At your service
DTS Food Laboratories (the trading name of Dairy Technical Services Limited) is committed to providing the independent, timely and accurate analytical services necessary to meet your food safety needs.
Owned by members of the food industry, the company has done so most efficiently and reliably for more than 50 years, initially for the dairy industry, and always demonstrating competitive pricing.
A reputation for precision and quality
Since its establishment in 1954, the company’s staff has taken pride in the quality of its services and the protocols that support DTS’s operations.
Today, DTS Food Laboratories has expertise in more than 1000 active analytical methods and access to other methodologies through its strategic partnerships.
As a result, DTS can provide virtually any testing you require using Australian Standard Test Methods, customer developed analytical methods or fully validated in-house methodologies designed and developed to the highest standards.
To the company’s credit, there has been no case of product recall subsequent to clearance of the product by DTS Food Laboratories - proof of the company’s constant and thorough attention to detail.
This is also reflected in DTS’s maintenance of continuous NATA accreditation since 1961 and in the provision of expert technical assessors by DTS to NATA in a broad range of testing fields.
Efficient Delivery of Results
DTS Food Laboratories is committed to customer service. Operating seven days a week, the laboratories ensure samples requiring microbiological testing are processed on the day of receipt.
The progress of all samples can be tracked to completion via a user-friendly web-enabled service.
For your convenience, DTS Food Laboratories can deliver your test results in a variety of formats from a specially tailored LIMS interface through to email, facsimile or hardcopy. From late 2006, a web interface option will also be available for your use.
Efficient Sample Turnaround
While DTS’s seven days a week operations ensure samples requiring microbiological testing begin processing on the day of receipt, two additional priority services are offered for non-biological testing:Emergency Service
Here samples have top priority with analysis beginning as soon as the sample is received. The availability of results is then determined by the time taken to physically carry out the test.Urgent Service
This service ensures that samples are prioritised to allow analysis to commence as soon as possible. The result can generally be expected in 2-3 days of sample receipt, test duration permitting.Impressive testing capabilities and services
Today, as one of Australia’s largest independent food testing laboratories, DTS Food Laboratories is steadily expanding its microbiological, chemical and physical analytical capabilities.
All contribute to ensuring the delivery of accurate and timely results, whatever aspect of the food industry is your concern - from raw materials to finished products.
DTS offers testing services to such food manufacturing industries as meat, dairy, confectionery, beverage and allied industries while the company also can provide monitoring of packaging materials, water and effluents.
Please select a service, from the list to the left, to read more.
Microbiology testing
The recent doubling in its facility size has enabled DTS Food Laboratories to offer a state-of-the-art microbiological laboratory. The facility provides separate sample preparation and general testing such as SPC, Coli, Ecoli, Yeast and Moulds as well as pathogen testing.
The pathogen laboratory offers standard cultural techniques as well as rapid methods including Vidas and BAX (PCR) for Salmonella, Listeria and E.Sakazakii
Chemistry and Residue testing
DTS provides a broad range of Chemistry and Instrumental services to support your food business.
Standard Fat, Protein, Moisture and Ash testing are performed together with more specific analysis for such aspects as Nutritional Panels, Vitamins, Preservatives, Minerals, Dietary Fibre, Carbohydrates and Sugars. The laboratory also performs residue tests for Heavy Metals, Pesticides and Aflatoxins in food and dairy products.
Nutritional testing
One of the major global trends driving innovation across the Food Industry is the relationship between Health, Wellness and Nutrition. This has translated into rapid growth across many sectors in the retail area.
DTS Food Laboratories recognizes this trend and are excited to announce our increasing emphasis on Nutritional Testing Services to support our customers and the industry alike.
Our recent expansion of the Vitamin testing range supported by additional equipment further underlines our commitment to providing a comprehensive testing service as well as achieving our vision of being the ‘Fastest accurate provider of testing services’
HEALTH AND NUTRITION TESTING SERVICES
- Compositional Analysis
- Standard Nutritional Panel
- Nutritional Panel with Dietary Fibre
- Heart Tick, Woolworths and Coles Nutritional Panels
- Export Nutritional Panels
- Fatty Acid Profiles
- Sugars
- Dietary Fibre
- Oligosaccharides
- Omega 3, 6 Fatty Acids
- Cholesterol
- Fats
- Saturated, Monounsaturated, Polyunsaturated, Trans
- Minerals
- Sodium, Pottasium, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Copper, Iron, Phosphorus, Manganese, Chloride, Selenium, Chromium, Molybdenum
- Vitamins
- A, D3, E, C, K1, B1, B2, B6, B12, Biotin (B7), Folic Acid (B9), Niacin (B3), Pantothenic Acid (B5).
- Specialty Proteins
- Lactoferrin, Lactoperoxidase, IgG, Glycomacropeptide
- Preservative and Additive testing
- Label compliance
- Probiotics
Our comprehensive testing service is further backed up by ‘DTS Live’ which allows secure internet access to results, history, reporting and result charting. Please contact our Client Services Team to discuss your requirements.
Physical testing
Sensory evaluations for taints, storage trials, head space analysis, photo microscopy, particle/mesh size, viscosity measurements, product functionality tests, foreign body identification and the like are all offered by DTS Food Laboratories.
Milk Analytical Services
With a history of specialisation in the Australian Dairy Industry's drive to improve milk yield and quality, DTS is the leader in the provision of Farmer Payment Testing Services and in Herd Improvement Program testing.
Equipment
DTS has a continuing commitment to the installation of equipment that provides faster results, reduced costs and greater reliability. The expansion of the micro laboratory with its strong emphasis on pathogen testing has seen it equipped with the lastest in automated testing equipment including:
Automated immunoassay systems such as Flextec and Vidas machines for general pathogen work
For high speed confirmation of Listeria (and Listeria monocytogenes), Salmonella and Ecoli:0157 the BAX® detection system is employed
The BAX® system breaks down samples at the genetic level, using the power of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection
These capabilities are supported by PC1, PC2 and PC3 laboratory spaces.
Complementing the Micro equipment is the well equipped Chemistry and Instrumental Department that includes:
- Gas Liquid Chromomatographs (GLC)
- High Performance Liquid Chromatographs (HPLC)
- Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy(ICP-OES)
- Flame and furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer
- UV - Visible Spectrophotometer
- Dumas Nitrogen Analyser (for proteins)
- Automated Kjeldhal Equipment
Other Services
DTS Food Laboratories provides a number of other services including:
- Regulatory Compliance support
- In-house production sampling
- Quality Assurance Programs support
- Laboratory Audits
- General Consultation
- Instrument Calibration
- Customers’ laboratory staff training
Significant Accreditation
DTS has had continuous NATA accreditation in the fields of chemistry and microbiological testing since 1961 - Accreditation Number 345. Please refer to the NATA website at www.nata.asn.au for the scope of this accreditation. Other DTS official recognition includes -
- ISO 17025 accreditation
- AQIS accreditation for the analysis and storage of products under quarantine
- Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare accreditation
- Sri Lankan Standard Institution recognition
- Victorian Dried Fruits Industry recognition
Contact us
Should you require information on any aspect of our services, please contact us by phone, fax or email.
DTS Food Laboratories
5/352 Macaulay RoadKensington Vic Australia 3031
Telephone 03 8371 7600
Facsimile 03 9372 2013
Email: sales@dtsfoodlabs.com.au
Download a sample submission form (PDF)
Download a sample submission form (MS-Word)
DTS Analytical Services are Provided Subject to these Term and Conditions
Links
Dairy Food Safety Victoria
HACCP Cleaning Australia
Solutions in food
Food Standards Australia New Zealand