Botanical Resources Australia Pty Ltd

Laboratory Services

 Botanical Resources Australia offers a range of laboratory services from its laboratory in Ulverstone, Tasmania.  The lab has been analysing pyrethrum since 1987, with NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities Australia)* accreditation held for several sampling and analysis techniques.  Expertise gained through intensive laboratory work on pyrethrum analysis can be transferred to a diversity of materials.  The laboratory is keen to provide efficient, competitive and customer focused analytical services to customers, and welcomes enquiries.
The BRA laboratory operates as a fit-for-purpose pyrethrum laboratory, staffed by a team of five full time, highly experienced analysts with backgrounds in a diverse range of analytical experiences (from health to environmental to agricultural).  Staff numbers may more than double at peak periods.
The laboratory is equipped with a range of advanced analytical equipment including High Performance Liquid Chromatographs (HPLCs) - using normal and reverse-phase systems, Gas Chromatograph (GC), UV-Visible Spectrophotometer, Near-Infrared Spectrophotometer (NIR) and an Infra-red Spectrophotometer.  The laboratory can also perform a range of wet chemical techniques.  For sample preparation, the purpose built grinding room houses a variety of cutting mills, grinders and sample dividers for dealing with plant materials.
The lab spends a large amount of its time carrying out pyrethrum assays using HPLC and GC as well as wet chemical techniques.  The techniques developed for pyrethrum can be applied to a variety of plant materials, such as medicinal herbs.  The lab conducts on-going testing for stability of commercial pyrethrum-based products, testing of products' pyrethrum content for registration and R&D purposes as well as pyrethrum residue, analysis of agricultural products such as mushrooms, onions and nuts.  The lab has worked on rotenone, echinacea, feverfew, St John's wort, chamomile, native pepperberry and boronia, just to name a few.  
BRA’s chemists can run a range of research trials for diverse plant products and provide comprehensive reporting on analytical activities.
The laboratory maintains NATA accreditation for analysis of pyrethrins and piperonyl butoxide, as well as for analysing wax and gum contents of plant extracts, moisture testing of plant material, flashpoint (flammability) testing and sampling methods.
The laboratory is actively involved in ensuring that BRA continues to supply quality pyrethrum based products through its quality activities – NATA accreditation assists in ensuring confidence in analytical results – and the laboratory functions as the Quality Unit for BRA Manufacturing’s GMP activities.
BRA laboratories welcome enquiries on developing new and specific chemical techniques for the analysis of emerging crops and plant extracts.

*Accredited with NATA as ISO / IEC 17025 compliant.