Package Includes Instrumentation and Application to Conform with Current U.S. FDA Methodology to Address Melamine Adulteration of Dairy Products WALTHAM, Mass. – PerkinElmer Life and Analytical Sciences, a global leader in application-focused measurement and analysis solutions, today announced that its analyzer using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) for the determination of melamine adulteration in protein-based foods will be highlighted at analytica China, Sept. 23-25 (Booth # 4402). PerkinElmer’s Melamine Analyzer includes all instrumentation, consumables and applications resources needed to screen for melamine contamination in protein-based foods including baby formula, dairy products and pet food. Recently, melamine has been found in milk powder used in baby formula and other dairy products. The same analytical solution PerkinElmer first introduced in October 2007 in response to findings of melamine in pet food is applicable to this broader range of protein-based foods. “With this system, laboratories can be confident that the analysis they are running is accurate and conforms to the most recent guideline from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for screening of wheat gluten, rice protein, corn gluten and soy protein,” said Richard Begley, Ph.D., president, Analytical Sciences, PerkinElmer. “This solution is part of PerkinElmer’s EcoAnalytix™ initiative, which addresses the global imperatives of food and consumer product safety, water quality and sustainable energy development to create a healthy and safe environment.” PerkinElmer will also be discussing melamine analysis during a presentation at the analytica China exhibitor forum. The speech, “Improve Quality of Life, Global & Human Health and Safety,” will take place on September 23rd at 1:00PM at the forum in the exhibition hall. The method for the Melamine Analyzer was developed in collaboration with Flora Research Laboratories, an FDA and Drug Enforcement Agency registered independent testing laboratory specializing in natural products. Begley noted that PerkinElmer was the first analytical solutions provider to offer a system to analyze melamine using GC/MS technology. Melamine is a nitrogen-rich industrial chemical that became well-known in North America in 2007 after its presence in wheat gluten was linked with renal failure in dogs and cats. The FDA quickly issued a standard test method for the analysis of melamine in protein materials using GC/MS. The Melamine Analyzer includes a Clarus® 600 T GC/MS with autosampler and TurboMass™ GC/MS software, all consumables needed for analysis and an application CD for rapid ramp-up. The application CD includes methods and sample data, a library of derivatized compounds spectra of melamine and related compounds, a melamine application guidebook and an application note that describes the analytical method in detail. Due to the high financial and health risks posed by the presence of melamine, many data quality checks (QC) are necessary to confirm results. In addition to high and low-level standards, the QC needed for this method includes a solvent blank, analysis of pyridine solvent and derivatization reagent, a method blank, un-spiked solvent carried through the extraction process and a matrix-spike sample at both the low and high levels.