SBS commissions two new laboratory testing equipment |15 November 2023

Inspecting the HPLC equipment

By Patrick Joubert

The Seychelles Bureau of Standards (SBS) yesterday morning opened two laboratory units containing two new testing equipment at its premises in Providence.

This forms part of continued effort to strengthen its testing capabilities to serve the needs and expectations of businesses, entrepreneurs and the general public.

It was the Minister for Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry, Devika Vidot, who had the privilege to open the two units in the presence of the principal secretary for Investment, Entrepreneurship and Industry, Michael Nalletamby; the chief executive of SBS, Andy Ally; SBS board and staff members.

The ground floor unit, newly set up ICPMS Room, contains the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) equipment, which is an analytical modern technology that can be used to determine multiple elements at trace levels, in biological fluids and heavy metals in fish.

This will enable the laboratory to ensure safe and quality drinking liquids on the local market as per the standard specification for bottled drinking liquids, such as bottled water, and quality fish for export as per the export of fisheries products (sanitary) regulations.

In the other unit on the first floor (HPLC Room – the food chemistry laboratory) sits the High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) testing equipment to test organic chemicals such as histamine in fish. Histamine is a toxic metabolism producing bacteria during spoilage and fermentation of fish and fish products. Histamine test is therefore performed to determine the freshness of fish and fish products.

Both equipment have been procured through the support funding obtained by the Third South West Indian Ocean Fisheries Governance and Shared Growth Project (SWIOFISH3Project) being administered by the blue economy department.

The ICP-MS equipment was purchased at US $230,768.49 while the HPLC equipment was purchased at US $51,378.44. Both equipment were installed and commissioned recently by overseas engineers who also trained the laboratory staff on how to use them.

Speaking to the media, CEO Ally said the two equipment, given their specifications, will provide fast results to eliminate time constraints.

He noted that since they have various other applications, they would also in the near future be used by other businesses dealing in micro-biology, marine biotech, cash crops, honey and vanilla, among others.

He added that ICP-MS can be adapted to a wide range of applications and industries including environmental monitoring, pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, and clinical research. It is also environmentally friendly due to reduced argon gas consumption and has more efficient workflows due to reduced time measurement.

He noted that for the testing of trace elements in fish and water, the Environmental Laboratory of SBS is currently making use of an Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (AAS), which is over 12 years old and regularly breaks down. It was therefore imperative to find alternative testing equipment to ensure continuity with the provision of trace element testing services to meet the increasing needs and expectations of customers.

In regards to histamine test, the Food Chemistry Laboratory was finding it very difficult with only one HPLC to meet the increasing demand for histamine test being requested by both the fish export establishments and the competent authority. There was therefore a need for an additional HPLC to assist the bureau to undertake additional histamine tests on a daily basis. The previous HPLC method used by the bureau was an Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) method of food testing and with the adoption of an ISO method for histamine test using HPLC, all accredited laboratories, such as of SBS, were being encouraged by the European Union to migrate to this new method.

Photos by Patrick Joubert