Contract Research Services
The combined expertise of our professionals and our well-equipped laboratories allow for a successful execution of contract research projects. These may include any combination of our skills including routine analyses of samples in our service department, development and application of novel (bio)analytical methods and the execution of complex R&D projects guided by our academically trained staff.
Fractionation Techniques
Many samples e.g. from food, feed or environmental origin, contain a complex mixture of bioactive compounds. In order to reduce complexity and / or irrelevant background activities, BDS applies and develops chemical analytical fractionation techniques. These include solid-phase extraction (SPE), gel permeation chromatography (GPC), and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). While many protocols can readily be performed in our laboratories, dedicated protocols for new or uncommon matrices may be developed on demand.
Nondioxin-like PCB Analysis
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a highly toxic class of persistent industrial chemicals that are often addressed as compound class in safety assessments. PCBs can be divided in two groups: the dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) and the nondioxin-like PCBs (ndl-PCBs).
Dioxin-like PCBs show toxicological effects similar to those of dioxins and can be targeted in a DR CALUX® analysis.
For nondioxin-like PCBs, BDS offers an analysis with gas chromatography (GC) coupled to an electron capture detector (ECD). This analysis quantifies six congeners (PCB 28, -52, -101, -138, -153, and -180), which together form about half of the total amount of ndl-PCBs in feed/food samples. It is therefore a strong measure for the total occurrence of ndl-PCBs.
This method is compliant with current EU guidelines and is accredited by the Dutch Accreditation Council (RvA -Raad voor Accrediatie).