• Lead (Pb) Testing and Phthalate Testing in Children's Products
• Prop 65 Testing
• Metals in Plastics and RoHS Testing
• Plasma (ICP-AES and ICP-MS) Spectrometry
• Ion Chromatography (IC) Testing Services
• Metals in Cosmetics and Pharmaceuticals
• Metals in Petroleum Products
• High Performance ICP-AES

The age-old question: “What’s in this stuff?”

Plasma spectrometry (simultaneous ICP-AES and quadrupole ICP-MS) are powerful techniques for full characterization of samples. Nearly all the periodic table is measureable, only excluding the noble gases and a few non-metals.

One of our most frequent requests is for full survey analysis in which we determine the range of elements that the technique allows—minors, traces and majors may be requested. Generally, for survey tests at a ppm or greater ICP-AES is employed, while lower detection requirements call for ICP-MS. Why are we in a unique position to offer these services? While both techniques will provide a qualititative, very semi-quantitative picture of a sample with minimal user input, to get the most accurate data the analyst needs to establish empirical factors to account for sample matrix effects. At VHG Labs we have virtually every standard available at any level, hence we are readily able to fully calibrate even obscure elements and/or we are able to establish and use the all-important IEC factors for ICP-AES and the Ionization Factors for ICP-MS.