Category: Article

Sustainability Through Lab Optimisation

The average lab consumes more energy per square meter than many hospitals or other commercial buildings—the US EPA estimates that a 30% reduction in lab energy use in the United States translates to removing 1.3 million cars from highways per year. Now, imagine what that would mean for labs around the world.

Scientific labs are experiencing an increasing demand for greater efficiency and productivity and, at the same time, a strong desire to maximise sustainability from the organisation-wide level to daily operations. Combining new data intelligence technologies and better industry insight guidance allows for advancing lab operational efficiency through better asset utilisation and increased sustainability in the digital lab era.

 

Lab managers want sustainability and optimisation

The central premise for discussing sustainability and optimisation together is that a more efficient lab is a more sustainable one. Most lab managers are mindful of both sustainability and optimisation needs. A global survey of lab managers highlighted a strong desire to meet sustainability goals and remain conscious of sustainability in their daily operations.

Key takeaways from the survey included:

  • 68% of labs surveyed acknowledged that they require further work to improve sustainability.
  • The most common sustainability expectations from instrument vendors are to reduce emissions and energy consumption. 68% of the respondents expected instrument vendors to help them reduce emissions, while 58% expected a reduction in energy.
  • Increased efficiency and optimisation are also factors, with the most critical concern being speed as demand for higher sample throughput increases dramatically. The importance that lab leaders place on improving speed, optimisation, and efficiency was also highlighted in a pharmaceutical lab leaders survey.
  • Of those surveyed, 83% believed their workflows needed optimisation, and 63% would welcome innovations to increase efficiency.

 

Advanced asset control, digital analytics, and expert guidance

The opportunity for lab optimisation improvement is profound. On average, lab instruments are running only 35% of the time, and only 4% of labs employ data intelligence to ascertain fleet utilisation.

James Connelly, chief executive officer of My Green Lab agrees, “Lab equipment makes up a significant portion of the total plug load in any lab and can lead to high energy consumption. Optimisation of lab equipment through solutions such as asset performance management can dramatically lower the overall energy consumption and be a significant step toward achieving lab sustainability.”

A holistic method of assuring lab-wide optimisation and efficiency is required to address this gap effectively. A combination of advanced asset control, digital analytics, and expert guidance allows greater visibility and utilisation of all lab assets. Maximising the availability and utilisation of all assets will reduce a lab’s carbon footprint and enable more science to be done. Increasing operational efficiency and productivity positively impacts lab sustainability. Reducing energy consumption through increased efficiency is a win-win, especially for the environment.

Data intelligence systems with real-time sensing technology and interconnectivity provide better visibility into lab operations and help drive decisions. Gaining clarity on asset utilisation enables more informed decision-making that advances lab operations to new levels of efficiency and productivity—while increasing sustainability at the same time. Measuring asset utilisation opens the door to appropriate fleet right-sizing and technology refresh, resulting in higher throughput, less power consumption, a smaller workflow footprint, and redeployment of under-used or redundant instruments.

 

Connected labs reduce waste and increase productivity

Labs that are connected benefit from multiple efficiencies that bolster sustainability. Technologies such as smart alerts foster a proactive approach to instrument monitoring. Rather than reacting to an instrument breakdown, an interconnected lab with smart alert software will prevent it from happening in the first place. Interconnectivity also enables the ability to make data-driven decisions.

Interconnective technology can also increase instrument utilisation because it calculates how much science any particular instrument performs per square meter. Sustainability isn’t limited to the traditional ‘green’ metrics of waste and water— it is equally achieved through technology.

For example, having visibility of all instruments at once to produce an overall lab footprint from which adjustments can be made to make the lab more effective and efficient. Or not having to waste time performing duplicate runs because the smart alert system fires when the first doesn’t go through.

 

Go greener with asset monitoring

The process of lab optimisation involves integrating utilisation data with instrument service histories and end-of-guaranteed support to measure the instrument’s health. Understanding instrument utilisation and health can determine the optimal footprint and workflow composition.

A central operations strategy provides lab managers with profound insight into asset composition and health and the means to make data-driven decisions and optimise lab operations. The subsequent improvement of lab-wide efficiency not only increases the productivity of the laboratory as a whole but also lab sustainability by doing more science with less energy and resources. A win for both science and the environment.

 

This article is modified from content originally published by Agilent

 

Fueling Precision Medicine: From Sequence to Therapeutics

We are on the precipice of the next major shift in science as it relates to medicine. The 20th Century saw an explosion of technological advances that reshaped modern life completely. Today, the surge of discoveries and development continues particularly in biology. It is very possible that our counter arts in the future may look back on the 21st century as the Century of Biology.

 

A look at precision medicine

Precision medicine is the ability to understand and treat disease at a molecular level and it is driving revolutionary change in fields such as oncology. It aims to improve therapeutic outcomes by adding a previously missing but critical factor – the unique biology of the patient being incorporated into the treatment equation. This is done by including DNA sequence information.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “Precision medicine, sometimes known as “personalised medicine” is an innovative approach to tailoring disease prevention and treatment that takes into account differences in people’s genes, environments, and lifestyles. The goal of precision medicine is to target the right treatments to the right patients at the right time.”

Based on this foundation, one megatrend to keep an eye on is cellular manufacturing. This is the ability to reprogram cells for practical purposes and it is transforming industrial biotechnology. Many chemicals and materials traditionally produced through petrochemical processes are now the products of engineered biological cells. Cellular manufacturing also requires a deep understanding of cellular metabolism and pathway interdependencies which are being accelerated by the vast amount of metabolomic information becoming available through advancements in mass spectrometry.

Although mass spectrometry is not new, its application in the clinical realm is fairly recent by medical research standards. For over half a century, diagnostics relied on immunoassays but mass spectrometry is addressing many of the limitations of immunoassays and also becoming vitally important to precision medicine. The high accuracy and sensitivity of mass spectrometric analysis of proteomes are suited for the incorporation of proteomics into precision medicine. Mass spectrometry can provide an understanding of how a patient reacts and interacts with a drug. With new instruments now able to easily fit on a benchtop and deliver results accurately at remarkable speeds with lower costs, it’s become the perfect test for precision medicine patient management.

 

A key example of megatrend impact: Cardiovascular disease

Inroads are being made in the treatment of cardiovascular disease through sequencing of the PCSK9 gene where it was discovered that various mutations of this gene are associated with high low-density lipoproteins (LDL) cholesterol levels a factor in multiple diseases. The knowledge that this gene plays a role—that high LDL levels weren’t simply a matter of poor diet—has contributed to the development of inclisiran, a small or short interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutic that acts to silence the PCSK9 gene and effect clinically significant reductions in LDL cholesterol levels. Sequencing and mass spectrometry are essential to identify which patients have mutations in the PCSK9 gene to identify candidates for inclisiran therapy.

 

The future: Predicting biology

The megatrends of precision medicine and cellular manufacturing share a common driver: the past 20 years have seen a marked shift in our ability to understand and characterise biology as a primarily qualitative science to one that is increasingly quantitative. This shift carries the promise of eventually allowing us to understand, model and predict biology in the same way that we are able to do in the physical sciences—an exceptionally complex proposition that lies beyond our current capabilities. At a fundamental level, as our capacity to understand and control biology at the molecular level deepens our understanding of disease fuels parallel advances in industrial biotechnology.

This article was originally published by Agilent and has been amended here.

 

Join us at analytica Lab Africa 2023

analytica Lab Africa is the premier trade fair for the analysis, laboratory-technology and biotechnology sectors, bringing together scientists, entrepreneurs and users from around the world. Welcome to the perfect platform for your international business relations.

Chemetrix will be taking part in this prestigious event to showcase some of our latest instruments, innovations and partnerships.

 

Why you should visit

The international trade fair analytica Lab Africa focuses on innovative and applied product and system solutions for laboratories in the industrial, research and science sectors. As the industry’s regional forum for Southern Africa, analytica Lab Africa combines global and local market leaders and innovations with country specific main themes, precisely tailored to the market.

 

A global network

analytica gives you access to the world’s largest network of trade fairs for laboratory technology, analysis and biotechnology. Open the door to global success for your company. Present your products and solutions to the markets of the future.Germany, China, India, South Africa and Vietnam.

 

Exciting innovations

Get new and deeper insights into the Agilent product and solution portfolio with Agilent InterAct! Experience your favourite Agilent system in a virtual 3D environment. Visit our stand at the event for the exclusive launch of an immersive experience like never before.

 

Event details

Gallagher Convention Centre is one of Africa’s largest conference and exhibition venues. Located in Midrand, between Pretoria and Johannesburg, Gallagher is conveniently positioned in the business hub of Gauteng.

 

Show Dates

5-7 July, 2023

Venue

Gallagher Convention Center, Johannesburg, South Africa

Opening Hours

Wednesday, 5th July, 0900 hrs – 1700 hrs

Thursday, 6th July, 0900 hrs – 1700 hrs

Friday, 7th July, 0900 hrs – 1600 hrs

 

Register to attend the event >

 

We look forward to connecting with you an analytical Lab Africa 2023

 

Fingerprinting Honey to Ensure Purity

How pure is that honey in your jar?

Although there’s a rising demand for honey, the honey bee population is also under threat. Another not-so-sweet issue is the number of products labelled as honey on retail shelves that don’t meet the criteria to be classified as pure honey.

The term “adulterated honey” means any honey to which has been added honeydew, glucose, dextrose, molasses, sugar, sugar syrup, inverted sugar, or any other similar product or products other than the nectar of floral exudations of plants gathered and stored in the comb by honey bees.

Food fraud is a significant concern for consumers and producers, with research indicating that fraud accounts for up to 25% of all globally reported food safety incidents. The growing demand for food authenticity means consumers regularly pay a premium for organic and sustainably produced goods like honey. Fraudsters have been flooding markets with adulterated, low-quality, or mislabeled foodstuffs, damaging the livelihoods of legitimate businesses and potentially risking consumer health.

 

Increasing demand

Consumers have become quite specific in their demand for honey, focusing on unifloral honey or monofloral honey obtained predominantly from bees that feed on a single species of plant flowers. This results in a unique colour, flavour, and fragrance exclusive to each type of unifloral honey. As consumers are willing to pay more for these products, protections must ensure that they purchase what they expect.

According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, China, Mexico, Russia, Turkey, and the United States are among the major honey-producing countries accounting for approximately 55 per cent of world production. The most common form of adulteration involves extending or diluting honey with other less expensive sweeteners. Commonly identified extenders are corn, cane, and beet syrups.

 

Testing for authenticity to mitigate honey fraud

Global e-commerce is placing honey sales outside regulatory oversight more frequently—a trend expected to continue. This, combined with increased fraudulent activities, makes tackling the problem critical. This is why it is important to identify these substances quickly, efficiently, and consistently. The food industry requires analytical instruments and testing techniques to consistently and rapidly analyze food and identify trace chemicals.

Analytical testing is essential for assessing food authenticity, which is important to protect consumers’ health, the brand, and producers’ income. Testing is a necessary part of an overall strategy to mitigate fraud risk, and methods for authenticity testing are rapidly evolving, with innovative technologies now available for developing robust food testing techniques.


Agilent 1290 Infinity II LC System

For example, it has been demonstrated in recent years that coupling high-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight (LC/Q-TOF), such as the Agilent 1290 Infinity II LC System with Agilent 6545 LC/Q-TOF, provides a sensitive method to reveal the chemical composition of honey samples. Using this method with a non-targeted approach enables the identification of new types and sources of fraud through the chemical markers in the honey, highlighting which kind of fraudulent activity is occurring. Since this technique evaluates multiple markers in honey to determine authenticity, it is very difficult for fraudsters to cheat by adding one or a few adulterants. This innovative technique is called honey fingerprinting.


Agilent 6545 LC/Q-TOF

 

Determining honey’s unique chemical composition

Honey fingerprinting is the practice of using a suitable technique to record as much information as possible on the chemical composition of a particular honey sample. In the same way, a human fingerprint is unique to individuals, this fingerprinting method unlocks and records the unique molecular composition of authentic honey samples. This enables the mapping of food components in an unprecedented fashion that will revolutionize how honey is regulated for quality, safety, and authenticity.

Utilizing a non-targeted workflow begins with identifying other compounds, including pesticides, molecules that indicate freshness, like a compound called HMF (which suggests thermal processing or age if present in high numbers), and phenolic compounds, which are related to the floral origin of honey. The advantage of using LC/Q-TOF for this technique is its efficiency: higher molecular/trace information levels can be obtained from just one sample in less time versus targeted methods focusing on just a few parameters.

 

Standardising honey fingerprinting methods

Although previous work has been done developing case studies for fingerprinting foodstuffs, including honey, the approaches among laboratories have been different regarding sample preparation and instrumental condition. There are also differences in terms of data processing and analysis. As a result, two laboratories analyzing the same sample may obtain slightly different results. Ideally, developing a standardized fingerprinting method that could be used across all LC/MS-based workflows, enabling the same testing technique to be used across multiple laboratories, would be optimal and where future work is aimed.

When addressing the issues of food safety, product quality, and authenticity, each may be governed by separate sets of regulations. For example, looking at the residues of contaminants in honey, such as pesticides, there may be differences globally. Countries may have their own restrictions for the maximum limit for specific compounds. Contaminants are a part of the picture when considering fingerprinting for honey, but permitted levels may vary between countries.

Additionally, as samples come from the field to the lab for testing, there is potential interest in reversing this and bringing the lab out into the field instead. This interesting but not yet recognised capability would enable regulators and the global food industry to respond more quickly to honey contamination and food fraud.

 

Taking a global approach to ensure honey purity

As the food supply chain becomes increasingly globalized, raising the opportunity for food fraud, experts predict that testing, such as those described above, will become more accessible, increasingly automated, and easier to perform. Fingerprinting methods—in which the entire molecular profile of food can be obtained—will be a feature of future fraud prevention and identification systems.

A positive step forward is the focus on building a library of authentic honey samples and making it an accessible, open database so that honey fingerprinting information is available across multiple stakeholders in the global supply chain. With increased knowledge, more scientists will be able to adopt techniques such as LC/Q-TOF and could also use this testing for other types of food—for example, maple syrup.

The ultimate goal is for food testing laboratories to confidently measure contaminants that threaten the global food chain and tackle food fraud head-on to ensure that consumers can access authentic and safe honey.

(This article has been modified from its original appearance on the Agilent website)

Food Labelling: A Brief Overview

Every single food item we purchase in a store has a label or two. While we can sometimes overlook the labels, they are doing a vital job. Food labelling helps to promote consumer confidence and trust in the food industry by providing them with the information they need to make informed decisions about the foods they eat. It also helps to promote transparency, safety, and fair trade practices in the food industry.

But what does it all really mean for consumers, how does it affect consumers and why should consumers be aware of the laws relating to food labelling? It is because there is expectation and trust on the part of the consumer. The consumer expects a supplier of foodstuffs to comply with the relevant laws relating to their product and trust that the manner in which the foodstuff is handled, and the information that is presented to the consumer regarding a product, is true and not misleading. From allergen declarations, the amount of sugar present in a product right down to the storage instructions of a foodstuff, consumers are fast becoming more conscious of what is in their foodstuffs.

 

Food labelling in South Africa

In South Africa, food labelling is regulated by the Department of Health through the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act (Act 54 of 1972) and the Regulations Relating to the Labelling and Advertising of Foodstuffs (R146). The regulations also require that labels be written in English, but may also include one or more of the other official languages of South Africa, such as Afrikaans, isiZulu, or Sesotho.

All food products sold in South Africa must have labels that include certain mandatory information such as the product name, ingredients list, net quantity, country of origin, and the name and address of the manufacturer or importer. Common allergens must be declared on a label and the manner in which allergens must be declared is regulated by R146.

Date marking is a piece of mandatory information on a label. It must be indicated on the label and in the following manner: “best before”, “BB” and/or “use by” and/or “sell by”. Any person is prohibited from removing or altering the date marking. However, it is important to note that when the “best before” dates have been reached, it does not mean that the food is unsafe, but that it may be past its best. “Use by” is somewhat more instructive and often applies to refrigerated items where the risk of microbiological spoilage can be expected to increase after a given date. “Sell by” is a store guideline to ensure that goods still have a reasonable shelf life after sale.

 

supermarket food labelling

 

If there are claims made on a label, such as “High in fibre” it is mandatory to have a nutritional table on the label. If the nutritional table has been indicated on the label, whether voluntarily by the manufacturer or due to the fact that a claim has been made on the label, the Regulations relating to the Foodstuffs Act (R146) prescribes a very specific format in which the nutritional information must be presented. Amongst other requirements, the nutritional information must be presented in the tabular format, energy content must be declared in “kilojoules” or “kJ”, and the amount of each nutrient present in the foodstuff must be expressed per 100 g/ml and per single serving.

South Africa has also done some pioneering things in terms of food manufacturing and food labelling. South Africa was the first country in the world to require mandatory fortification of staple foods with vitamins and minerals, including wheat flour, maize meal, and rice. The fortification of these foods is aimed at addressing the country’s high levels of nutrient deficiencies. In 2018, South Africa also implemented a new regulation requiring the warning label “high in sugar” on food and drinks with more than 17.5 grams of sugar per 100 millilitres. This regulation is aimed at addressing the country’s high rates of obesity and related health problems.

 

Importance for suppliers

Labelling legislation in South Africa is complex and must be looked at as a whole and not each part in isolation. In addition to the multitude of legislations pertaining to food labelling, there is also no single regulatory authority on labelling of foodstuffs. Bearing all this in mind, and although it can be a bit overwhelming, consumers must be aware of their rights and where to go should they have a complaint.

Suppliers and retailers must also take note of the many food labelling legislations which will impact their marketing, designing of labels and ultimately their relationship with the consumer. With new labelling Regulations in the pipeline gearing to replace R146, understanding the complex nature of our South African labelling legislation has never been more important.

(This article contains information originally published by the Food Advisory Consumer Services)

 

Explore our Library Page for more insights >

 

How to Select the Right Equipment for Cannabis Potency Testing

The cannabis and hemp markets are thriving around the world. South Africa is an emerging cannabis economy that is poised to become a major player in the global industry because of our favourable climate, the depth of our agriculture experience, and abundant viable land for farming. There is still a myriad of legislative and regulatory challenges to navigate and clarify, but great opportunities exist for businesses of all sizes to participate in the future growth of the cannabis sector.

The creates a need for cannabis testing and analysis, particularly potency testing. The high costs of setting up a cannabis and hemp testing laboratory and the wide array of choices can sometimes lead lab owners to make short-term, low-cost purchasing decisions. It is important to consider the long-term operations of the lab and define clear criteria for the choice of instrumentation.

 

Things to consider

Think in terms of ABLE methods: affordABLE, achievABLE, reliABLE, and repeatABLE when considering the instrument purchase. Other important decisions include the bench space in your lab and the footprint of the equipment, data processing, consumables, scientific consulting, education, and ongoing support. Finally, laboratories need to trust their instrumentation partner Chemetrix to support them with expertise and consultancy.

There is a bewildering range of testing equipment choices for the analysis of cannabinoids in cannabis and hemp products. How do you choose what’s right for you? Should you opt for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), or do your needs align better with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS)?

Setting up a cannabis testing laboratory involves several significant decisions, and instrument selection for total cannabinoid analysis (potency testing) is one of the most important ones. Potency specifically refers to the amount of psychoactive tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the sample, but other cannabinoids such as CBD, CBN, and others must be measured and reported as well.

 

Criteria for selecting instrumentation

The testing technology and equipment you select are dependent upon your commercial model, business goals, and type of laboratory set-up you have.

  1. If you are a start-up cannabis and hemp testing laboratory, grower, extractor, or manufacturer with small batch-processing needs, you require entry-level testing equipment that yields repeatable and reliable results. HPLC is the most widely used technology for this use case, and the Agilent 1220 Infinity II LC is ideal for your purpose. Capable of processing about 100 samples per day, it is perfect for routine testing. The Agilent 1220 Infinity II HPLC is a self-contained system with a small footprint and reliably tests 11 of the major cannabinoids.

    Agilent 1220 Infinity II LC
  2. An alternative to the 1220 system is the Agilent 1260 Infinity II HPLC. The 1260 platform is modular, flexible, upgradable, and can grow with your cannabis and hemp lab’s needs. High-throughput laboratories, cannabinoid researchers, forensic and criminalistic labs, and cultivar R&D may need to identify hundreds of cannabinoids and many other endogenous chemicals in cannabis and hemp. For these situations LC/MS is the answer. 
    Agilent 1260 Infinity II LC
  3. The Agilent Cary 630 FT-IR spectrometer is a type of equipment that is used for relatively simple testing of the four major cannabinoids with processed samples.

If your lab is pivoting to include cannabis potency testing in its service offering, speak to your Chemetrix sales representative who can advise if any upgrades or instrument acquisitions are required to ensure the lab can meet regulatory guidelines. If you’re newly venturing into this sector, Chemetrix is able to advise a complete solution that can ensure your lab can deliver results with a good return on investment from your analytical instrumentation.

Agilent Cary 630 FTIR Spectrometer

 

Explore Cannabis Potency Testing

To delve further into cannabis potency testing, read this article by Agilent Technologies that further explores the recommended testing technology and why they are best suited to the methodology required.

 

Looking for more information on Cannabis Potency Testing? Explore our Solutions Page >

 

Chemetrix Investment in Deaf Community

The Deaf community is one of the most marginalised groups in South African society today. Over 80% of Deaf youth are unemployed and one organisation is working tirelessly to shrink this number, despite tough social and economic challenges.

 

About eDeaf

eDeaf is South Africa’s leading Skills Development training provider for Deaf youth. It is a BBBEE Level 2 company, with a Deaf CEO at the helm. The organisation strives to improve the social and economic lives of the Deaf community through a variety of empowerment and skills development programmes.

By adding value, not only to the individuals they train, eDeaf creates employable Deaf individuals who are able to contribute in a meaningful way to the economy. Their successful programs reduces the reliance on social grants and provides a boost to the economy.

 

 

An inspiring partnership

Chemetrix has partnered with eDeaf since 2017. Over the years, Chemetrix has sponsored 34 unemployed Deaf school leavers, as well as provided project funding. The team has been sincerely invested in the lives of the Deaf community and committed to making a difference, not only to individuals, but also as a contribution to the improvement of the country.

A big part of eDeaf’s mission is to sensitise the “hearing” community and help more of us see what life is like for Deaf persons. The organisation’s facilitators are Deaf which ensures learners are taught in their first language, South African Sign Language. This results in a greater success rate and better-prepared young adults who are entering the workforce.

Just like eDeaf, Chemetrix believes that we are stronger together. Great partnerships and supporting solutions that ensure everyone thrives are at the heart of future success for both organisations. It is our honour to be associated with an organisation doing remarkable work and we encourage our industry at large to support eDeaf’s work as well as greater inclusion of the Deaf community.

To learn more about eDeaf, visit their website: www.deafinition.co.za

 

Residual Solvent Analysis of Pharmaceutical Products

Organic solvents constitute a major fraction in the synthesis of pharmaceutical products. The manufacturing process for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) may contribute to residual solvents remaining in the final product. Producers need to monitor and control the levels of residual solvents for several reasons—including safety, effect on crystalline form, solubility, bio-availability, and stability.

Therefore, all products must be tested to assess whether the solvents used during the manufacturing processes are within the accepted limits. Quality assurance laboratories routinely use the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Method <467>.

 

Procedures for identification and quantification

The USP <467> monograph specifies the different classes of solvents per their toxicity, sets the concentration limits according to their health hazard, and describes the assay procedure for the solvents. A complete list of all the solvents that may be used in manufacturing processes is not mentioned under these classes. Therefore, the final products should be screened according to the solvents used during their specific manufacturing process.

The method is composed of three analytical procedures for identification and quantification.

  • Procedure A: Identification and limit testing. Uses a G43 phase (624-type column).
  • Procedure B: Confirms whether or not an identified solvent is above the regulated limits. Uses a G16 phase (WAX-type column).
  • Procedure C: Quantitative test using a G43 phase or G16 phase, depending on which produced fewer coelutions.

 

USP <467> analytical flowchart for residual solvent analysis.

 

Columns for excellent performance

Agilent J&W DB-Select 624 UI columns have shown excellent performance for residual solvent analysis according to USP <467> Procedure A. Repeatability was generally better than 2.5% RSD for Class 1, Class 2A, and Class 2B solvents. Once a residual solvent was identified above the permitted daily exposure (PDE) limit, Procedure B is performed to confirm analyte identity. The Agilent J&W DB-WAX UI GC column has been successfully used as a confirmation column, because it yields an alternate selectivity compared to that of a G43 column.

Agilent J&W DB-Select 624 UI columns

 

Recommended instruments

For this method, Chemetrix can recommend state-of-the-art analytical instruments. With best-in-class technology and powerful software, the Agilent 7697A headspace sampler is packed with the latest productivity-boosting features.  It’s unique sampling design allows you to use hydrogen as a carrier gas, delivering optimal chromatography and helping to future-proof your lab.

Agilent 7697A Headspace Sampler

 

Based on the Agilent Intuvo 9000 GC system, Agilent Residual Solvent Analyzers are factory pretested and preconfigured to deliver results, fast, while saving precious startup time. What’s more, their analytical precision exceeds USP method requirements for the three classes of residual solvents. It’s chemically tested to ensure optimal analysis of class 1 and class 2A/B solvents and labs can begin system calibration and validation immediately following installation.

Agilent Intuvo 9000 GC

 

A critical process

Residual Solvent Analysis is a must in any manufacturing environment where solvents form part of the production process. Because this process is so critical, using the correct instruments suited for the lab requirements can save time and boost accuracy.

 

Quality control at the heart of it all

At every stage of the quality control process, Chemetrix can assist labs with full end-to-end solutions for your residual solvent analysis. Our team of qualified professionals can share a comprehensive portfolio of solutions, including different instrument models, software and consumables, that work together to provide accurate and reproducible results.

 

Looking for more information on Residual Solvent Analyis? Watch our webinar >

 

Customer Care, Quick and Easy

Chemetrix is proud to bring you technology that makes your lab processes more efficient and accurate. Now, we’re doing the same for our customer care with Freshdesk – our new, user-friendly system for customer support.

Freshdesk is customer service software that is easy to use and navigate. All Chemetrix customers can register on Freshdesk for FREE! The software ensures you can easily communicate your questions or technical problems and monitor the help your receive from start to finish.

Step 1:
Create an account

Here’s how it works: Simply log in to Freshdesk or send an email to [email protected].

Step 2:
Logging a ticket

This will create a ticket on the system where you can include any pertinent information from order numbers, relevant documents and to photos as well as the details of your query.

Step 3:
Ticket updates

Your ticket is assigned to Chemetrix personnel with specialist knowledge of your business and the type of instrumentation used in your lab. You are able to see all the communication between yourself and the Chemetrix team, communication between Chemetrix staff as they work to resolve your query as well as to monitor the status of your ticket at all times.

Step 4:
Rate the service

Once your query has been resolved, Chemetrix will resolve the ticket and you’ll receive an email with a link to rate the service.

Benefits

 

    Freshdesk is easy to use and free of charge

    All communication is transparent

   You can monitor the status of your query in real time

   You have a dedicated Chemetrix staff member

Let’s get started

Register on Freshdesk now and discover how Chemetrix can make customer care an efficient, effective and enjoyable experience.

Submit a ticket

 

We are now ISO 9001 certified

Chemetrix is very proud to announce that we are now ISO 9001 certified, the ultimate global benchmark for quality management.

What is ISO 9001?

ISO 9001 sets out the steps necessary to adopt a quality management system. It is designed to help organisations ensure they meet the needs and expectations of both customers and other interested parties, based on internationally recognised quality management principles set out by the International Standards Organisation (ISO).

At the heart of the standard is a quality policy and set of systems and principles that tie together business objectives, customer needs and your marketing plan. When this approach to quality is embedded across the business every employee understands how their actions create a better customer experience and processes are put in place to continually review and improve that customer experience.

How will it impact our business?

By focusing on customer experience, ISO 9001 will better equip our business to meet our customer’s needs, improving the customer focus throughout the business. We aim to have a lasting impact in the following ways:

  • Streamlined internal processes, improved efficiency, cost containment and savings, whilst improving accountability and traceability
  • A recognised mark of quality opens us up for new business, both at home and abroad
  • Improved staff motivation through greater clarity and focus on business objectives, including time and resources spent
  • Improved customer service and referrals through customer focus

Perhaps the most important element of the standard however, is that it is not a one-off exercise. Through regular reviews we will keep quality at the forefront of our business, with continuous improvement processes driving the way we develop to better meet our customer’s needs.

You can view our certification by clicking the below link.

View our certificate

We look forward to working with you on this journey to provide continuous improvement in quality management and the services we offer you, our loyal customers.