Molecular Biology
EPL Bio Analytical Services has been committed to the Agricultural Industry for over 35 years. Our ethical standards and quality service in the areas of Agricultural Chemistry and Nutritional Analysis have led to strong business growth for re-investment and expansion of additional services.
Our Molecular Laboratory offers state-of-the-art, GLP compliant agricultural genetic testing. Our laboratory is designed to serve the Agricultural, Biotech, Feed and Feed Ingredient industries through its offering of GMO screening, data generation for GMO crop regulatory submissions. The Molecular Lab’s mission is to be a trusted partner for the commercialization of our customer’s products. Our focus is on delivering quality data and reports to facilitate movement of our customer’s project through the regulatory process. Our laboratory is equipped to perform molecular characterization at both the genetic and protein levels in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice.
We have demonstrated competency with:
Genetic Level
- Southern Blot (32P Probe Labeling)
- PCR and qPCR
- Agarose Gel Electrophoresis
Protein Level
- Quantitative Western Blot
- Quantitative ELISA- Field Trial Samples
- SDS-PAGE
Crop Characterization
- Transgene Copy Number
- Transgene Expression
- Digestive Fate Assys – Simulated Gastric Fluid (SGF) and Simulated Intestinal Fluid (SIF)
- Heat Assay
- Glycosylation Assay
- Good Laboratory Practice Compliant Studies
- Molecular Method Development & Validation
ELISA
ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) is a test that uses antibodies and color change to identify and quantify a particular analyte. The concept of this assay involves immunochemistry. A variety of tests are available using this tool including:
- Genetically Modified Plant Identification
- Mycotoxins
- Bacteria
- Chemicals
- Allergens
Southern Blotting
A Southern Blot is a method routinely used in molecular biology for detection of a specific DNA sequence in DNA samples. We have experience generating Southern Blots that meet strict quality standards for GLP regulatory submissions.
Method Development and Validation
EPL BAS provides method development and validation services for the agricultural biotechnology and chemical industries as well as the feed and food ingredient industries. Our scientists have broad experience in the analysis of:
- agrochemical residues
- active ingredients (AI)
- impurities
- plants
- seeds
- feed
- processed fractions
- product contaminants
- product adulteration
- bio-pesticides
- bio-rational products
- functional foods
Our scientists use the following
instrumentation:
- High Performance/Pressure Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Ultra High Performance/Pressure Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC)
- HPLC and UHPLC detection methods including tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS), refractive index, evaporative light scattering (ELS), fluorescence and ultraviolet detection
- Gas Chromatography (GC)
- GC detection methods include MS, MS/MS and flame-ionization (GC/FID)
- Variety of specialized instrumentation for nutritional analysis
Other techniques include:
- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)
- Southern Blot
- Western Blot
- SDS Page
- Cryomill, GenoGrinder, and other high-throughput methods for both chemistry and molecular biology
Your need for development and/or validation of a new method may originate with research requirements, new product support, regulatory requirements, or other specialized projects. EPL BAS can customize our support in these areas to your exact specifications.
All our work is conducted in compliance with our Quality Management System, including non-regulatory method development and method validation, so you can always have confidence in the information generated from this system.
For feed and food ingredient support, documentation and criteria used for validation are in conformance with ISO 17025:2005.
For regulatory Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) compliant method validation work including Independent Laboratory Validations (ILVs), work can be carried out to meet the applicable requirements including:
- SANCO/3029/99 Rev. 4
- SANCO/825/00 Rev. 8.1
- SANTE/2020/12830 Rev. 1
- OCSPP/OPTTS 860.1340
- OCSPP/OPPTS 850.6100
- PMRA Dir98-02
- ENV/JM/MONO/2007/17 OECD
- PR Notice 86-5/ PR Notice 96-1
- US EPA 40CFR Part 160
- OCSPP/OPPTS 830.1800