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 | 5 capsules per test that uses the fatty acid profile, plus 10 capsules for capsule weight | 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 the minimum is a number of capsules: 5 capsules for each test that uses the fatty acid profile — the fatty acid profile itself, EPA / DHA or trans fatty acids, for example — plus 10 capsules for capsule weight, which a result in mg per capsule needs. 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 the form
Print the sample submission form from your order — it is filled in from what you entered — 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 internationally
Mark as commercial samples of no commercial value and include a commercial invoice. We can supply wording.
When to ship. The sample submission form asks: “Ship on a Monday-Wednesday to avoid hold up on weekends.” 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