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FAQs

General

  • Is AEMTEK an accredited laboratory?
    Yes! Our laboratory is accredited by multiple governmental agencies to ISO 17025 standards. Please Click Here for more information on our accreditations.
  • How much sample do I need to submit?
    Sample volume will depend on the specific combination of tests you are requesting.
    1. For Food and Beverage Testing: Please email labdata@aemtek.com with the list of tests that you are requesting and the sample type.
    2. Cosmetic Testing: For COA testing, please submit 4oz of product in its finished good packaging. For routine testing, please email labdata@aemtek.com with the list of tests that you are requesting and sample type.
  • How do I collect samples?
    Please see the sampling guidelines below that relate to your sampling event:

    Water

    EPA Drinking Water Bacterial Sampling | Video CDC Legionella Sampling Procedure

    Food Processing Facility

    Food Processing Environmental Swabbing | Video

    Industrial Hygiene

    Mold Sampling Guide Allergen & ERMI Dust Sampling with Carpet Sampler
  • How do I pack my product to ship?
    Products should be shipped according to their holding conditions. Ambient products can be shipped in a plain box. Refrigerated and frozen products should be shipped overnight in a Styrofoam cooler with ice-packs to keep it cold. All shipments must include the appropriate Chain of Custody form for the samples.   Please ship samples to: AEMTEK Sample Receiving 466 Kato Terrace Fremont, CA 94539
  • When will I receive my results?
    Results will be sent once all tests are completed. Therefore, your turnaround time will be that of the requested test with the longest duration. For Cosmetic COA testing the turnaround time is 14 days. If method suitability is needed, turnaround time could be extended to 3 weeks.
  • How do my results look?
    Each company will have its own set of product specifications, against which laboratory results should be compared. The specifications (or “specs”) are determined by what your company deems as acceptable, based upon a combination of: research of similar products, the company’s SOPs and manufacturing practices, buyer requirements, and testing result data over time. AEMTEK is happy to provide consulting services to help your company develop a set of specifications for your particular products. Please contact lab@aemtek.com for consulting assistance in developing specifications. Related Resource(s): USDA Food Specifications
  • Do you offer Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS)?
    Yes, we do offer next-generation sequencing service. We recommend this method for complex microbial community analysis (e.g. compost, soil and complex probiotic products). Please contact the lab for project details and a special quote.
  • How do I fill out the Chain of Custody (CoC) form?
    Please see our onboarding video here. This video covers filling out the Chain of Custody (CoC) form at timestamp 3:33.

Shelf Life Studies

  • How does a Shelf Life Study work?
    First, we will have you complete a Shelf Life Inquiry Form. This form will give our team important information about your product, so they may create an appropriate proposal for your study. After reviewing the information, and obtaining answers to any additional questions, our team will create a custom study design to fit your particular needs and budget. This will include choosing relevant microbiological, sensory, and physio-chemical analyses, as well as test points (time intervals at which the product will be tested during the study). The AEMTEK team will send the proposal for approval, and can work with you to make any adjustments necessary. Throughout the duration of the study, you will receive updates on how the product is performing. At any time during its duration, you can decide to suspend the study (if the product is not performing as expected) or extend (if the product is performing better than anticipated). Upon completion of the study, you will be issued a full report of the results.
  • How does an Accelerated Shelf Life Study work?
    Accelerated studies are performed by manipulating the environment to simulate accelerated ambient conditions. Typically higher heat and humidity is used to accelerate the microbial growth by a target factor of time.

Cosmetic Testing

  • When will I receive my results?
    Results will be sent once all tests are completed. Therefore, your turnaround time will be that of the requested test with the longest duration. For Cosmetic COA testing the turnaround time is 14 days. If method suitability is needed, turnaround time could be extended to 3 weeks.
  • What is a COA and how do I get one for my product?
    A Certificate of Analysis, or COA, is a document that establishes that a product was analytically tested and meets specifications of safety and quality. Retailers require a COA from suppliers to ensure that the supplier has done their due-diligence to ensure the product remains safe for consumers, and the quality is as expected. To obtain a COA, samples may be sent to AEMTEK for analysis, where we will perform the standard cosmetic testing panel. Results will be issued in the form of a Certificate of Analysis for each individual product. The standard panel includes the most common tests used to determine product safety and quality for cosmetics.
  • How will I get my results?
    Once all tests have been completed, your results (the COA) will be emailed to the email-address that you provided on your Chain of Custody (COC) Form.
  • Will my COA be accepted by Amazon?
    Aemtek is an ISO accredited, reputable laboratory with over 15 years of experience testing for the food, environmental, and cosmetic industries. Although it cannot be guaranteed that Amazon will accept any individual COA, we are familiar with their documentation requirements and have put together a panel of tests that includes the analyses retailers will look for on a Certificate of Analysis (COA) to ensure product safety and quality. If you do have any issues with your COA, please reach out to us at labdata@aemtek.com and we will work with you to address the issue.

Industrial Hygiene Testing

  • What methods for Legionella testing are available at AEMTEK?
    We offer culture plating method (based on CDC, ISO11731-2 and Standard Method SM9260J), Legiolert method (IDEXX) and Legionella pneumophila PCR method. All our methods are accredited by CDC ELITE program and AIHA EMLAP.
  • What methods for Mold Detection and Identification are available at AEMTEK?
    We offer microscopic examination, culture method, ITS and 18S DNA sequencing and qPCR methods.
  • Which Mycotoxin tests does AEMTEK offer?
    We currently offer Total Aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2), Ochratoxin (Ochratoxin A 100% Ochratoxin B 18%) and Trichothecene (Verrucarin A) tests on routine basis. For other mycotoxin tests, please contact us for availability and special quotes.
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