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Food and Agriculture Laboratory

The Food and Agriculture Laboratory offers comprehensive, high-quality testing services for a broad range of food and agricultural products. With over 30 years of experience, it meets customer needs for testing, timelines, and product requirements.

Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by SANAS for over 30 parameters, the lab employs standard methodologies (KS, EAS, ISO, EN, BS, AOAC) and has expertise in developing and validating tailored analytical methods.

It also provides EAC Proficiency Testing and inter-laboratory comparisons for cereals, animal feed, tea, UHT milk, and other matrices. Annually, its team of 20 analysts processes over 15,000 samples for various clients, including KEBS, government agencies, research institutions, and private industries across Kenya and beyond.

Molecular Biology Laboratory

Specializes in proteomics and nucleic acid analysis for food, feed, and organic products. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, the lab offers high-throughput nucleic acid extraction with MagMAX technology. Its testing services include qualitative and quantitative GMO screening, meat speciation, molecular diagnosis of plant pathogens, and DNA fingerprinting of rice. These advanced capabilities position the lab as a leader in molecular biology analysis.

Polymer Laboratory

The Physical Testing section covers a wide range of standardized methods for testing flexible materials, polymers, composites, and components across various industries. Using modern laboratory equipment, we perform physical-mechanical tests to determine material properties such as strength, extension, buckling, and abrasive wear. We also conduct specialized investigations like stick-slip behavior analysis. Additionally, we offer fastness and ageing tests, including heat/cold ageing and accelerated ageing simulations under constant or changing climate conditions.
Guided by the Kyoto Protocol and Kenyan air pollution regulations, the Gas Analysis section provides reference gas mixtures, measurement services, and calibration to pharmaceutical and industrial clients.
Equipped with advanced technology, we offer comprehensive gas testing, including:

• Determination of oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide in gas mixtures
• Calibration of alcohol breath analysers and air quality monitors
• Indoor air quality monitoring and stack emission assessments

Electrical Laboratory

Comprises two subunits: Appliances/Accessories and Starter Battery Units. This laboratory conducts tests on a variety of household electrical and electronic appliances, as well as electrical materials used in domestic, commercial, automotive, and power utility installations. Products tested include extension cables, lamps, electric irons, fridges, cookers, PVC conduits, switchgear, speed limiters, starter batteries, auto lamps, auto cables, vehicle security systems, overhead conductors, armoured cables, and insulators.
The laboratory performs performance and safety tests on these products, such as assessing the initial lifespan of lamps, power ratings of cookers, and conductor resistance of cables. Additionally, the lab tests speed limiters, supporting the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) in fulfilling its regulatory mandate.

Mechanical Destructive Laboratory

Provides a variety of testing services, including pre-compliance testing, new product development support for innovation, full compliance testing, and gap analysis. Its influence extends across sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, energy, and construction. The laboratory tests a wide range of products, categorized as follows:

• Steel Products: Structural and non-structural steel, window and door fittings, fencing products, gabion boxes, and steel tanks.
• Plastic Products: Polymeric pipes (PE, PP, PVC), kitchenware, containers, basins, buckets, and water storage tanks.
• Automotive Products: Tyres, tubes, filters, and brake pads.
• Energy Efficiency Products: Domestic and commercial cooking gas appliances, gas meters, fireless cooker baskets, and insulated products.
• Access Equipment: Ladders and scaffolds.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Hygiene Products: Impact protection items like helmets and facial protection gear such as face shields.
• Furniture: Domestic, commercial, and office furniture.
• Glass, Enamel, and Earthenware Products: Bottles and tableware.
• Small Tools and Office Accessories: Pliers, spanners, hammers, pangas, spades, hoes, staples, scissors, perforators, and staplers.

Mechanical Non-destructive Testing (NDT)

Is a critical interdisciplinary field that ensures the reliability and cost-effectiveness of structural components and systems. NDT technicians and engineers design tests to identify and assess material conditions and flaws, measuring not just defects but also their size, shape, and orientation. This method allows for damage-free inspections, balancing quality control with cost efficiency. NDT plays a vital role in quality control during manufacturing, enhancing operational safety and preventing forced shutdowns through routine inspections. Personnel are trained and certified to Level 2 in accordance with ISO 9712:2005 standards for NDT personnel qualification.

NDT methods for inspection:

1. Penetrant Testing
2. Magnetic Particle Testing
3. Radiography
4. Ultrasonic Testing

Civil Laboratory

Specializes in testing raw and finished building products for the construction industry, assessing their strength, serviceability, and durability according to established standards. The laboratory conducts destructive tests on a variety of products, including:\

• Finished Concrete Products: Road kerbs and channels, concrete cubes, fencing posts, paving blocks, paving slabs, inverted block drains, side slabs, and concrete blocks.
• Finished Wood Products: Flush doors, cabinets, divan beds, and parquet panels.
• Cement and Bitumen
• Concrete/Mortar Admixtures
• Adhesives: Tile grout, tile adhesives, and wood glue.
• Roofing Products: Prepainted and galvanized roofing, stone-coated roofing, bituminous roofing felt, and roofing nails.
• Ceramic Products: Tiles, sinks, and cisterns.

Additionally, the laboratory performs non-destructive tests, such as the rebound hammer test, on concrete products to evaluate their integrity without causing damage.

Textile Engineering Laboratory

Specializes in testing textiles and textile-related products. The laboratory is equipped with advanced technology and staffed by skilled professionals who can test textile raw materials, intermediate products, and finished goods.

We perform a variety of physical and chemical tests on fibres, single and ply yarns, twines, ropes, woven and knitted fabrics, nonwovens, medical textiles, and ready-made textiles. Testing is primarily conducted according to Kenya, EAC, and ISO standards. Additional services offered include industrial attachment training, research facilities, and proficiency testing within the EAC region.

Organic Chemistry Laboratory

The laboratory tests a variety of products, including, but not limited to, soaps (such as bathing soaps, toilet soap, and washing bars), liquid detergents (like dishwashing and general-purpose detergents), hair products (including hair relaxers, shampoos, and conditioners), and petroleum products (such as petrol, diesel, transmission fluid, grease, and lubricants). These tests are conducted using state-of-the-art equipment and accredited methods (KS, EAS, ASTM). Additionally, the laboratory offers specialized calibration services for gas chromatographs, providing calibration standards for substances like ethanol, methanol, and higher alcohols.

Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory

One of the chemistry laboratories within the Testing Department, comprising three sections: Wet Chemistry, Electrochemical, and Spectrometry. The laboratory has participated in international comparisons since 2009. Based on the results from these comparisons, the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory published its first Calibration and Measurement Capability (CMC) in 2015. Another goal of the laboratory is to engage in activities and studies that promote awareness of chemical metrology in the country and facilitate knowledge transfer to secondary laboratories, enhancing the quality of their measurements.

The various products tested include, but not limited to:

• • Food products (water, sugar, salt, beverages, confectionery, flour etc)
  • Steel (cast iron, stainless steel, low alloy steel etc)
  • Aluminium products (cooking pots, sheets etc)
  • Plastics (toys, buckets, food storing containers etc)
  • Animal feeds and fertilizers
  • Cement and lime samples
  • Polymer products (paints, inks, syringes etc)