PT on Metals: Matrix Variety is the Challenge for Laboratories

The Critical Relevance of Metals in the Agri-Food Sector

Metals and trace elements remain one of the most common and critical analysis categories in the agri-food sector, involving an infinite variety of different matrices. For an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, demonstrating competence and accuracy on these analytes is essential to guarantee consumer safety and the reliability of results.

Their presence in food is a real problem due to the potential for long-term toxicity and accumulation in the body, with significant harmful effects. Their accumulation in the human body can, over time, cause significant harmful effects as they interfere with normal cell metabolism to the point of hindering the proper performance of vital functions. Regulation (EU) 2023/915 sets maximum levels for key metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic in a wide range of foods, requiring constant and precise monitoring.

The Test Veritas Proposal

To address this evolving challenge, Test Veritas is expanding its range of Proficiency Tests, introducing important new additions to the 2026 program. Alongside these important new additions, we are also re-proposing the iconic PTs and established matrices that we offer every year, ensuring the most complete analytical coverage.

The new interlaboratory circuits have been designed to tackle matrix complexity and the need for precise contaminant quantification. This cyclical nature is fundamental, allowing laboratories to maintain constant surveillance over a wide range of matrices, providing a reliable point of reference without having to source them elsewhere. The breadth of our analytical coverage is supported by the continuous feedback and requests we receive from our participants.

ROUND OF OCTOBER 2026

• Deadline for online orders: September 1st 2026
• Shipping Date: October 19th 2026
• Price: Each PT in the Metals line costs €261.00. Should a larger quantity of material be required, it will be possible to purchase additional materials at a reduced cost.

• Test Material: infant formula (powdered milk), 1 sample x 40g, spiked/incurred.
• MULTICONTAMINATED PT: Aluminum, total arsenic, lead, cadmium, chromium, iron, iodine, copper, manganese, nickel, total mercury, selenium, thallium, zinc. ALL MOLECULES WILL BE PRESENT.
• Indicative concentrations: to be defined

• Test Material: Olive oil, 1 sample x 100ml, spiked/incurred.
• MULTICONTAMINATED PT: arsenic, lead and copper. ALL MOLECULES WILL BE PRESENT.
• Indicative concentrations: to be defined

• Test Material: potato, 1 sample x 50g, spiked/incurred.
• MULTICONTAMINATED PT: mercury, lead, cadmium e nickel. ALL MOLECULES WILL BE PRESENT.
• Indicative concentrations: to be defined

• Test Material: white table salt, 1 sample x 40g, spiked/incurred.
• MULTICONTAMINATED PT: cadmium, lead, arsenic (total), iron, nickel, mercury, copper, iodium. ALL MOLECULES WILL BE PRESENT.
• Indicative concentrations:
  • Pb, Cd, As, Ni, Hg < 400ppb
  • Fe, Cu < 4ppm
  • I: to be defined

• Test Material: rice powder, 1 sample x 50g, spiked/incurred.
• MULTICONTAMINATED PT: arsenic (total), cadmium, copper, iron, lead, mercury (total), molybdenum, nickel, selenium, zinc. ALL MOLECULES WILL BE PRESENT.
• Indicative concentrations:
  • Pb, Hg, MetHg, Tl < 300ppb
  • Cr, Ni, Cd < 2ppm
  • As, I, Cu, Mn, Se < 13ppm
  • Al, Zn < 220ppm

• Test Material: light honey, 1 sample x 40g, spiked/incurred.
• MULTICONTAMINATED PT: lead and cadmium. ALL MOLECULES WILL BE PRESENT.
• Indicative concentrations:
  • Cd, Pb < 300ppb

• Test Material: spinach, 1 sample x 50g, spiked/incurred.
• MULTICONTAMINATED PT: mercury, lead, cadmium, nickel and arsenic. ALL MOLECULES WILL BE PRESENT.
• Indicative concentrations:
  • Cd, Pb, Hg < 300ppb;
  • Ni, As < 1ppm

• Test Material: eggs, 1 sample x 40g, spiked/incurred.
• MULTICONTAMINATED PT: mercury (total), lead, cadmium and arsenic (total). ALL MOLECULES WILL BE PRESENT.
• Indicative concentrations:
  • Cd < 300ppb
  • Pb < 1ppm;
  • As, Hg < 2ppm

• Test Material: bovine liver, 1 sample x 50g, spiked.
• MULTICONTAMINATED PT: arsenic (total), cadmium, crhromium, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury (total), nickel, selenium, zinc. ALL MOLECULES WILL BE PRESENT.
• Indicative concentrations:
  • As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Hg, Ni < 1ppm
  • Mn, Se, Zn < 10ppm

• Test Material: bovine muscle, 1 sample x 40g, spiked/incurred.
• MULTICONTAMINATED PT: mercury, lead, cadmium and arsenic. ALL MOLECULES WILL BE PRESENT.
• Indicative concentrations:
  • Cd < 300ppb
  • Pb < 1ppm
  • As, Hg < 2ppm

• Test Material: fish, 1 sample x 50g, spiked/incurred.
• MULTICONTAMINATED PT: mercury (total), methyilmercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic (total), chromium. ALL MOLECULES WILL BE PRESENT.
• Indicative concentrations:
  • Cd < 300ppb
  • Pb < 1ppm
  • As, Hg < 2ppm

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IF YOU ARE NOT YET CONVINCED…

• Convenience Doubles with Us! For all Progetto Trieste PTs, you can submit 2 sets of results: with a single registration, you will receive the evaluation for 2 laboratory technicians or 2 analytical methods directly in the Final Report.
• The assigned value is even more reliable thanks to the high stability of our Test Materials. For delicate matrices, they are supplied in a lyophilized form (to be analyzed after reconstitution) to guarantee their stability even for long shipments. In this way, every participant, regardless of their country of origin, will be sure to receive the sample under the exact same conditions as the other participants.
• SAVE ON SHIPPING COSTS IN OCTOBER! Progetto Trieste – Metals PTs are scheduled for the October 2026 round. PTs from other lines are also planned for the same round: Progetto Trieste – Pesticide Residues, Progetto Trieste – Mycotoxins, and Progetto Trieste – Additives. Order as many PTs as you want among those shipped on the same day: the shipping cost does not change!

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DOUBLE/TRIPLE COVERAGE, MAXIMUM SAVINGS!

Take advantage of our offers on the Metals line now:

• By purchasing 1 PT for Metals, you will have the possibility to purchase a second PT in the same line with 50% discount!
• By purchasing 2 PTs for Metals at list price, the third PT for Metals will be FREE!!
  
  This is the simplest and most economical way to demonstrate comprehensive competence in metal analysis. Contact us to receive your DISCOUNT CODE! Discount codes cannot be combined with other promotions.

Verify your accuracy on the most delicate matrices now!