscopy. Arsenic and Nickel are tested in parts per million,
Lead and Nickel are tested in parts per billion. Oxidation testing is conducted using a titration method
for peroxide and uv-visible spectrophotometer for p-anisidine under numbered official AOCS methods Cd 8-53
for peroxide and Cd 18-90 for p-anisidine respectively.
Although the standard detection limit expressed for each category is set by the governing organization, the
IFOS program tests the products at far lower levels of detection in most categories, based on the most advanced
analysis technology platforms available. As the sophistication of the instrumentation increases, the IFOS
program will continue to update the testing regiment to ensure it is on the leading edge of science.
QC Program
In addition to the testing services available through the IFOS program for fish oils, Nutrasource provides
testing services for most oils, functional foods, nutraceuticals, natural health products, cosmetics and food in
the areas of nutritional label analysis for both the U.S. and Canada, PAH's, PDBE's, Organic Pesticides,
Stability Testing, Microbiological Testing, as well as Trace Elements.
Companies may access these testing services for investigating new products and new product formulations, for
general QC third party services, or for competitive analysis. Companies do not need to be enrolled in the IFOS
Program in order to use Nutrasource's additional testing services. Approved AOCS, USP, CRN, WHO, AACC, and/or
AOAC methodologies are used wherever appropriate.
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