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Genetic Toxicology Testing Lab Edmonton Alberta

Nutritional Labelling and Shelf-Life Testing Services

Home / Nutritional Labelling and Shelf-Life Testing Services

  • Shelf-Life Studies

    As defined by the UK Institute of Food Science and Technology, shelf-life represents the period of time during which the food product will remain, safe; retain its desired sensory, chemical, physical, microbiological and functional characteristics.

    PBR offers microbiological shelf-life testing with all applicable tests including challenge testing. In addition, PBR works closely with customers in planning the shelf-life studies of their products. Generally, the factors considered are: desired shelf-life durations; short (up to one week), medium (up to three weeks) or long (up to one year); safety considerations; storage conditions; and controlled conditions that mimic those the product is likely to encounter during storage.

    PBR offers routine Real Time Shelf Life (RSL) as well as, where applicable, accelerated shelf life (ASL) testing for longer shelf-life products. Some selected tests are listed in the table below.

    Specific Tests for Shelf Life Studies
    Total Coliform Listeria monocytogenes
    E. coli Staphylococcus aureus
    Salmonella Species  Clostridium perfringens
    Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) Bacillus cereus 
    Heterotrophic Plate Count (Bacteria) Fungal Count (Yeast/Mold)
    Mesophilic Aerobic Sporeformers Mesophilic Anaerobic Sporeformers
    Water Activity pH
    Peroxide Value Organoleptic and Sensory Evaluation
    Nutritional Labelling

    Nutritional Labelling  includes analyses for nutritional fact parameters, including, carbohydrates, fats, cholestrol, proteins, diatary fibers, sugars and various mineral nutrients. We also offer nutritional analysis based on calculated values from the ingradients contained in a given Recipe.

  • Equipment Rental and Sampling Supplies

    PBR provides rental equipment, sampling materials, supplies, and offers advice for proper tests and procedures if clients are qualified to do the sampling. However, it is recommended that clients involve PBR’s qualified staff in designing the sampling scheme and protocol to ensure the relevance of the laboratory results to the problem under investigation.

  • Soil Microbiology

    PBR offers complete analytical services for microbiological quality assessment and characterization of agricultural and contaminated soils based on the tests listed in the following table. These tests and parameters are useful in determining the level and source of microbiological contamination as applicable to environmental impact assessment, soil bioremediation, and soil fertility evaluation.

    NOTE: For chemical analysis of soil, please look for  Soil Quality Test under Chemical/Environmental services.  

    Specific Tests for Soil Microbiology
    Microbial Biomass Determination Bacillus cereus
    Heterotrophic Plate Count (Bacteria) Salmonella spp.
    Nitrogen Cycle Bacteria Total Coliform/Fecal Coliform
    Fecal Streptococcus Group Fungal (Yeast/Mold) Count
    E. coli Any other microbes on request
  • Product Efficacy and Sterility Evaluation

    PBR provides specific testing services to determine and evaluate the anti-microbial activity and efficacy of various products, as well as to ascertain the level of bacterial and fungal contamination (product sterility). Most commonly tested products include, pharmaceuticals,  probiotics, consumer and industrial products. 

    Efficiacy and Sterility microbiological tests are performed using Standards and Protocols of the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB), Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC), International, American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

    Efficacy of Specific Products

    Antimicrobial Agents: We provide MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) testing of pharmaceutical products, using standard protocols.

    Sanitizers and Disinfectants: We offer efficacy testing using standard microbial cultures and recommened based test methods on applicable guidelines.