Kelso Laboratory
Columbia Analytical's laboratory and headquarters in Kelso, Washington, is the largest facility in the network. With more than 57,500 square feet of laboratory and support staff space, Kelso's highly trained personnel enable this facility to provide enhanced testing services. Complex projects requiring the analysis of large numbers of samples, difficult matrices, and low levels of detection are routinely processed in the Kelso laboratory.
Because Columbia Analytical/Kelso specializes in non-routine analyses requiring a high degree of technical expertise, the laboratory has taken part in a number of method development studies for the U.S. EPA and various state and industrial agencies. The Kelso laboratory has also held a number of direct EPA contracts under the U.S. EPA Contract Laboratory Program (CLP). Services are provided to a number of other federal government entities including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), Navy and Air Force.
Among the specialized procedures performed at the Kelso laboratory are techniques that allow the ultra-trace determination of various constituents in difficult sample matrices. Investments have been made to develop systems for the preparation and analysis of sediment and tissue (i.e., plant and animal), as well as routine aqueous and soil samples. Much of the analytical chemistry performed at the Kelso laboratory is in direct support of risk-based studies where routine environmental procedures are often insufficient to meet the project objectives.
Kelso's dedicated drinking water laboratory was developed in order to serve the growing need for clean water and the associated testing required to verify purity. We have been performing drinking water testing for inorganic and volatile organic compounds since 1989. The expansion into full service testing, including all of the regulated and unregulated compounds of concern, allows Kelso to support clients nationwide.
Testing Services
The size of the laboratory, combined with its equipment and highly trained personnel allow this facility to provide enhanced analytical services, with specialties in the following areas:
- Marine and freshwater sediments, waters and tissues
- Ultra low level analyses
- Full service drinking water testing
- Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical testing which is fully cGMP compliant
- Specialized sample preparation and ultra-trace analyses including the following:
- alkylated homologs
- GC/ECD analysis for individual PCB congeners
- isotope dilution for volatile and semivolatile organics
- ultra-trace organotin speciation
- pore water sample preparations and analyses
- clean room techniques for ultra-trace metals
- advanced chemical separations for ultra-trace metals
- purge and trap atomic fluorescence for ultra-trace mercury
- specialized inorganic testing (e.g., chromium reducible sulfur, microbially reducible iron, etc.)
- explosives testing
- numerous other procedures which have been developed for specific applications and projects
Advanced Analytical Services
Columbia Analytical/Kelso specializes in new target analytes in complex matrices and complex analyses requiring a high degree of technical expertise. These special capabilities have allowed Columbia Analytical/Kelso to take part in a number of method development studies for the U.S. EPA and various state and industrial agencies. They have also held a number of direct EPA contracts under the U.S. EPA Contract Laboratory Program (CLP). Services are provided to a number of other federal government entities including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), Navy and Air Force.
A few of the more advanced environmental analytical techniques employed at Columbia Analytical/Kelso include:
- Specialized sample preparation
- Ultra-trace PAHs and alkylated homologs analyses
- GC/ECD analysis for individual PCB congeners
- Isotope dilution for volatile and semivolatile organics
- Ultra-trace organotin speciation
- Pore water sample preparations and analyses
- Clean room techniques for ultra-trace metals
- Advanced chemical separations for ultra-trace metals
- Purge and trap atomic fluorescence for ultra-trace mercury
- Specialized inorganic testing (e.g., chromium reducible sulfur microbially reducible iron, etc.)
- Explosives testing
Columbia Analytical/Kelso can perform low-level tests for endocrine disrupting compounds and pharmaceutical and personal care product residues such as:
- Steroids
- Stimulants
- Antibiotics
- Antimicrobials
- Prescription and non-prescription drugs
- Insecticides
- Detergents
- Plasticizers
- Fire retardants
Columbia Analytical/Kelso is also FDA-registered and provides the following services to the pharmaceutical and neutraceutical industries: monograph testing, process validation and engineering studies, analytical support for stability testing, and method development and validation.
Contact Information
1317 S. 13th Avenue
Kelso, WA 98626
View Driving Directions
360.577.7222
360.636.1068 (fax)
Sample Receiving Hours:
Monday - Friday: 8am - 5pm, Saturday: 8am - 12pm (noon)
*Please contact us at 360-501-3342 for requests outside of these hours
*Regular courier service available in the greater Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington metro area on weekdays. PDX airport pickup available. Please contact us for any special requests.
Jeff Christian, Laboratory Director
Howard Boorse, Senior Chemist, NW Business Development
Lynda Huckestein, Client Services Manager
Columbia Analytical/Kelso has been awarded the ACIL Seal of Excellence.
