Got Arsenic? OMIC USA Can Find Out What Kind and How Much

PORTLAND, OR, July 18, 2012 – With the repeated presence of Arsenic in the news and increasing pressure from Congress for the FDA to develop guidelines, it has become increasingly difficult for food manufacturers to know where to stand. As regulations evolve, the likely next progression will be for the testing of Arsenic down to parts per billion (ppb) levels and further to the differentiation of the various forms of Arsenic present. While this evolution is ongoing, OMIC USA, Inc. (www.omicusa.com), an ISO 17025 accredited analytical laboratory in Portland, Oregon, has purchased and validated the necessary instrumentation to differentiate these “species” of Arsenic according to the current revision of the FDA method.

In the interest of expanding the capabilities that they are able to offer to the food and beverage industry, the lab acquired an HPLC-ICP-MS this year and OMIC USA can now add the Speciation of Arsenic to their comprehensive list of testing services. They are, incidentally, one of only a select few labs in North America with this capability. Their validation procedure has shown quantification of both Inorganic and Organic Arsenic species to a detection limit of 5 ppb. This is a level that is significantly lower than any current proposed legislation would require. As requirements tighten and it becomes necessary to be able to discern the dangerous, Inorganic forms from the relatively more innocuous Organic forms of Arsenic, this capability to speciate Arsenic will be an invaluable new resource. Speciation will require that total Arsenic first be determined. As an added benefit, in addition to Arsenic, the ICP-MS will allow the chemists at OMIC USA to further reduce detection limits of other Heavy Metals (such as Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury) down to ppb levels as well. For more information on OMIC USA, Inc.’s testing service please contact them directly at (503)223-1497 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . About OMIC USA Inc. OMIC USA Inc., an ISO 17025 accredited analytical laboratory specializing in pesticide residue, nutritional analysis, trace metals determination, GMO testing, and Microbiological analysis located in Portland, Oregon. Using experienced scientists, internationally recognized methods, and cutting edge instrumentation OMIC USA has been delivering dependable results in food, agriculture, and feed testing since 1992.