Sample preparation & shipping
Most held orders are held for one of three reasons: too little sample, the wrong container, or no paperwork in the box. All three are avoidable.
Quantities
Minimum quantities by matrix
Running several tests on one sample can raise the quantity we need. The order builder checks each sample against the published minimum and tells you before you ship.
| Matrix | Typical minimum | Container | Storage in transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine & fish oils | 5 g | Amber glass, minimal headspace | Cool, dark; cold pack in summer |
| Vegetable oils | 5 g | Amber glass or HDPE | Ambient |
| Capsules / softgels | 10 capsules of 1 g | Original blister or sealed pot | Ambient, dark |
| Animal feed | 10 g | Sealed poly bag | Dry, ambient |
| Finished foods | 10 g | Sealed, as sold where possible | As labelled |
| Tissue | 10 g | Cryovial | Frozen, dry ice |
These are the laboratory’s published minimums: 5 g for pure or unrefined oils, 10 g for solids. Metals work by ICP-MS needs considerably more — 25 g and 50 g. For capsules and softgels, 10 capsules of 1 g in total cover capsule weight, fatty acids, peroxide value, acid value and anisidine value. For capsules and softgels the Lipid Labs Omega-3 Quality Testing Package requires 50 g minimum (50 capsules of 1 g). If a combination needs more than the figure shown, we tell you when we book the sample in rather than after it arrives.
Packing
Packing and paperwork
Label every container
Your own reference, matching what you entered in the order. We reconcile against the barcode, not the description.
Enclose a copy of your order
Print a copy of your order and put it in the box. Without it we cannot log the sample in.
Protect from oxidation
Fill containers to reduce headspace. Oxidation testing on a half-empty bottle measures the journey, not the product.
Shipping instructions
- 1) Provide samples in containers with a 'smudge-free' identification label and unique ID.
- 2) Use a courier (FedEx, UPS, DHL, etc.) and put 'for research / lab analyses only' in describing content(s), list the value of the package as content worth $0.00.
- 3) Ship on a Monday-Wednesday to avoid hold up on weekends.
- 4) Email us the courier used and tracking number when available so the laboratory can track the sample(s) location.
For frozen shipments, overnight (O/N) rush is recommended. Pack on dry ice or ice packs, ship on a Monday, and mark the outside 'Samples for research / destructive analysis' and 'KEEP FROZEN / Refrigerated'.
Reception hours are 9–5 ET, Mon–Fri.
Ship to
Lipid Labs, a division of CanAlt Health Laboratories Inc.
16 Falconer Drive, Unit 14, Mississauga, ON L5N 3M1, Canada