Free glutamate for individuals and small makers

What is measured

Free glutamate is measured as part of the AA-1 free amino acid panel, by AQC (AccQ-Tag) pre-column derivatization with HPLC-UV. In plain terms, the sample is prepared without hydrolysis, its amino acids are chemically tagged so they can be detected, they are separated on a chromatography column, and each is measured against a calibrated standard run in the same system.

The panel covers 19 amino acids plus ammonia, so glutamate arrives in context — you see the wider free profile, which helps you judge whether the figure fits your ingredient list. Cysteine is excluded because it requires a separate workup, AA-3; say so before ordering if cysteine is central to your question. Taurine and extended compounds are not presented as routinely included.

The service measures free glutamate from all sources combined. It cannot isolate how much MSG powder was added during making — glutamate from other ingredients is chemically the same once mixed. Only a recipe record answers that. If your question is about total glutamate (free plus protein-bound, released by hydrolysis), that is a different service, total amino acid analysis (AA-T); ask if unsure.

Your report shows the per-analyte results, the reporting basis beside them (such as per gram or per 100 grams, printed not assumed), and the chromatogram — the instrument trace — behind each number, so a future batch can be compared on identical terms. Glutamate, reported as glutamic acid, can also be expressed as an anhydrous MSG equivalent, with the form named deliberately: MSG exists in anhydrous and monohydrate forms with different molar masses, so an unnamed equivalent is ambiguous. The underlying glutamic acid result is always shown, so any reader can reconvert.

Who this is for

This service exists because the proven demand for it came from individuals, not manufacturers: a private search for exactly this analysis, on a single dry seasoning sample, became this laboratory's early individual work.

• The home maker checking a blend before scaling it
• The small-batch seller who needs a defensible figure before printing a label
• Anyone comparing two recipes as eaten and wanting the savoury difference measured
• A private individual with one sample and one question — no product line required

What the report shows

• Per-analyte results with the reporting basis printed beside them
• The chromatogram behind each number
• Glutamate as glutamic acid, plus the anhydrous MSG equivalent
• The wider free profile in context — 19 amino acids plus ammonia
• Where commissioned, the spike-recovery finding and any correction applied

How it works

Published prices

First-time customers pay $150 per sample flat. Regular volume at 25 or more samples per month is $125 per sample. Matrix-effect qualification is additional and priced per sample and matrix on inquiry — as a reference point, a recent single-sample seasoning project with full matrix-effect qualification was $350. For a simple sample the standard panel alone may be sufficient, and you will hear that rather than be sold qualification by default. No turnaround is promised on this page; ask for the current position when you enquire.

Frequently asked questions

Can I really send one sample as a private individual?
Yes. Single samples from individuals and small makers are the core of this service.

Will my report show an MSG number?
It shows glutamate as glutamic acid and can express it as an anhydrous MSG equivalent, with the basis stated. It does not claim to isolate added MSG from glutamate contributed by other ingredients.

Do I need matrix-effect qualification?
For a salty, dark, oily, or complex blend it is often the difference between a number and a trustworthy number. Ask for a view on your specific sample in your first email; it is priced per sample and matrix on inquiry.

What if I need total glutamate instead?
Order AA-T, the hydrolysed total test at $230 per sample, or ask — the reply will direct you to the test that matches your question.

Can I use the report for a regulatory filing?
No. Results are for your own decisions, not regulatory submission, and the laboratory is not GLP/GMP/ISO 17025 accredited.