ANALYTICAL SERVICES – NECSA Laboratories

ABOUT NECSA LABORATORY SERVICES

GENERAL LAB CAPABILITIES

EFFICIENT TURN AROUND TIME

More often than not, lab results are needed as a matter of urgency in order to guide response actions. In general our standard response times are quick however in cases where even much quicker response is required our labs are able to accommodate customer’s special TAT request.

TECHNICAL EXPERTS

Our laboratories are supported by well experienced technical experts who are able to choose the right test method for the requested job and also provide reliable interpretation of the results, and also advise on any actions needed. Our experts are also able to conduct in-depth scientific investigation studies.

COMPLIANCE AND CONFORMITY

Our Nuclear License from the NNR allows us to handle radioactive samples and disposal of arising wastes or transported back to the customer. We are accredited by the South African National Standards (SANAS) authority in terms of ISO 17025 and also have a certified ISO 9001 based Quality Management System.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS

We are one of the few laboratories licensed to conduct toxicity tests on radioactive effluents from Nuclear Authorisation Holders and we are able to investigate acute as well chronic consequences of radiation (including risk and radiation doses) on critical groups, members of the public, aquatic and terrestrial biota.

DATA SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY

Necsa has a robust system and IT infrastructure for protecting customer information against unintentional, unlawful, or unauthorized access, disclosure, or theft.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD TEST METHODS

We perform testing protocols according to standard methodologies (ISO, ASTM, etc.) and are experts in developing tailored analytical methods and performing method validation for specific testing applications.

ONE-STOP-SHOP

Necsa’s calibration and metrology facility offers a one-stop service for the calibration, repair, inspection, verification and testing of radiation monitoring instruments from a wide variety of manufacturers. The facility is one of the few in Southern Africa that calibrates and repairs these radiation monitors. It also offers other services in terms of dimensional and pressure calibration.

STAFF COMPLEMENT

The labs have a total staff complement of 75 personnel enabling the lab to handle about 56000 samples per year with a spare capacity of 35% dedicated explore new markets. Our laboratory technical staff are certified by competent accreditation and certification bodies such as SANAS, SACNASP, SARPA and NLA.

INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

Necsa Labs are trusted and recognized by international organisations such as CTBTO, IAEA, USDOE. In this regard Necsa Labs has done lab research projects with these organisations and also participate in the IAEA coordinated research projects.

CUSTOMER RETENTION

The majority of our existing customers have been utilising our labs for more than 20 years as an indication of good customer satisfaction and confidence to our services.

CORPORATE SOCIAL INVESTMENTS

Provides WIL (Work Integrated Learning) to University students on an annual basis including our employees providing lecturing in universities on probona basis.

CERTIFIED EQUIPMENT DISTRIBUTOR

Necsa Labs is a certified distributor for different environmental monitoring, measurement, sampling and surveillance systems for sourcing, supply, installation, commissioning and providing after sale services.

ANALYTICAL SERVICES – CHEMICAL AND RADIOLOGICAL

#	ANALYTICAL SERVICE	DETERMINANTS	SAMPLE MATRIX
1.	WATER ANALYSIS	Trace Elements, Organics Determinands, Physico-Chemical Detaminands, Microbiological Determinands, micro-plastics, emerging pollutants, cations and anions, Gross Alpha-Beta, Alpha Emitters, Gamma Emitters, Naturally Occurring Radionuclides (NORM), Full Spectrum, tritium.	Drinking water, waste/effluent water, surface water, fissure water, ground water, sea water, bottled water, river water, lake water, industrial water, sewage water
2.	FORENSIC ANALYSIS	Chemical Toxicology, Drugs of abuse, food adulteration, Food Fraud	Urine, blood, hair, saliva, Biological specimens, food, honey, bullet fragments, gunshot residue, plastic, fingernails, geological material, etc.
3.	AGRICULTURE, FOOD PRODUCTS AND BEVERAGES ANALYSIS	Pesticide residues, Contaminants, banned substances, Mycotoxins, Prohibited Substances, Antibiotics, Toxins, Food Authenticity, allergens, Anthropogenic Radionuclides, pathogens, Organics, PFAS, carcinogens, Herbicides, fungicides.	Salmon, Moluscs, Meat, Nuts, Fresh Fruit, Fish, Milk, Dairy, Seeds, soil, feed, and many more.
4.	ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLE ANALYSIS	Semi-volatile organic contaminants, Naturally Occurring Radionuclides (NORM), Noble gases, PFAS,	Waste Rock, Tailings material, Environmental Food Staff, Dust, Phosphate rock, gypsum, coal, flyash, cement bricks, granite, scrap material, Soil, Sediments, sewerage sludge, gases.
5.	PLANT PRODUCT CERTIFICATION	Moisture Content, Percentage Composition, Stability test,	Xenon, Xenon Fluoride, steel products,
6.	HEALTH PRODUCT CERTIFICATION	Quantification of impurities in raw materials and active pharmaceutical ingredients, Impurity analysis and profiling, Heavy metals, Radionuclide purity, Radiochemical purity.	Mo-199 Product, Iodine sample, Lutetium
7.	OCCUPATIONAL/BIOLOGICAL SAMPLE ANALYSIS	Drugs of Abuse, Radon Gas,Alcohol, Radioactive Dust, Occupational Dust, Occupational Toxicology	Hair, Urine, Blood, Saliva, Dust Filters, swaps, particulate material, air filters
8.	ISOTOPE ANALYSIS AND NUCLEAR FORENSIC ANALYSIS	Isotopic Signature, Stable Isotope, stable isotope ratios, isotope ratios, Isotopic abundances, isotope variability, isotopic composition.	Bone, organic residues, hair, or sea shells, food, soil,, ore bodies, archaeological materials, animal tissues, plant tissues, explosives, nuclear material, radioactive material, drugs, timber

CALIBRATION AND METROLOGY SERVICES

RADIATION DOSIMETER METEOROLOGY

Portable and fixed radiation monitors
Personal dosimeters
Contamination monitors
Portal monitors and environmental monitors

PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

PRODUCTS		CONSULTING SERVICES		SPECIALIST SERVICES/STUDIES
Radon Gas Monitors Alpha-E and Alpha Guard) Environmental Monitors & Air quality monitor Contamination and Dose Rate Meters Dose Rate and Survey Meters Electronic Personal Dosimeters Environmental Radiation Monitoring Systems Radiation Portal Monitors Biotoxis qPCR Detection Kit Optronics Surveillance Systems Gas detection Cell Imaging Systems Bioreagents and Bioanalytical Tools Potable Chemical Detectors Radiation Portable monitors		Environmental surveys and field sampling Advisory Services On-site lab projects design, construction, commissioning and hand-over Managing and operational lab on behalf of the customers on Necsa site or on the premises of the customer Participation in Research and Development studies Radiation Protection Consultation Services Baseline Studies Leak Testing Dose Calculations Water Alpha/Beta Analysis Studies Forensic Databases Contract Laboratory Services Deliveries and collections Instrument sourcing, installation, commissioning and after sale support Instrument repairs, routine inspection and maintenance.		Party Inspections and Audits”; “Litigation Support”, “Method Development”, “Method Validation”, “Expert Testimony”, and “Regulatory/ Compliance Support”; “Radiation Protection Specialist”; “Radiation Protection Officer”. Specialised laboratory of studies and assessments such as ingredient assessment, toxicology assessments, food-effect bioavailability; investigations, competitor product analysis, vulnerability assessment studies; etc. Specialists Studies for Environmental Impact Assessment Studies and Radiological Safety Assessments. Provision of proven technology for detection chemical warfare agents, toxic industrial chemicals. Provision of environmental management software for data management and analytics.

ACCREDITATION’S, APPROVALS, CERTIFICATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS

SANAS ACCREDITATION (ISO 17025)

A total of 55 test methods SANAS accreditations in terns of ISO 17025 and GPL compliance prescribed in accreditation to conformity assessment, calibration and good laboratory practices Act, 2006 (Act 19 of 2006). The lab aims to add a set of 72 new test methods (to the current scope of accreditation) over a period of five years starting in 2023/24FY in order to improve service offering.

CERTIFIED QMS (ISO 9001)

Have a certified ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System covering all lab activities plus supporting functions. Implementation of this system is driven by national supply chain requirements and by the management’s desire to maintain broad company’s quality requirements which cannot be fulfilled by ISO 17025 requirements.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

A total of six (6) Natural Professional Scientist registered in terms of Natural Scientific Professions Act of 2003. Current scope of registration covers Chemistry, Physics, Radiation Physics, Microbiologist and Metrology. Other professional certifications/ recognitions include Engineers, Water Process Controllers, Nuclear Forensic Specialists, Radiation Professional Specialists, Radiochemists, Geohydrology, Radiation Physicist, Environmental Scientist; etc.

CTBTO

The ZAL 14 stationed at Necsa site is one of the 16 radionuclide laboratories in the world certified by CTBTO (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty) to measure air particulate samples. This lab is part of a unique global network (i.e. International Monitoring System) of facilities using state-of-the-art technologies to detect potential nuclear explosives tests. The relevant quality standard here is INF.96. In three years the scope of this service will expanded to include analysis of samples for Radio-Xenon.

GLP & GMP

Our personnel are trained in Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) and Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Our standard test methods (for radiopharmaceutical products) meet GMP/GLP requirements which guarantees that products are consistently and continually manufactured according to proven quality standards requirements. Additional labs are planned for GLP certification during 2024/25FY.

OTHERS

Have two Nuclear Authorisations/ Licenses for handling of Nuclear and Radioactive samples. Necsa Labs is a B-BBEE Level 5 contributor but aiming to achieve Level 1 in two years. Have passed all competency proficiency schemes with an average of 91.9% for the past three Financial Years. These PTs include 8 local and 7 international. Recognized by IAEA, US-DOE & DMRE as a competent Nuclear Forensic Lab in Africa.

CUSTOMERS UTILISING OUR SERVICES

MINING & MINERAL PROCESSING

Gold Mines, Copper Mines, Scrap Metals, Coal, Fertilizer, etc.

GOVERNMENT

Government Departments, Municipalities, Water Services Boards, Regulatory Bodies, Law Enforcement Agencies, Policy Makers.

INSTITUTES OF HIGHER LEARNING

Universities, Colleges, SETA Accreditation Training Centres

HEALTH CARE SECTOR

Hospitals (public and provide), Radiopharmaceuticals, Doctors, Clinics

MANUFATURING SECTOR

Cosmetic manufactures, Chemical Manufacturers; Instrument OEMs; Instrument Distributors

OTHER LABORATORIES

Private Business Labs, Public Business Labs

ENERGY & TRANSPORT SECTOR

Transnet, Logistic, Eskom

CONSULTING FIRMS

Environmental Consultants, RP Consulting Companies

FOOD AND AGRIC SECTOR

Food processors, Food Beverages, Importers and Exporters; Farmers; Fruit Producers

Services