The Testing Directorate undertakes tests and analysis in various products for the purposes of quality evaluation and certification. The clientele base of the Directorate covers individuals, manufacturers (Industry), Importers and Exporters, Institutions and Government Agencies. The products could be farm produce, products manufactured for local consumption or export, imported products, forensic products or tissues for Histopathology.
The Directorate also undertakes training for interested individuals, institutions and organisation in the areas of testing, analysis and instrumentation.
The Directorate offers three (3) categories of services:
- Normal service delivery of within twenty one (21) working days
- Urgent service delivery of within ten (10) (working days)
- Very urgent (Express) service delivery of within five (5) working days
The Microbiology Department offers only normal service deliveries.
Urgent services attract twice (2X) the charge for normal service and Express services attract thrice (3X) the charge for normal services. Charges are either per sample or per parameter depending on the Department concerned. Charges are available on the organisation’s charges list.
There are six (6) Departments under the Testing Directorate which undertake various tests and analyses on wide range of products. There are 21 laboratories in the Directorate which are either accredited to or comply with the requirement of ISO/IEC 17025. The Departments are:-
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Food and Agriculture Department:
This department undertakes chemical, physical and organoleptic analysis on various food and agricultural products and produce including drinks (Beverages) to ascertain quality and level of compliance with applicable standards. There are five (5) laboratories under the department which perform various analyses:-
- Food laboratory which undertakes chemical analysis, organoleptic tests etc. on food and agricultural products and produce.
The laboratory is equipped with the following:-
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- Drinks laboratory which perform various chemical analysis and organoleptic tests on beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).
The laboratory is equipped with the following:-
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- Mycotoxins and Histamine laboratory which perform analysis to ascertain the level of toxins in food products and agricultural produce (e.g. cereals and legumes, fish and fishery products).
The laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 in the area of Fish and Fishery products, cereals and cereal products, nuts and derived products.
The laboratory is equipped with the following:-
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- Metallic Contaminants Laboratory which perform analysis to ascertain level of contaminants as well as essential and other elements in various products/produce.
The laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 in the area of heavy metals in Fish and Fishery products.
The laboratory is equipped with the following:-
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Pesticides Residues Laboratory
Which perform analysis to ascertain level of pesticides residues and other residues (including veterinary drug residues) as well as active ingredient in formulations. The laboratory also undertakes analyses for PAH and related compounds e.g. in smoke fish as well as quantification of level of poisons etc. in various samples/products. The laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 in the area of low fatty matrices (fruits and Vegetables, cereals etc.)
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Microbiology Department:-
This Department undertakes Microbiological analysis on various ranges of products including Food, Drugs, and Materials to ascertain level of safety. The laboratory is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 in the area of Yeast and moulds, APC, S. aureus, E. Coli, coliforms and salmonella in Food and Environmental swabs; APC, E. coli and coliforms in water. The Department is equipped with the following:
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Drugs, Cosmetics and Forensic Science Department:-
The department undertakes tests and analysis on various products and samples for the purposes of quality, investigation and medical diagnoses. There are four (4) laboratories under the department.
- Drugs laboratory which undertakes analysis on drugs and related products. The laboratory is equipped with the following:
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- Cosmetics Laboratory which undertakes chemical analysis on cosmetics and related products. The laboratory is equipped with the following:
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- Forensic Laboratory which undertakes analysis on forensic samples including tissues and narcotics. The laboratory is equipped with the following:
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- Histopathology laboratory which undertake tests on tissues and other samples for medical diagnoses. The laboratory is equipped with the following:
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Engineering Department:
This department undertakes physical and chemical tests on engineering products. There are three (3) laboratories under the department which are:
- Mechanical laboratory which undertakes physical and chemical tests on mechanical products including steel products, roofing sheets, domestic utensils, machetes and gas cylinders. The laboratory is equipped with the following:-
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- Civil laboratory which undertakes physical and chemical test on civil product including building and road construction materials, (Concrete cubes, sand/concrete blocks, concrete pipes/culverts, fine and coarse aggregate, cement.) The laboratory is equipped with the following:-
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- Electrical and Electronics laboratory which undertakes physical tests on electrical and electronic products including electrical cables, refrigerating appliances, compact florescence lamps, solar energy appliances, sockets and switches. The laboratory is equipped with the following:
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Materials Science Department:
The department undertakes physical and chemical tests and analyses on various products including general chemical based materials, water, textiles, paper, petroleum, precious metals and rubber products.
There are six (6) laboratories under the department which perform various functions:
- General Chemistry laboratory which undertakes chemical tests on wide range of products including household chemicals, paints, fertilizers etc. The laboratory is equipped with the following:
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- Petroleum laboratory which undertakes chemical analyses on petroleum and related products. The laboratory is equipped with the following:
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- Water laboratory which undertakes chemical analyses on water to ascertain quality and level of compliance with applicable standards. The laboratory is equipped with the following:
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- Textiles and Leather laboratory which undertakes physical and chemical tests on textiles, leather and related products. The laboratory is equipped with the following:
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- Polymer and Plastics laboratory which undertakes physical test on plastics, polymer and paper products. The laboratory is equipped with the following:
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- Precious metals laboratory which undertakes assay of Gold and Hallmarking. Efforts are being made to cover other minerals. The laboratory is equipped with the following:
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Laboratory Equipment Services Department:
This department handles and service all equipment being used in the directorate for various tests and analyses. The department also undertakes method development and validation on various equipment, identifies suitable equipment for specific test/analyses and service same through routine maintenance. The department also undertakes some level of repair and liaises with external providers for major maintenance and repairs.