Analytical testing services
The Canadian Grain Commission provides fee-for-service analytical tests to support the issuance of Canadian Grain Commission certificates of quality, to meet contract specifications, or to meet our producer protection mandate. If you need these tests for other grain quality related purposes, contact a private sector analytical laboratory that provides this service. Analytical tests are based on Canadian Grain Commission testing capability and capacity.
Full list of analytical testing services
- Additional analysis
- Test weight
- Vomitoxin/Deoxynivalenol (DON) - ELISA 1 to 3 samples
- Berlese test
- Aflatoxin, ELISA
- Germination energy
- Falling number
- Ochratoxin A (OTA) - single result
- Amylograph
- Farinograph
- Milling
- Protein, CNA
- Wet gluten content
- Chlorophyll index - reference method
- Fatty Acid composition
- Oil content, pulse NMR spectrometry
- Free Fatty Acids
- Whole seed analysis
- 1000 kernel weight
- Alveograph - flour
- Alveograph - semolina
- Chlorophyll NIR
- Genetically modified organisms (GMO) - Roundup Ready® - by ELISA, single sample
- Genetically modified organisms (GMO) - Roundup Ready® - by ELISA, 2 to 4 samples
- Genetically modified organisms (GMO) - Roundup Ready® - by ELISA, 5 or more samples
- Total glucosinolates
- Gluten index
- Glyphosate confirmatory analysis
- Glyphosate - ELISA single sample
- Glyphosate - ELISA 2 to 3 samples
- Glyphosate - ELISA 4 or more samples
- Iodine value
- Malting barley varietal purity
- Moisture test - rapid
- Moisture test - air oven
- Mycotoxin confirmatory analysis
- Ochratoxin A (OTA) - 2 to 3 results
- Ochratoxin A (OTA) - 4 or more results
- Oil content, solvent extraction
- Oil content NIR
- Soybean oil content, NIR
- Protein content, NIR
- Protein NIR
- Trace elements - single element
- Trace elements - each additional element
- Vomitoxin/Deoxynivalenol (DON) - ELISA 4 or more samples
- Genetically modified wheat event MON71200 test
- Soybean GMO event test-PCR-qualitative-1-10 events
- Soybean GMO event test-PCR-qualitative-11 or more events
- Soybean GMO event test-PCR-quantitative-1 event
Additional analysis
An additional quality factor or specification will be provided, other than already reported, as required by the client.
Fee (341)
Service description, standard, and applicationTest weight
A mechanical test to determine the density of grain.
Fee (343)
Service description, standard, and applicationVomitoxin/Deoxynivalenol (DON) - ELISA 1 to 3 samples
Vomitoxin or deoxynivalenol (DON) content is determined following an immunochemical procedure involving the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology. This method is capable of measuring the presence of vomitoxin or DON in cereals at levels of ≥ 0.5 mg/kg (ppm).
Fee (344)
Service description, standard, and applicationBerlese test
A Berlese test is used to detect and identify insect infestations.
Fee (345)
Service description, standard, and applicationAflatoxin, ELISA
Aflatoxin content is determined following an immunochemical procedure involving the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology. This method is capable of measuring aflatoxin in cereals at levels ≥ 1.0 µg/kg (ppb).
Fee (348)
Service description, standard, and applicationGermination energy
Germination is determined following the American Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC) Method Barley-3c.
Fee (349)
Service description, standard, and applicationFalling number
Falling number is determined following the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) International Standard Method 56-81.04. Results are reported on a 14% moisture basis.
Fee (351)
Service description, standard, and applicationOchratoxin A (OTA) - single result
Ochratoxin A (OTA) content is determined using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with fluorescence detection. This method is capable of measuring OTA in cereals at levels ≥ 1.0 µg/kg (ppb).
Fee (353)
Service description, standard, and applicationAmylograph
Amylograph results are determined following the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) International Standard Method 22-10.01. 65 grams of flour and 450 millilitres of distilled water are used with the Brabender amylograph and the pin stirrer. Peak viscosity is reported in Brabender units.
Fee (356)
Service description, standard, and applicationFarinograph
Farinograph results are determined following the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) International Standard Method 54-21.02, following the procedure for constant flour weight using the small (50g) bowl. After milling, flour samples are stored for a minimum of 7 days prior to analysis.
Fee (357)
Service description, standard, and applicationMilling
Wheat is cleaned, scoured and tempered overnight to optimum moisture as described by Dexter and Tipples (1987), Milling 180(7):16, 18-20. All millings at the Canadian Grain Commission’s Grain Research Laboratory are performed in rooms with environmental control maintained at 21ºC and at 60% relative humidity.
Fee (358)
Service description, standard, and applicationProtein, CNA
Combustion nitrogen analysis (CNA) method – protein in grain follows the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) International Standard Method 46-30.01 / Generic Combustion Method for Crude Protein, American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) Official Method Ba 4e-93 (harmonized). Protein content is calculated from total nitrogen and reported on a constant moisture basis. The moisture determination in grain by forced air oven method follows the AACC International Standard Method No. 44-15.02, following the procedure for singe-stage air-oven.
Fee (359)
Service description, standard, and applicationWet gluten content
Wet gluten content is determined for:
White flour following the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) International Standard Method 38-12.02, following the procedure for flour. Results are reported on a 14.0% moisture basis. The wheat sample is milled on a Brabender Quadrumat Senior mill.
Semolina following the AACC International Standard Method 38-12.02, following the procedure for whole meal and reported on a 14.0% moisture basis. The durum sample is milled on an Allis-Chalmers laboratory mill.
Whole Meal following the AACC International Standard Method 38-12.02, following the procedure for whole meal. Results are reported on a 13.5% moisture basis. The whole wheat meal is milled on a Perten 3100 mill.
Fee (360)
Service description, standard, and applicationChlorophyll index - reference method
Chlorophyll content is determined using the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 10519:1997/American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) Ak2-92 Method. Results are provided in milligrams per kilogram.
Fee (361)
Service description, standard, and applicationFatty Acid composition
The fatty acid profile of oil is determined by gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters according to: International Organization for Standardization (ISO) methods 12966-1:2014 Part 1: Guidelines on modern gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters; and ISO 12966-2:2011 Part 2: Preparation of methyl esters of fatty acid.
Fee (362)
Service description, standard, and applicationOil content, pulse NMR spectrometry
The oil and moisture contents of the sample are determined simultaneously using pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) method 10565:1998.
Fee (363)
Service description, standard, and applicationFree Fatty Acids
Free fatty acid content is provided and expressed as a percentage of weight of oleic acid in the extracted oil using method of Ke et al., Analytica Chimica Acta 99:387-391 (1978).
Fee (364)
Service description, standard, and applicationWhole seed analysis
Additional oilseed analysis (e.g. glucosinolates, protein, chlorophyll, oil) performed by method Near-Infrared Reflectance (NIR). For each specified analysis, the instrument is calibrated with the reference analytical method for the analyte using appropriate samples.
Fee (365)
Service description, standard, and application1000 kernel weight
Broken kernels and foreign material are handpicked from a sample to create a cleaned sample. The number of kernels in a 20-gram sample is then counted using an electronic seed counter.
Fee (431)
Service description, standard, and applicationAlveograph - flour
Alveograph results are obtained using the Chopin Alveolab following the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) International Standard Method 54-30.02. Following milling, flour samples are stored for a minimum of 6 days prior to analysis. The wheat sample is milled on a Brabender Quadrumat Senior mill. Alveograms are reported on a 15% moisture basis.
Fee (432)
Service description, standard, and applicationAlveograph - semolina
Alveograph results are obtained using the Chopin Alveolab following the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) International Standard Method 54-30.02. Following milling, semolina samples are stored at room temperature for a minimum of 3 days prior to analysis. The wheat sample is milled on a Allis-Chalmers laboratory mill.
Fee (433)
Service description, standard, and applicationChlorophyll NIR
Chlorophyll content is predicted using Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in reflectance mode. The NIR models were developed and tested using ISO 10519 method, Rapeseed – Determination of chlorophyll content – Spectrometric method. The current model has been validated for chlorophyll content up to 50 mg/kg (ppm). For samples with chlorophyll content greater than 50 mg/kg, results will be reported as > 50 mg/kg.
Fee (434)
Service description, standard, and applicationGenetically modified organisms (GMO) - Roundup Ready® - by ELISA, single sample
The presence of the Roundup Ready® gene in soybeans is determined following an immunochemical procedure involving the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology. Test results are reported as positive or negative at the 0.3% threshold level of detection.
Fee (435)
Service description, standard, and applicationGenetically modified organisms (GMO) - Roundup Ready® - by ELISA, 2 to 4 samples
The presence of the Roundup Ready® gene in soybeans is determined following an immunochemical procedure involving the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology. Test results are reported as positive or negative at the 0.3% threshold level of detection.
Fee (436)
Service description, standard, and applicationGenetically modified organisms (GMO) - Roundup Ready® - by ELISA, 5 or more samples
The presence of the Roundup Ready® gene in soybeans is determined following an immunochemical procedure involving the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology. Test results are reported as positive or negative at the 0.3% threshold level of detection.
Fee (437)
Service description, standard, and applicationTotal glucosinolates
Total glucosinolates content is predicted by Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in reflectance mode.
Fee (438)
Service description, standard, and applicationGluten index
Gluten index is determined for:
White flour following the American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) International Standard Method 38-12.02 and reported on a 14.0% moisture basis. The wheat flour is milled on a Brabender Quadrumat Senior mill.
Whole meal following AACC International Standard Method 38-12.02, following the procedure for whole meal. Results are reported on a 13.5% moisture basis. The whole wheat meal is milled on a Perten 3100 mill.
Fee (439)
Service description, standard, and applicationGlyphosate confirmatory analysis
The glyphosate content of the sample, initially obtained by enyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology, is assessed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
Fee (440)
Service description, standard, and applicationGlyphosate - ELISA single sample
Glyphosate content is determined following an immunochemical procedure involving the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology. This method is capable of measuring glyphosate at levels > 0.3 mg/kg (ppm).
Fee (441)
Service description, standard, and applicationGlyphosate - ELISA 2 to 3 samples
Glyphosate content is determined following an immunochemical procedure involving the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology. This method is capable of measuring glyphosate at levels ≥ 0.3 mg/kg (ppm).
Fee (442)
Service description, standard, and applicationGlyphosate - ELISA 4 or more samples
Glyphosate content is determined following an immunochemical procedure involving the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology. This method is capable of measuring glyphosate at levels ≥ 0.3 mg/kg (ppm).
Fee (443)
Service description, standard, and applicationIodine value
Iodine value of the oil is determined by the American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) recommended practice Cd 1c-85 (re-approved 2009). Iodine value is calculated using the fatty acid composition of the oil following the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Methods 12966-1:2014 and 12966-2:2011.
Fee (444)
Service description, standard, and applicationMalting barley varietal purity
24 TaqMan single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assays are amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from 144 randomly selected barley kernels. Resulting marker profiles are compared with the Canadian Grain Commission’s Grain Research Laboratory reference catalogue for barley varieties registered in Canada.
Fee (445)
Service description, standard, and applicationMoisture test - rapid
Moisture content of whole grain is determined using a Unified Grain Moisture Algorithm (UGMA) moisture meter. Calibrations are developed against applicable reference oven-drying methods.
Fee (446)
Service description, standard, and applicationMoisture test - air oven
Moisture content is determined using approved oven-drying methods.
Fee (447)
Service description, standard, and applicationMycotoxin confirmatory analysis
The mycotoxin content of the sample, initially obtained by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technology or ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with fluorescence detection, is assessed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
Fee (448)
Service description, standard, and applicationOchratoxin A (OTA) - 2 to 3 results
Ochratoxin A (OTA) content is determined using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with fluorescence detection. This method is capable of measuring OTA in cereals at levels ≥ 1.0 µg/kg (ppb).
Fee (449)
Service description, standard, and applicationOchratoxin A (OTA) - 4 or more results
Ochratoxin A (OTA) content is determined using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) with fluorescence detection. This method is capable of measuring OTA in cereals at levels ≥ 1.0 µg/kg (ppb).
Fee (450)
Service description, standard, and applicationOil content, solvent extraction
Oil content of the sample is determined using a modified ISO 659 method: 2009 method - Oilseeds - determination of oil content (reference method). The modification is the incorporation of the Randall modification. ISO659:2009 is the reference method recognized by the Federation of Oils, Seeds and Fats Association (FOSFA).
Fee (451)
Service description, standard, and applicationOil content NIR
Oil content of the sample is determined using Near-Infrared Reflectance (NIR).
Fee (452)
Service description, standard, and applicationSoybean oil content, NIR
Oil content is predicted using Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in transmittance mode. The NIR model is developed and tested with samples extracted with petroleum ether according to a modified ISO 659 reference method. Results are reported on a 12.0% moisture basis.
Fee (453)
Service description, standard, and applicationProtein content, NIR
Protein content is predicted using Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy in transmittance mode. The NIR models were developed and tested with appropriate samples analyzed using the crude protein – combustion method, American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) International Standard Method 46-30.01 / Generic Combustion Method for Crude Protein, American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS) Official Method Ba 4e-93 (harmonized). Results are reported on a constant moisture basis.
Fee (454)
Service description, standard, and applicationProtein NIR
Crude protein content of the sample is determined by method Near-Infrared Reflectance (NIR). With appropriate grain samples, American Oil Chemists’ Society (AOCS) Official Method Ba4e-93 (revised 2011) is used to develop the calibration.
Fee (455)
Service description, standard, and applicationTrace elements - single element
Results obtained by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and could include results for one or multiple elements (cadmium, arsenic, or lead; possibility for other elements upon request) per sample.
Fee (457)
Service description, standard, and applicationTrace elements - each additional element
Results obtained by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and could include results for one or multiple elements (cadmium, arsenic, or lead; possibility for other elements upon request) per sample.
Fee (458)
Service description, standard, and applicationVomitoxin/Deoxynivalenol (DON) - ELISA 4 or more samples
Vomitoxin or deoxynivalenol (DON) content is determined following an immunochemical procedure involving the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This method is capable of measuring the presence of vomitoxin or DON in cereals at levels of > 0.5 mg/kg (ppm).
Fee (459)
Service description, standard, and applicationGenetically modified wheat event MON71200 test
Testing of official wheat samples for the presence of MON71200 genetically modified wheat event.
Fee (531)
Service description, standard, and applicationSoybean GMO event test-PCR-qualitative-1-10 events
Testing of submitted soybean cargo samples for the presence of GMO events using qualitative PCR-based method.
Fee (571)
Service description, standard, and applicationSoybean GMO event test-PCR-qualitative-11 or more events
Testing of submitted soybean cargo samples for the presence of GMO events using qualitative PCR-based method.
Fee (572)
Service description, standard, and applicationSoybean GMO event test-PCR-quantitative-1 event
Testing of submitted soybean cargo samples for the presence of GMO events using quantitative PCR-based method.
Fee (581)
Service description, standard, and application