services

Our objective is to provide a comprehensive range of analyses for the food related industries under one roof, and we continuously add new methods and tests as the market evolves and new client needs are identified. We engage with our clients on their requirements as their input guides our new test development program.

Microchem provides the following analytical services:

1. Food Microbiology

2. Food borne Pathogens

3. Water Microbiology

4. Environmental Hygiene monitoring

5. Food Chemistry

6. Nutritional analyses

7. Elemental analyses:

a. Heavy Metal analyses

b. Trace element analyses

8. Multi Pesticide Residue analyses

9. Food dyes and Colorants

10. Vitamins

11. Agricultural analysis

1. Food Microbiology:

Total Viable Count
Aerobic Sporeformers
Anaerobic Sporeformers
Coliforms
E. coli
Enterobacteriaceae
Lactic Acid Bacteria
Pseudomonas spp.
Staphylococcus aureus
Yeast & Moulds
Osmophilic Yeast and Moulds
Sulphite-Reducing Bacteria
Commercial Sterility:
Mesophilic anaerobic sporeformers
Mesophillic aerobic spoereformers
Thermophilic aerobic sporeformers
Thermophilic anaerobic sporeformers

2. Food borne Pathogens:

Bacillus cereus (Presumptive)
E. coli O157
Clostridium perfringens (Presumptive)
Clostridium perfringens (Confirmed)
Listeria species
Listeria monocytogenes Quantitative (Presumptive)
Listeria monocytogenes Quantitative (Confirmed)
Listeria monocytogenes Qualitative (Presumptive)
Listeria monocytogenes Qualitative (Confirmed)
Salmonella
Staphylococus aureus (presumptive)
Staphylococcus aureus (confirmed)
Vibrio spp.
Vibrio cholera
Vibrio parahaemolyticus

3. Water Microbiology:

Coliforms (Water Analysis – Membrane Filtration)
E. coli (Water Analysis - Membrane Filtration)
TVC (Water Analysis – R2A Agar)
Faecal Coliforms (Water Analysis - Membrane Filtration)
TPC (Water Analysis – Pour plate method)

4. Environmental Hygiene monitoring:

TVC Handswab
Coliform Handswab
Enterobacteriaceae Handswab
E. coli Handswab
Staphylococcus aureus Handswab
TVC Environmental Swab
Coliform Environmental Swab
E. coli Environmental Swab
Enterobacteriaceae Environmental Swab
Yeast & Mould Environmental Swab
Listeria species Environmental Swab
Listeria monocytogenes Qualitative (Presumptive) Environmental Swab
Listeria monocytogenes Qualitative (Confirmed) Environmental Swab
TCV Airplate
Yeast & Mould Airplate

Microchem Gauteng Micro Lab has MCC (Medical Control Council) approval for pharmaceutical and cosmetic analyses. Our Pharmaceutical division of our Gauteng lab is able to offer the following analyses:

Total plate count
Yeast and Mould count
Pseudomonas aeruginosa. detection
Staphylococcus aureus detection
E.coli detection
Salmonella detection
14 Day Sterility
Preservative challenge testing (Antimicrobial effectiveness)
Pyrogens
Efficacy Challenge testing for disinfectants

Please contact on 011 425 3775

5. Food Chemistry:

Acidity
Anisidine Value
aW (Water Activity)
Brix
Inulin / Fructans
Peroxide Value
pH
Sulphur dioxide
Salt (As sodium chloride)
Free Fatty Acids (Titration)
Sugar Alcohols
Starch

6. Nutritional Analyses:

Moisture
Ash
Sodium
Nitrogen
Protein
Total fat & Fatty Acid Profile (Methyl Esters):
Saturated fat
Mono unsaturated gat
Poly unsaturated fat
Full fatty acid profile
Trans Fatty acid
Omega acids (EPA, DHA)
Cholesterol
Total Sugar:
Glucose
Fructose
Sucrose
Maltose
Lactose
Galactose
Trehalose
Energy
Glyceamic Carbohydrates
Total Dietary Fibre
Soluble and Insoluble Dietary Fibre

7. Elemental analyses:

Heavy Metal analyses:
Arsenic
Mercury
Cadmium
Lead
Enquire

Trace element analyses:
Aluminium
Barium
Boron
Calcium
Chromium
Cobalt
Copper
Iron
Lithium
Magnesium
Manganese
Nickel
Phosphorus
Potassium
Selenium
Zinc
Enquire

8. Multi Pesticide Residue analyses:

Multi Targeted Pesticide Residue Screen
Organo – Halgen Residues
Organo – Nitrogen Residues
Organo - Phosphorus Residues
Organo - Chlorine Residues
Organo – Nitrogen
Organo - Phosphorus Residues

9. Food dyes and Colorants:

Azo Dyes

Sudan 1-4
Para Red
Methyl Yellow

10. Vitamins:

Vitamin A (Retinoids)
Vitamin E (Tocopherols)
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)
Vitamin B7 (Biotin)
Vitamin B9 (Folic acid)
Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid)

11. Agricultural analysis:

Soil analysis
Tissue analysis
Fertilizer & Compost analysis
Water analysis
Nutrient density