Analytical chemistry
Product Composition, Quality, Contaminant, and Identity Testing
Not every product question is microbiological. Chemical characteristics can influence how a product is formulated, processed, stored, labeled, and evaluated over time.
Biotrax provides third-party analytical testing for foods, beverages, ingredients, raw materials, in-process samples, and finished products. Testing may help clients evaluate product composition, verify specifications, compare suppliers or production lots, investigate quality concerns, monitor stability, and assess selected contaminants.
The appropriate analysis depends on the product, sample matrix, target analyte, and intended use of the result. Tell us what you are testing and what you need to learn so our team can help clarify available methods, sample requirements, and an appropriate testing path.
Biotrax performs selected analyses in-house and coordinates other testing through partner laboratories. Service availability, method suitability and accreditation status vary by analysis and sample type. Contact us before submitting samples so we can confirm the appropriate testing approach.
WHEN ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY TESTING MAY HELP
Food manufacturers, beverage producers, product developers, and quality teams may request analytical testing from Biotrax Testing Laboratory to:
- Evaluate a product or ingredient against an internal or customer specification.
- Compare raw materials, suppliers, formulations, or production lots.
- Monitor moisture, water activity, soluble solids, oxidation, or selected product characteristics.
- Quantify caffeine in applicable liquids, beverage concentrates, powders, and dry mixes.
- Investigate unexpected flavor, odor, texture, stability, or appearance changes.
- Evaluate applicable foods, ingredients, or raw materials for selected mycotoxins (aflatoxin) or selected heavy metals.
- Support shelf-life, packaging, or formulation studies.
- Evaluate product identity or investigate possible substitution or adulteration.
- Review a complaint, supplier concern, or unexpected analytical result.
The appropriate analysis depends on the question your team needs to answer. One test rarely provides a complete picture of product quality, safety, composition, or compliance.
ANALYTICAL SUPPORT THAT EXTENDS BEYOND ONE METHOD
Biotrax performs selected analytical testing in-house and coordinates other analyses through partner laboratories when appropriate.
Before testing is arranged, our team can help clarify:
- Whether the analysis is performed in-house or coordinated externally.
- Whether the requested result is within an applicable accredited scope.
- Which method and sample matrix apply.
- The required sample quantity and handling conditions.
- Expected turnaround.
- Available reporting limits and units.
- How the completed results will be reported.
When a requested test is outside our current capabilities, we will communicate that clearly and help identify an appropriate testing path when possible.
PRODUCT QUALITY & COMPOSITION TESTING
MOISTURE content (%)
Moisture content measures the total amount of water present in a product, generally expressed as a percentage.
Moisture can affect product weight, yield, texture, flow, clumping, stability, and shelf life. Testing may support ingredient specifications, formulation comparisons, production consistency, packaging evaluations, and investigations of quality changes.
Moisture content is not the same as water activity. Two products can contain similar amounts of moisture while differing in how much of that water is available to support microbial growth or chemical reactions.
SERVICE STATUS: Performed in-house. Food-and-beverage moisture testing may be reported within Biotrax’s accredited flexible scope when the applicable matrix and method have been confirmed.
WATER ACTIVITY
Water activity (aw) measures the availability of water for microbial growth and chemical reactions.
Testing may support evaluation of product stability, formulation changes, moisture migration, packaging performance, and established product specifications. A water-activity result should be considered together with formulation, pH, processing, packaging, storage conditions, and relevant microbial hazards.
SERVICE STATUS: Performed in-house. Food-and-beverage water-activity testing may be reported within Biotrax’s accredited flexible scope when the applicable matrix and method have been confirmed.
BRIX/SOLUBLE SOLIDS
Brix testing uses refractive properties to measure soluble solids in a liquid. In beverages, juices, syrups, concentrates, and liquid ingredients, the result is commonly used as an estimate of sugar concentration or total soluble-solid content.
Testing may support formulation control, batch comparison, concentration review, dilution checks, and evaluation of finished beverages, syrups, or liquid ingredients.
For complex products, Brix should not automatically be treated as an exact measurement of sugar because acids, salts, and other dissolved substances may affect the reading.
SERVICE STATUS: Performed in-house. Brix is not listed as an accredited activity on Biotrax’s current published scope.
PEROXIDE VALUE
Peroxide value measures primary oxidation products that form during the earlier stages of fat or oil deterioration.
Testing may support evaluation of ingredient condition, oxidative changes, packaging or storage investigations, and comparisons involving suppliers or production lots. Peroxide value does not, by itself, describe every stage of oxidation or determine a product’s complete shelf life.
SERVICE STATUS: Coordinated through a partner laboratory. Contact Biotrax before submission to confirm product applicability, method, sample quantity, reporting limits, accreditation status, and turnaround.
CAFFEINE
Caffeine testing measures caffeine concentration in applicable liquids, beverage concentrates, powders, and dry mixes.
Testing may support formulation verification, product development, batch comparison, supplier or ingredient review, customer specifications, and investigation of an unexpected caffeine result. It may also provide analytical data for companies that choose to communicate a specific caffeine amount in product information.
Caffeine analysis may be relevant to:
- Coffee and coffee-based beverages
- Tea and tea-based beverages
- Energy drinks
- Soft drinks and flavored beverages
- Concentrates and beverage bases
- Powders and dry mixes
- Other formulated caffeinated beverage products containing naturally occurring or added caffeine
Before submitting a sample, tell us the product type, expected caffeine range, desired reporting units, serving size, and whether caffeine is naturally occurring, intentionally added, or contributed by multiple ingredients.
A result applies to the tested sample. The manufacturer remains responsible for determining how it is used in formulation, specifications, product claims, and labeling.
SERVICE STATUS: Performed in-house. Caffeine is not listed as an accredited activity on Biotrax’s current published scope.
VITAMIN C/ASCORBIC ACID
Vitamin C testing measures the concentration of ascorbic acid in a relevant product or ingredient. Conducting such tests can support formulation verification, nutrient-content evaluation, stability studies, supplier review, label-development activities, and comparative analysis of results throughout storage.
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) testing is available through a partner laboratory coordinated by Biotrax. Method suitability and sample requirements may vary depending on the product, so please contact us before submitting samples.
IDENTITY & CONTAMINANT TESTING
SPECIES IDENTIFICATION
Species-identification testing may support product-authenticity questions, supplier review, investigation of possible substitution, confirmation of an unexpected material, or evaluation of a species-related customer requirement.
Availability depends on the target species, sample matrix, degree of processing, condition of the sample, required method, and reporting expectations. Highly processed products may require different analytical considerations than raw or minimally processed materials.
SERVICE STATUS: This is not currently a routine in-house analysis. Availability is evaluated case by case based on the species and testing request. Contact Biotrax before submitting a sample.
HEAVY-METAL TESTING
Heavy-metal testing evaluates selected elemental contaminants in foods, ingredients, or raw materials.
Testing may support supplier review, contaminant assessment, customer specifications, risk-based monitoring, or investigation of potential environmental or processing-related exposure.
Biotrax does not use one standard heavy-metals panel for every product. The appropriate target metals, method, reporting limits, sample quantity, and accreditation requirements depend on the product and testing objective.
SERVICE STATUS: Coordinated through a partner laboratory. Contact Biotrax before submission to confirm the requested analytes and available testing path.
NUTRITION FACTS
NUTRITION ANALYSIS FOR LABEL SUPPORT
Biotrax can coordinate nutritional analysis through partner laboratories to provide data that may be used when preparing a Nutrition Facts label. Available analyses and sample requirements depend on the product and the information needed.
Biotrax does not design, create, or approve finished Nutrition Facts labels. Contact us before submitting samples so we can help identify the appropriate analytical request.
WHAT TO TELL US BEFORE ANALYTICAL TESTING
Before submitting a sample, tell us:
- What the product, ingredient, or raw material is.
- Whether it is incoming, in process, or finished.
- Which analyte or characteristic needs to be evaluated.
- What prompted the testing request.
- The expected concentration or formulation target, when known.
- The desired reporting units.
- Whether an internal, customer, or regulatory specification applies.
- Whether a specific method or reporting limit is required.
- How the product was processed and stored.
- How the result will be used.
- Whether an accredited result is required.
- When the result is needed.
Sample quantities and handling requirements vary by analysis and product matrix. Contact Biotrax before collection or shipment when the correct amount, packaging, temperature, method, reporting limit, or laboratory scope is uncertain.
NEED AN ANALYSIS THAT IS NOT LISTED?
Analytical testing needs vary by product, ingredient, target compound, customer requirement, reporting limit, and intended use.
If an analysis is not shown on this page, contact Biotrax before assuming it is unavailable.
Depending on the request, we may be able to:
- Perform the analysis in-house
- Coordinate testing through a partner laboratory
- Help clarify method or reporting requirements
- Direct you toward another appropriate testing resource
Whenever possible, provide the analyte, product matrix, expected concentration, required method, reporting limit, and intended use of the result.
NOT SURE WHICH ANALYTICAL TEST FITS YOUR PRODUCT?
Tell us what you are testing, which characteristic or contaminant needs to be evaluated, and how you plan to use the result.
Our team can help clarify available analyses, sample requirements, reporting options, accreditation status, and whether the work will be performed in-house or coordinated through a partner laboratory.