While Eurofins TestOil offers same day test results for most samples, it doesn’t matter how diligent and exacting the oil analysis lab is if they don’t have the accurate information necessary to efficiently process a sample. One of the key fields on the sample label is the type of machine that the sample was extracted from.
Eurofins TestOil Analyst III Field Technician Matt McMahon explains, “It’s a challenge when we receive a sample without one of our system-provided labels--particularly with handwritten labels that don’t match the name of the equipment in our database. If the name of the machine is different than what is in our database, we assume that this is a new sample point. This often leads to the setup of duplicate machines.”
Eurofins TestOil lab analysts have been seeing more and more samples that are not identifiable with a specific customer. “This makes contacting the customer impossible regarding questions since we can’t establish where the samples originated,” Matt says. “I think some customers assume that we’ll be able to match the sample label information on a handwritten label with a machine already in our database—but that’s often not the case.”
Even so, if equipment information is lacking, lab analysts will apply generic limits. “This would result in a slower response to correlating trends indicative of a problem with the machine or lubricant,” Matt concludes. Additionally, machines that are misidentified or indicate incorrect lubricant information tend to generate more test reruns as analysts attempt to make sense of data that doesn’t correlate with historical information or the listed lubricant.
The bottom line is that it pays to avoid creating handwritten labels—especially when Eurofins TestOil and other labs give customers the ability to create labels through the lab’s customer portal. This goes a long way toward ensuring that the lab has the correct information, including the machine type, on the label.
For more information on working with Eurofins TestOil for oil analysis and training visit www.testoil.com. Contact: 216-251-2510; sales@testoil.com.
About Eurofins TestOil
With more than 30 years of experience in the oil analysis industry, Eurofins TestOil focuses exclusively on assisting industrial facilities with reducing maintenance costs and avoiding unexpected downtime through oil and fuel analysis program implementation. As industry experts in diagnosing oil-related issues in equipment such as turbines, hydraulics, gearboxes, pumps, compressors and diesel generators, Eurofins TestOil provides customers with same-day turnaround on routine oil analysis testing. For more information on partnering with Eurofins TestOil on oil analysis programs or training opportunities visit https://testoil.com. Contact: Michael Barrett 216-251-2510; sales@testoil.com.
About Eurofins – the global leader in bio-analysis
Eurofins is Testing for Life. Eurofins is the global leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and cosmetic product testing, and in discovery pharmacology, forensics, advanced material sciences and agroscience Contract Research services. Eurofins is also a market leader in certain testing and laboratory services for genomics, and in the support of clinical studies, as well as in BioPharma Contract Development and Manufacturing. The Group also has a rapidly developing presence in highly specialised and molecular clinical diagnostic testing and in-vitro diagnostic products.
With over 61,000 staff across a network of 940 laboratories in 59 countries, Eurofins’ companies offer a portfolio of over 200,000 analytical methods. Eurofins Shares are listed on Euronext Paris Stock Exchange.
