We’re a commercial analytical service providing advice and analysis to the aquaculture, agriculture, food and drink, and human health sectors across the world.
The Nutrition Analytical Service (NAS) was created in 1998 and we’re internationally recognised as a centre of excellence for nutrition research with specific focus on lipids and fatty acids. Our laboratories are equipped with HPLC, LCMSMS, GC, GCMS and GCMSMS capabilities as well as modern sample preparation facilities. We also provide a service for the analysis of human and animal clinical samples, especially blood fatty acid analysis.
We offer the following analytical measurements. For any other analysis not listed below, please contact us to discuss further.
We conduct analysis of Omega 3 fatty acids for a range of pharmaceutical companies, health professionals and pathology laboratories. NAS also supports research projects that involve the measurement of Omega 3 status.
Since 2007 NAS has worked with research and commercial partners to conduct analysis of fatty acids in human red blood cells (RBC). A rapid method is also provided for measuring Omega 3 status using a single drop of whole blood. The blood sample is obtained via a finger prick collection kit and is immobilised on pre-treated card prior to analysis. The measurement of long chain Omega 3 fatty acids is of particular interest due to their widely acknowledged benefits for human health.
NAS currently operates to the ISO 17025 standard for analytical laboratories. We are committed to developing a quality assurance system that meets the requirements of BS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2000, and to achieving accreditation for a defined scope from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).
We're currently approved for the analysis of the organic pigment sources Phaffia rhodozyma (IGENE) and Panaferd (Nippon Oil Corporation). Our performance in these proficiency tests confirms the quality of our analytical service.
We are also an approved chemist for marine oil fatty acid profile analysis. To maintain and improve our analytical performance, we take part in a number of inter-laboratory ring tests on an annual basis. These include:
| Organisation | Service |
|---|---|
| Masterlab Analytical Services BV | analytical methods used routinely in the fish feed, oil, fish producing and technology sectors |
| DSM/Roche | carotenoids |
| Norwegian Institute for Public Health | dioxins, PCBs and PBDEs |
| European Lipid Federation (DGF) | lipid analysis – including fatty acids, vitamins, oxidative parameters |
| American Oil Chemist Society (AOCS) | fatty acid content of marine oils |
James is responsible for the overall technical operations of the service and to make sure that the equipment and facilities are reflective of a modern day analytical provider.
Customer satisfaction is an essential element of the role and independent and confidential reporting is guaranteed. James has over 30 years of analytical experience in lipid analysis methodology and is trained in all aspects of advanced chromatographic techniques including HPLC, LC-MS/MS, GC, GC/MS and GC-MS/MS.
Fiona is responsible for coordinating the activities and procedures required to ensure that the analytical performance and subsequent reporting to customers is to the high standard expected of the ISO 17025 Quality System.
Fiona has over 20 years of analytical experience, specifically pertaining to lipid oxidative products, HPLC instrumentation, and the methodology for the analysis of carotenoid pigments, vitamins and amino acids, and more recently, LC-MS/MS instrumentation for the analysis of vitamin D.
Please contact James Dick (j.r.dick@stir.ac.uk) or Fiona Strachan (fiona.strachan@stir.ac.uk) for further information.