Fast and Accurate Analysis of Food Samples

Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc announced that Gruppo CSA, a leading Italian environmental research institute, has implemented the Thermo Scientific FLASH 4000 nitrogen/protein analyser to enable efficient and accurate nitrogen/protein determination in animal feed and human food samples. The analyser has set new standards for the efficiency of analyses at the institute and has provided unmatched precision while also facilitating increased sample capacity and high sample throughput. As a result of the increase in speed and throughput of analyses, Gruppo CSA has been able to expand its range of services to customers.

The institute has seen a surge in the number of animal feed analyses that it performs due to a recent European Commission initiative that provides a financial incentive for farmers producing dehydrated alfalfa with levels of protein above 15%. In response to customer demand, Gruppo CSA is required to conduct rapid nitrogen/protein analysis on high quantities of dehydrated alfalfa in adherence with the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) 992.23 method. To address the growing analytical requirements while also remaining compliant with industry regulations, Gruppo CSA selected the Thermo Scientific FLASH 4000 nitrogen/protein analyser.

Prior to implementing the FLASH 4000 instrument, Gruppo CSA utilised the traditional Kjeldahl method for its  nitrogen/protein analyses. However, the method suffers from a number of challenges, namely that it is extremely time-consuming, requiring more than four hours to complete a single analytical cycle of just 20 samples. The method also requires the use of acids at extremely high temperatures, posing a significant safety risk. Working with the Dumas combustion method for protein analysis, the FLASH 4000 overcomes these challenges, increasing overall productivity and cost-efficiency while also eliminating the use of corrosive acids, which improves health and safety conditions within the institute.

The FLASH 4000 now enables Gruppo CSA’s team to process up to 50 samples in a single cycle, while the four-hour cycle time has been dramatically reduced to just 10 minutes. The FLASH 4000 can run unattended and overnight, saving time for the institute’s technicians and increasing overall throughput. The elimination of dangerous acids and toxic reagents has also meant that the instrument is much easier to clean and maintain, particularly with the inclusion of a self-cleaning filter, saving both time and money.