Free amino acid and ammonia profiles of spent media, fermentation broth and feeds, for teams developing cell culture, cell and gene therapy, fermentation and cultivated-meat processes. Published pricing, and every report includes the chromatogram and the quality-control data behind the numbers.
New clients: up to 5 samples with the full report for $250, one pilot per lab.
One analytical method, done carefully and priced on the page, plus custom HPLC method development for the questions it doesn't answer.
19 proteinogenic amino acids and ammonia in spent media, fermentation broth, culture supernatants, feeds and hydrolysates. Reported in µM and mg/L.
GABA, ornithine, citrulline, taurine and hydroxyproline added to the same run — the non-protein amino acids that matter in fermentation, supplements and food products.
Your analyte, your matrix, your question. We develop and qualify the separation on an Agilent 1100 with diode-array detection, document it, and run your samples or hand you a transferable method.
Spent media and broth tell you what the cells or microbes used and what they left behind. Each application has its own page: what we measure, the questions it answers, the caveats, and the literature behind it.
Glutamine, ammonia, asparagine and essential amino acids in fresh, fed and spent media, for feed design and lot comparison.
Explore → ApplicationSpent-media amino acids and ammonia from T-cell, NK and iPSC expansion and HEK293 vector production, for feed and exchange decisions.
Explore → ApplicationFree amino acid and ammonia profiles for fermentation broths and complex nitrogen sources, from yeast and fungi to E. coli.
Explore → ApplicationSpent-media amino acid profiles for cultivated-meat teams cutting media cost: depletion, recycling and hydrolysate comparisons.
Explore →Also analyzed
Free amino acid profiles for hydrolysates, peptones and yeast extracts: check lot consistency and compare suppliers on the free fraction.
Explore → ApplicationAmmonia and free amino acids in juice, must and wort: calculate YAN, see which nitrogen sources are low, compare worts beyond FAN.
Explore → ApplicationMeasured free taurine, GABA, glutamine, BCAAs and arginine in supplements, energy drinks and pet food, with the chromatogram behind each number.
Explore →Pre-column derivatization with 6-aminoquinolyl-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl carbamate (AQC), reversed-phase HPLC on a C18 column, and UV detection at 260 nm.
The derivatives are stable for days, secondary amines such as proline are tagged along with everything else, and the reaction runs to completion in ten minutes at 55 °C. It is the chemistry behind the most widely used commercial amino acid analysis kits.
Standard panel (AA-1), 19 amino acids + ammonia: alanine, arginine, asparagine, aspartate, glutamate, glutamine, glycine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine; ammonia.
Extended panel (AA-2): GABA, ornithine, citrulline, taurine, hydroxyproline.
On request: cysteine / cystine.
Tell us the matrix, the number of samples and the question. You'll receive a price and a sample sheet.
Send labeled samples with the completed sample sheet. We confirm receipt on arrival.
Samples are prepared, derivatized and analyzed by HPLC with an internal standard in every sample and a quality-control standard in every run.
PDF report with concentrations, the chromatogram and the QC summary. Raw data as CSV on request.
Typically 5 business days
Each report includes the results table, the chromatogram and the run's quality-control summary, so your methods section or process record has what it needs.
Per sample, USD. Published prices, volume tiers per order, minimum order $150.
| Code | Service | Includes | 1–9 | 10–49 | 50 + |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start here | |||||
| PILOT | Pilot for new clients | up to 5 samples of AA-1 with the full reportone pilot per lab | $250 | ||
| Amino acid analysis | |||||
| AA-1 | Free amino acid profile | 19 amino acids + ammonia, µM and mg/LPDF report with chromatogram, calibration and QC summary | $125 | $99 | $79 |
| AA-2 | Extended panel | GABA, ornithine, citrulline, taurine, hydroxyprolinesame run, added to AA-1 | + $25 | + $25 | + $25 |
| AA-3 | Cysteine / cystine | reduction–alkylation workup | on request | ||
| Repeat work | |||||
| RUN-1 | Bioreactor run package | one run, up to 24 time points, AA-1 on eachcombined table and trend chart across the run | $1,990 | ||
| PLAN-1 | Monthly standing order | 30 or more samples a month on a 6-month planreserved space in the weekly batch; invoiced monthly | $85 / sample | ||
| Sample preparation | |||||
| PREP-1 | Solids and powders | weighing, extraction and filtration of hydrolysate powders, feed, plant material | + $30 | ||
| PREP-2 | New-matrix qualification | spike-recovery check the first time we see a matrix typewaived at 20 + samples | $200 once | ||
| Method development | |||||
| MD-0 | Feasibility call | 30 minutes on your analyte and matrix | free | ||
| MD-1 | HPLC method development | per project; columns and specialty consumables at cost | quote | ||
| MD-2 | Contract analysis on a developed method | per sample, set at project close | quote | ||
Published prices, so the number you see here is the number on the quote.
What we don't do. We measure free amino acids and ammonia only. We don't run acid hydrolysis, so we don't report total amino acid composition, protein content or peptide content.
Requirements for free amino acids in liquid samples. For solids, powders or unusual matrices, contact us first.
Email the tracking number when you ship; we confirm receipt on arrival.
OpenChemWorks is an independent analytical laboratory in Davis, California, providing amino acid analysis by HPLC and custom HPLC method development to fermentation, bioprocess, food and academic clients.
Pricing is published, there is no minimum batch size, and every report includes the chromatogram and the quality-control data behind the numbers. Services are intended for research, development and process-monitoring use; the laboratory is not a GLP or GMP facility.
New clients can send up to 5 samples for $250, one pilot per lab. You get the same report as any order, with the chromatogram and QC for each sample, and we are glad to talk through the results.
No. We measure free amino acids and ammonia, without hydrolysis. Total amino acid composition, protein content and peptide content need acid hydrolysis, which we do not offer.
Liquid samples: fermentation broth, spent and defined media, culture supernatants, protein hydrolysates, wort, juice, beverages and aqueous extracts. Solids and powders are handled on request (PREP-1).
The standard panel reports 19 proteinogenic amino acids and ammonia. The extended panel adds GABA, ornithine, citrulline, taurine and hydroxyproline. Cysteine / cystine is available on request.
As a PDF report with concentrations in µM and mg/L, the chromatogram and the run's quality-control summary. Raw data is available as CSV on request.
No. One sample is a normal order; the minimum order value is $150. Volume pricing applies per order at 10 and 50 samples.
Yes. Sample descriptions, results and client details are shared only with the submitting client.
Often, yes — through custom HPLC method development (MD-1). Start with the free feasibility call and we'll tell you whether the analyte and matrix are a good fit.
Tell us what you're measuring. You'll receive a price and a sample sheet. If the method isn't the right one for your question, we'll say so.