NASA appoints us as a Quality Assured Reference Laboratory – yet again

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has appointed us as a Quality Assured Reference Laboratory for the fourth time in a row. The designation was done in the SeaWiFS* HPLC* pigment analysis inter-comparison arranged by NASA.

Our appointment by NASA confirms that our pigment laboratory continues to perform ‘state-of-the-art’ phytoplankton pigment analyses. It also furthers our recognition in this area – we are already accredited by The Danish Accreditation and Metrology Fund (DANAK).

Pigment analysis by HPLC has proven useful when determining the spatial and temporal variation of phytoplankton populations in monitoring programs and baseline studies. The pigment analysis method is precise, objective and much faster than microscopy. When applying the HPLC method in combination with fast screening of the samples in a microscope, the significant algal species present can be determined as shown in the example below:

Pigment analysis method used in combination with fast screening of the samples in microscope on a station in the western Baltic Sea sampled during a ½ year. Dominant species identified by microscopy are indicated while the bars show the biomass in units of chlorophyll a/L of the individual phytoplankton groups determined by pigment analysis by HPLC

 This combination of methods has proven advantageous and cost effective for providing information on:

• Temporal and spatial phytoplankton distribution
• Phytoplankton blooming events and succession
• Dominating species present
• Toxic species

*Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS)
*High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)