Combustion By-Product Analysis
Published: April 14th, 2025
Revised: April 14th, 2025
Sporometrics now offers AIHA-accredited Combustion By-Product Analysis to assess fire and smoke impact. Using ASTM D6602-13 guidelines, our analysis provides reliable, science-backed data to guide restoration decisions. You can rely on our expertise for identification and quantification of combustion byproducts, differentiating between soot, char, and ash.
Incomplete combustion of organic matter generates by-products such as soot, ash, and char, recognizable as fine powdery dust, embers, debris, and destroyed materials after a fire. Soot, however, can also present as dark discolouration on aged buildings, exhaust plumes from diesel-powered vehicles, and gunk inside engines. Soot is sometimes referred to as carbon black because of its colour, but carbon black is a different material that is produced commercially under controlled conditions and utilized as an ingredient in several products. Burning includes various sources such as fossil fuels, wood fireplaces, vehicles, wildfires, agricultural clearing, and waste destruction. Soot has a varying amount of carbon and organic compounds, while ash is mainly inorganic, and char is linked to burnt wood and damaged building materials. Testing is often necessary to assess contamination, identify the source of soot or other substances, demonstrate restoration and cleaning efficacy, investigate arson and forensics, and settle insurance claims.
This test uses a combination of light microscopy and differential interference microscopy to characterize particle morphology and provide presumptive identification of combustion particulate matter for samples collected as tape lifts and bulk materials, or from air samples.
Laboratory code: SOOT
Service options
CBC Marketplace Consumer Mask Testing
Published: November 13th, 2020
Revised: February 23rd, 2023
Originally aired November 13 2020 on CBC Marketplace
Wearing a mask is critical to reducing the spread of COVID-19, but rigorous tests conducted on behalf of CBC’s Marketplace found that while some work very well, others offer little protection from the particles that transmit the novel coronavirus. One type of mask can even spread those particles to others
Sporometrics own Dr. James Scott joined the CBC Marketplace investigators to test out various types of masks based on materials, thickness, and whether masks with vents contained an added advantage. Find out which ones passed the test and which ones you should avoid using here
Sporometrics receives Drug Establishment Licence
Published: January 30th, 2019
Revised: March 30th, 2020
In 2017, Sporometrics was issued a Drug Establishment License (DEL) by Health Canada, in accordance to the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations (Division 1). The license enables us to test pharmaceutical products including hard surface disinfectants and hand sanitizers. Health Canada conducts periodic inspections of our facility and operations to ensure our adherence with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
GMP Services
Accreditation for qPCR
Published: June 2nd, 2017
Revised: October 28th, 2024
Sporometrics is now accredited for Molecular methods!
We are pleased to announce accreditation for two new qPCR methods: Legionella pneumophila by qPCR and Mycobacterium chimaera by qPCR. Molecular methods represent the state of the art in microbiological forensic analysis and can provide results much faster than traditional methods.
This accreditation represents the single most comprehensive and widely recognized international credential in the performance of environmental microbiological laboratory analyses of a range of matrices from the built environment.
Our Technical Manager, Michael Saleh, played a key role in developing the EMLAP PCR Accreditation Field of Testing at AIHA LAP, LLC and conducted training for volunteers and site assessors. Check out the August 2017 issue of the Synergist for more information about this new field of molecular testing.
Our dedication to the ongoing and rigorous quality assurance practices mandated by this accreditation represents our continued commitment to you and your clients. We thank you for your business and value your suggestions as we continue to improve the quality of our services.
Agritech Trade Mission to Brazil
Published: March 28th, 2017
Revised: January 30th, 2019
Sporometrics was selected to participate in the Canadian AgriTech Mission to Brazil led by Global Affairs Canada and NRC-IRAP. The Mission has been organized by Global Affairs Canada (GAC) through the Consulate General of Canada in São Paulo and the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). The goals are to establish industrial R&D collaboration and co-development opportunities in the AgriTech sector between Canadian and Brazilian companies leading to future commercial benefits for Canada and Brazil. The Mission will take place on the margins of the “AgriShow Ribeirão” (www.agrishow.com.br), the largest trade event in Latin America for farm equipment and technologies.
Target contacts will include senior executives, managers, investors, government representatives, service providers, research centres/universities and commercial partners. The Mission will focus on establishing strategic contacts, generating business through meetings and promoting networking tackling priority areas such as Automation of the agriculture value-chain; precision agriculture technologies; management (of the farm & production); traceability (livestock, grains, fruits); grains handling and storage management technologies; pest control; crop monitoring, soil analysis.
The mission will comprise briefings, networking events with the local AgriTech and agriculture community, and partnership development one-on-one meeting sessions with Brazilian counterparts. This mission will provide Canadian companies with a unique opportunity to establish a personal relationship with key Brazilian business counterparts, which is required for doing business in Brazil and will enable further collaboration, co-development and business in the near future.
