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Through our certified and accredited reference laboratory
partners, we test fish oil products for environmental
contaminants including PCBs, mercury, heavy metals, dioxins and
furans as well as oxidation levels and omega-3 concentrations in
the finished product.
Although the standard detection limit expressed for each
category is established by the respective governing organization,
the IFOS Program tests at much lower levels of detection in most
categories based on the most advanced analysis technology platforms
available.
Download our free whitepaper: Best
Practices for Submitting Fish Oil Samples for IFOS Program
Testing!
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Omega-3 fatty acid content
The concentration of omega-3 fatty acids is tested against the
product label claim using gas chromatography advanced capillary
techniques as a percentage of weight.
Results in mg/g.
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Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
PCBs are tested in accordance with the CRN/GOED Voluntary
Monograph on Long-Chain Omega-3 EPA and DHA which outlines
specifications for the quality and safety of omega-3 fatty acid
products. PCBs are analyzed using gas chromatography mass
spectrometry at a detection limit of parts per billion.
Results in ppb.
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Dioxins and furans
Dioxin and furan levels are tested against international
standards established by WHO and are analyzed using gas
chromatography mass spectrometry at a detection limit of parts per
trillion.
Results in ppt.
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Dioxin-like PCBs
Dioxin-like PCBs levels are tested against international
standards established by WHO and are analyzed using HRGC/HRMS at a
detection limit of parts per trillion.
Results in ppt.
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Stability
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 and Cd 18-90,
respectively. Acid value is AOCS Cd 3d-63
Peroxide, anisidine, total oxidation - results in meq/kg.
Acid value - results in KoH/g.
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Heavy metals
Mercury and heavy metals are tested in accordance with the
CRN/GOED Voluntary Monograph on Long-Chain Omega-3 EPA and DHA
which outlines specifications for the quality and safety of omega-3
fatty acid products.
Heavy metals are prepared by microwave assisted digestion in
nitric acid and 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. Mercury is tested using cold
vapour atomic absorption spectroscopy at a detection limit of parts
per billion.
Mercury - results in ppm.
Cadmium, lead, arsenic (organic and inorganic) - results in
ppm.
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