ACTA Laboratories, Inc. is a cGMP FDA Registered Testing Laboratory that performs ICP-MS analyses on Pharmaceutical APIs (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) and Drug Products. ACTA can follow USP, BP, JP, and EP methods or develop methods of analysis for your API or Drug Product. ACTA can perform Method Validation and Verification to meet strict FDA regulatory requirements.

ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry) is an analytical technique that analyzes for metals in solution at concentrations as low as ppb levels (part per billion or nanogram / mL) in solution. The metals must be in solution (typically dissolved in acid) for analysis. An inductively coupled plasma is a plasma that is ionized (energized) by inductively heating the gas with an electromagnetic coil, and contains enough ions and electrons to make the gas conductive. The plasma is sustained in a torch with argon gas. Most metals end up as single charged ions in the plasma. These ions are then pulled by vacuum into a mass spectrum detector. Since each metal has unique atomic masses, the number of ions detected at a particular mass will be proportional to the concentration of that specific metal. Comparison of the detector response for an unknown to that of a known standard (known concentration of a pure metal) can determine the concentration present in the unknown.

If you would like to discuss any ICP-MS analysis needs, please contact ACTA Laboratories, Inc. at 949-595-0641 or info@actalabs.com