FAQs

We currently provide:

• Biodegradability Test Simulation
• High-Throughput Screening
• Biodegradability Certification

As most of the tests are fully standardized following the standard guidelines, the turnaround time is usually 1-2 weeks plus the sample incubation time (4 weeks for most of the biodegradability test methods).

Please visit our Pricing page to have a better idea of the cost of different services.

Yes, we are ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certified. All of our tests comply with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 requirements to ensure high data quality.

Yes, we established comprehensive measures to comply with the Good Laboratory Practice, such as Quality Assurance Unit and SOPs. Any exceptions will be noted on the GLP statement.

First, we perform most of our tests with GLP compliance as mentioned above, which largely guarantees the quality of the data. Second, our scientists at Aropha possess at least M.S. degrees with extensive laboratory experience and comprehensive training, which make them well-qualified for such tests.

We highly welcome more in-depth collaborations for high-volume testing. Contact our team to learn more about what’s possible with Aropha.

Please read our Method Selection Guide to have an idea of what methods might be appropriate for your sample. If you are still not sure, talk to our scientists at Aropha. We will help you decide the best one for your application.

It is common that a sample can be handled by different methods. However, it might be hard to choose the best one to work with. Please talk to our scientists at Aropha so that we can select the best one for you.

Yes, you can run multiple methods for the same sample.

We normally do not perform toxicity control for a sample unless it is requested by our customers.

Yes, we prefer 20 mL scintillation vials, as shown below. (use the image on the page currently)

Normally 10 mL or 10 grams would be enough.

Yes! Before shipping your samples, please always fill out the form “Sample_Shipping_Form” and send it to your contact at Aropha. Also, remember to include it in your package.

We mainly need the solubility, volatility, theoretical oxygen demand (ThOD), and/or organic carbon content information. Please check each method to see what is required. When you fill out the form “Sample_Shipping_Form”, you will also be asked to fill out the appropriate information.

Yes, we provide COD analysis in our lab at $50 per sample. It does not increase the total turnaround time of the subsequent biodegradability test.

• Yes, but it might be subcontracted depending on the property of the samples. The cost is $110 per sample.
• If it is analyzed in our lab, there is no additional time required. If it is subcontracted, there will be an additional turnaround time of 10 days. This 10-day period will be added to the turnaround time of the subsequent biodegradability test mentioned above (1-2 weeks plus the sample incubation time).

No, we currently do not provide this service in-house, but we can coordinate the sub-contracting of the analysis.

No, COD/C% analysis does not consume a lot of samples. Therefore, normally 10 mL or 10 grams would be enough.

Please email your contact at Aropha the corresponding SDS whenever you can. If an SDS is not available, write down the special handling instructions in the form “Sample_Shipping_Form” and/or email them to your contact at Aropha.

If your samples are water soluble, we prefer them in aqueous form. This is especially important for samples that are water-soluble but can take extra effort (e.g., heating, ultrasonication, and mixing overnight) and/or time. This is because you know your samples much better than we do. Sending dissolved samples can help us avoid unnecessary exploration, and also ensure that the samples are fully dissolved before starting the test (especially for methods that have difficulties in handling insoluble samples such as OECD 301D and 306).

Simply talk to your contact at Aropha regarding receiving excess samples back.

A test generally contains:

1. a reference group
2. a blank control group
3. a test substance group

The reference group is used to check whether the system is working properly or not, containing a chemical or material that is known to be biodegradable, such as sodium acetate or sodium benzoate. The blank control group measures the background data by the inoculum and test medium. The test substance group contains the target sample that is to be tested.

It is normal to get negative biodegradation results for a sample, especially when this sample is toxic to the microorganisms. This is because the biodegradation percentage calculation involves the subtraction of the test substance data by the blank control data. If the microorganism activity is reduced in the test substance group compared to the blank control group, such a subtraction may result in a negative value, which leads to a negative biodegradation percentage.

Yes! We generally employ high-shear mixing, ultrasonication, and/or non-biodegradable and non-toxic surfactants to maximize the solubility/dispersion of the samples to improve the bioavailability and/or bio-accessibility. This can usually result in faster biodegradation.

Yes, we normally update our customers with data weekly after 2 weeks of testing, so that our customers can have a better idea of how their samples perform and plan the next step accordingly. This is especially helpful for High-Throughput Screening customers.

Yes, many of the standard guidelines allow the extension of the study, especially for samples that get close to the pass level. However, if a sample eventually passes the threshold during the extension period, we cannot claim the ready biodegradability in the report. Instead, a full summary of the test results will be presented.

The only information you need is the chemical structure (shown as a SMILES string), but we can also vary DP and material morphology.If the structure is unknown, talk to us about what is possible.

As most of the tests are fully standardized following the standard guidelines, the turnaround time is usually 1-2 weeks plus the testing time (4 weeks for most of the biodegradability test methods).

Please visit our Pricing page to have a better idea of the cost of different services.

For High-Throughput Screening tests, you will get all of the raw data and related calculations in an Excel file, and results summary in a PowerPoint file. Formal study protocols and final reports are generally not provided. However, upon request, we can still provide a PDF summary report for the whole batch, but this summary may not be used for certification purposes.

No! We never shorten the testing time unless requested by our customers.

The major difference is that formal study protocols and final reports are normally not provided for individual samples for High-Throughput Screening.

No! We follow exactly the same procedures to perform the tests as we would do for Certification tests. The High-Throughput Screening tests generate data with the same quality. The only things that are missing are the study protocols and final reports, which are generally not necessary anyway for these samples.

If you are in the R&D process and have a large number of samples with different chemical structures and/or compositions, the High-Throughput Screening is the right work format for you! At this stage, you are mainly interested in comparing these samples to find the best structures and/or compositions instead of looking at certifying the samples.

Yes, upon request, we will issue one report for all the samples in the same batch. This report mainly works as a summary, which may not qualify for claims substantiation.

As most of the tests are fully standardized following the standard guidelines, the turnaround time is usually 2 weeks plus the test time (4 weeks for most of the biodegradability test methods).

Please visit our Pricing page to have a better idea of the cost of different services.

• For a biodegradability certification test, a formal study protocol and a formal final report are the two major documents you will get. Additionally, you will also have all of the raw data and related calculations in an Excel file, and results summary in a PowerPoint file.
• If you have more than one sample in a batch, you will get a separate protocol and a report for each sample, but only one Excel and one PowerPoint file for all the samples.

We normally invoice 50% of the total cost upon project commencement and invoice for the remaining balance upon project completion, which lets us account for any extensions that may be added throughout the test. The first invoice will be due upon receipt and the second invoice is due 30 days after the issuance of the invoice (Net30).

After the completion of the tests and the submission of the final report to you, you will receive an invoice from us through the email address “quickbooks@notification.intuit.com”.

By entering the invoice email sent to you through the email address “quickbooks@notification.intuit.com”, you can view, pay, and download the invoice.

Yes! Our payment system is powered by QuickBooks, one of the most popularly used accounting software in the market. The payment on this system is highly secure.

Yes! Either wire transfer or a paper check is fine with us. You can find the banking details in the invoice emailed to you.

For international transactions, wire transfer is mainly accepted. You can find the banking details in the invoice emailed to you.