SON Laboratory Services

The laboratories perform Physico-Chemical and Microbiological tests on food samples in the following sub-laboratories:

• Food Microbiology Testing Laboratory.
• Food Physio-Chemical Testing Laboratory.
• Micronutrients Laboratory.
• Mycotoxin Laboratory.
• Additive Laboratory.
• Pesticide Residue Laboratory.
• Alcohol and Non-Alcoholic Laboratory.
• Tobacco Laboratory.
• Water Laboratory.

Chemical characteristics of products are determined in this group of laboratories comprising:

• Pesticides/insecticides, fertilizer testing laboratory.
• Petroleum & Petrochemical testing laboratory.
• Paints testing laboratory.
• Soap and detergent testing laboratory.
• Cosmetic testing laboratory.
• Packaging testing laboratory.
• Colour Chemistry testing laboratory.
• Explosives/matches/candles testing laboratory
• Radioactive Materials testing
• Foam testing laboratory
• Plastic/condom laboratory
• Heavy mental laboratory.

Paint Laboratory
The following parameters are accredited in the paint laboratory

• Lead content
• Resistance to Wet Abrasion
• Specular Gloss (%)
• Non-Volatile Matter (%)

The Electrical/Electronic laboratory checks compliance and safety of imported electrical/electronic equipment/devices, as well as those manufactured locally. A wide range of tests for electrical appliances are carried out in the laboratory in line with the relevant NIS and other applicable international standards.

• Cable Laboratory – Electric PVC cable, Armored cable, etc.
• ICT Laboratory – Phone chargers, Mobile phones, Computers, etc.
• Lighting Laboratory – Bulbs, LEDs, Lighting panels, etc.
• Electrical Accessories Laboratory – Sockets, Switches, Change-over, etc.
• Metering Laboratory – Meters.
• Battery Laboratory – Dry-cell Batteries, Inverter Batteries, Car batteries, etc.
• Generator Laboratory – Generator.
• Refrigerator Laboratory – Fridge, Deep Freezers, Water Dispensers, etc.
• Domestic Laboratory – Pressing Iron, Stabilizers, Blenders, Inverters, etc.

The accredited parameter in electrical laboratory

• Cables.

The laboratory carries out engineering tests in the following areas:

• Mechanical Engineering tests: tensile, impact, complete metallographic, chemical
  analysis of metals etc.
• Civil engineering test: comprehensive test for cement, wood and masonry units
  etc.
• The cement testing laboratory is in the process of getting accredited in the testing
  of cement.

The Textile and leather laboratory is equipped to carry out comprehensive analysis of Textile and leather products. Parameters tested in products include:

• Textile-Colour fastness, span length, fibre maturity, ash contents of cotton fiber, tensile strength, texture, crump, regularity, density, elongation at break point, dry cleaning, washing, light fastness, perspiration, pile heights, tearing strength etc.
• Leather- flex resistance, tensile strength, shrinkage, water absorbency and permeability, chemical and physical tests associated with leather products (all categories of leather products)

It is pertinent to state that most of SON laboratories have undergone accreditation the requirement of ISO 17025:2017 by the world-renowned body the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation(a2la)

• Accredited in 2014 to ISO/ IEC 17025: 2017.
• Accreditation by American Association of Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA).
• A2LA has mutual recognition with ILAC.
• Accredited part of the Lab is located in SON Operational Headquarters at Lekki, Lagos.
• The Lab goes through surveillance audit of its scope once a year

Food parameters accredited in the food laboratories include:

• Ash in Foods
• Carbohydrate.
• Crude Fiber.
• Fat Content.
• Moisture.
• Protein.
• Heavy Metals (Cadmium).
• Aerobic Plate Count.
• Coagulase Positive Staphylococcus.
• Coliform Count.
• Enterobacteriaceae.
• Escherichia coli.
• Yeast and Mould.
• Listeria monocytogenes.
• Salmonella.
• Iodine in iodized salt
• Vitamin A (Retinol) in Foods (Flour, Semolina & Sugar)
• Vitamin A (Retinol) in Edible Oil
• Vitamin A in Margarine