FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do I obtain an MSDS?

MSDS information for our analytical standards is available by calling our Customer Service staff at
(+) 44 (0) 208 204 6656, by faxing a request to: (+) 44 (0) 208 204 6654, as well as by emailing to: Sales@SpexCertiPrep.co.uk. If you are ordering standards, and you want the MSDS included with the items, please request them when you are placing the order.

How can I find out price and availability?

We can provide current availability and pricing for any of our thousands of analytical standards if you contact our Customer Service staff during business hours at: (+) 44 (0) 208 204 6656, fax a request to: (+) 44 (0) 208 204 6654, or email to: Sales@SpexCertiPrep.co.uk.

What is the name/part number for a given CAS #?

If you need our name or part time number for a matching CAS number, you can call us at: (+) 44 (0) 208 204 6656, fax to: (+) 44 (0) 208 204 6654, email to: Sales@SpexCertiPrep.co.uk, or you can check in our current catalogue for the compound under the alphabetical listing in the single component organic standards area on-line at Sales@SpexCertiPrep.co.uk

How do I register on the web site?

Navigate to the e-commerce area where you will complete the on-line registration. You will need to supply a current e-mail address as well as additional information to register.

How quickly are quotes provided on custom mixes?

We reply with a quote as soon as possible for custom solutions and mixes. If you have an urgent request, please let us know and we will try to accommodate your needs as soon as possible. Remember, our custom mixes are reviewed by our chemists to confirm the compatibility of the requested analytes, and the stability of these components in the requested matrix prior to returning your custom request by either fax or email attachment.

Why do some of the Protocol Analytical standards have shorter expiration dates?

Certain chemicals, due entirely to their structure are more likely to react than others. The reactivity can increase due to several factors including: a) shelf time, b) temperature, c) solvent, d) other analytes present (if the standard is a multi-analyte mixture), e) air, f) light. In order to provide our customers with the best of both reference materials and customer service, we assign expirations that, given proper laboratory storage conditions, should remain within the standard’s stated values through to the expiration date.

What should I do? There are crystals in my ampule.

Sometimes precipitation or crystallization may appear in an analytical standard. This can occur with materials that are close to saturation and have become cold, an example is, CLPS-I (a semi-volatile internal standard). If this happens, the solution should be warmed to room temperature and then the sealed ampule should be sonicated for approximately fifteen minutes. Invert the ampule several times and allow the sample to return to room temperature. The standard is now ready for use. If the sealed product has crystals at the top of the outside of the ampule, it may indicate a pinhole break in the seal. In this case, please call, (+) 44 (0) 208 204 6656, fax, (+) 44 (0) 208 204 6654, or email our Customer Service staff Sales@SpexCertiPrep.co.uk for assistance.

Do you have suggestions on the handling, storage, ampule preparation, and analysis of volatile analytical standards?

Volatile standards, particularly gases, can be difficult to analyse. For the best standard analysis we suggest the following procedures below:

1. Keep the ampules chilled (follow the storage conditions) prior to opening.
2. Just before opening, invert the ampule several times to ensure the materials/gases are in the solution, not in the ampule’s headspace. Avoid mixing too energetically.
3. Use freshly opened ampules immediately whenever possible.
4. When transferring, take care to avoid losses of the very volatile components. Keep it cool, transfer it quickly, recap it firmly, and store it immediately.
5. If your purge and trap (P&T) system is giving questionable results, try a direct injection of the standard, into the column, by-passing the P&T system. If the results greatly improve, then the problem is within the purge and trap system. If the direct injection does not improve the results, then further checking is needed to ascertain whether it is a problem with the column, the standard, or the detector system.

Why am I having trouble on recoveries on DDT, Endrin, and certain other pesticide materials?

DDT and Endrin can break down in the GC injector port at elevated temperatures (>197?C). Using a cool, on-column injection method eliminates that problem. Poor recoveries often indicate that the injection port liner needs to be cleaned or replaced. There are a few additional options: try removing a short portion of the capillary column which may increase recoveries; try cleaning the two other inlet parts that are in contact with the sample, the brass/gold seal at the end of the inlet port, and the tee, if applicable.

Why am I having trouble analyzing Nitrosamines and Phenols?

Nitrosamines and Phenols analyses can vary from run to run often because these materials will bind to active sites on a column. If the lab runs a saturated standard of the material (between two and five times greater than your highest calibration point) this should eliminate the problem. This saturates the active sites, and should yield a more consistent result. Additionally, inlet and column maintenance may be in order. Try replacing the inlet liner, clip off 3” of column, and try cleaning the two other inlet parts that are in contact with the sample, the brass/gold seal at the end of the inlet port, and the tee, if applicable.

Are your Analytical Standards NIST Traceable?

Yes, to the NIST mass spectral database. NIST has very few organic SRMs. In addition, our analytical balances are calibration-checked daily with C1 weight set #23-190006, which is registered and traceable to NIST. The traceable links are stated on the Certificate of Analysis that is included with your analytical standard.

How can our lab know the shelf life before purchasing a standard?

The way to know a specific standard’s shelf life is to ask our Customer Service Representatives for the expiration date of the existing lots prior to placing the order by either calling (+) 44 (0) 208 204 6656, faxing, (+) 44 (0) 208 204 6654, or emailing them at Sales@SpexCertiPrep.co.uk

What is our expiration dating policy?

Protocol, with over 16 years of producing, analyzing, and certifying standards, as well as testing the retains for shelf life, assigns expirations that, given proper laboratory storage conditions, should remain within the standard’s stated values through to the expiration date. Labs preferring to minimize degradation due to varying shipping conditions may request expedited, and/or when applicable, cold pack shipments.

Why is a Cold Pack recommended with some standards?

Some Analytical Standards are highly susceptible to degradation at room temperature or above. In these cases, we recommend that the standard be shipped in a Cold Pack, which is a Styrofoam container that has a chilling agent included. Its purpose is to delay the degradation of the standard due to exposure to higher temperatures not freeze the standard. When a product is shipped with a Cold Pack, the customer should consider requesting next-day delivery (where available) and should avoid having the shipment sent on a Friday unless there is a procedure and staffing available to approve and properly store a Saturday Delivery.

Do you have a distributor in my country? Can I order directly through you?

We have distributors around the world. Please visit "Contact Us" for a distributor in your country.

Phone: (+)44 (0) 208 204 6656, Fax: (+)44 (0) 208 204 6654 or email: Sales@SpexCertiPrep.co.uk