FAQs

Not all products are applicable to the methods we run, so please contact our Customer Service team for more information after reading the sample submission guidelines below.

Most of our Specialized Assays testing services require varying levels of consultation prior to testing.

Most of our Physical Properties testing services require some level of consultation prior to sending in samples. It’s important for our scientists to know your testing goals to ensure that the test is run correctly and reported in a useful format for you.

Our Flavor Characterization test requires a consultation prior to sending in samples to ensure we can test for the compound you require prior to accepting the sample. Most projects require testing of a minimum of two samples (a control sample and an off-flavor sample).   Contact us for a consultation to identify the nature, scope, and timeline of your project and include a completed Flavor Characterization Questionnaire along with your submission.

Our Shelf Life testing services require that our Shelf Life Questionnaire be filled out so that a protocol can be designed prior to receiving your samples. Challenge studies or micro-based shelf-life studies require additional consultation with our microbiologist in order to design and appropriately time the study as needed—however, please note that we require a filled-out questionnaire before your consultation can be scheduled.

Samples should be sent to our address at:

Medallion Labs
Wing 5
9000 Plymouth Ave. N.
Minneapolis, MN 55427
USA

Samples can be submitted in person or through a mail or shipping carrier. Make sure to fill out the appropriate order form with clear and descriptive information for the sample description, sample ID, and estimates if available. Please include any special handling instructions for preparing, draining, or compositing samples, and any specific information you would like us to know about your samples. We recommend that you submit samples that are representative of your lot. If your samples are perishable, we recommend sending them overnight, during the week, with dry ice or ice packs. We do not accept weekend deliveries. Medallion Labs is not responsible for any samples submitted that are compromised during the shipment.

We accept in-person sample drop-offs on business days between the hours of 9:00 AM-3:00 PM CST.  If you are planning to drop off samples outside of these hours, please contact our Customer Service team at 1-800-245-5615 for availability.

The amount of sample that you should submit depends on the type of testing you request and the sample matrix. Medallion Labs requires at least 200 grams if submitting samples for full nutritional analysis. We recommend that you send a sample that is representative of the product, lot, or ingredient being tested. If you cannot send the amount of sample specified, please contact our Customer Service team at 1-800-245-5615 for assistance.

Yes, please provide expected levels when the information is available. Medallion provides space on both the analytical and nutritional request forms for input of expected levels. Expected levels are used in the lab as a guide for appropriate sample weights and dilution levels. If expected levels are not known or provided, a delay in turnaround time for certain assays and/or additional costs may apply.

Once we have received and logged your samples into our Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) database, you will be emailed a Sample Receipt Notification to inform you that we have your submission. Please review this form to ensure all of your sample data (requested assays, descriptions and IDs, as well as testing priority) have been entered correctly. You may also want to track your sample destination through your shipping courier tracking number. If you do not receive a Sample Receipt Notification, and know that your samples are at our facility, please call our Customer Service team at 1-800-245-5615 for assistance.

Medallion Labs will return samples to the submitter at their expense. If you would like the samples or shipping coolers sent back to you, please provide us a UPS or Fed Ex shipping number.

After results have been sent, all remaining sample, will be retained based on the amount of storage space available. Generally, samples are kept up to two months, but if our storage space does not allow, the samples may be discarded sooner. Paper copies of your testing results will be kept in an offsite storage facility up to 7 years after they have been completed.

Medallion Labs’ Rerun Policy:

If you notice a discrepancy in your testing results, you are encouraged to request a rerun. Our policy is to perform reruns in duplicate for testing run in our labs. If the rerun results are within our analytical method variability, you will be billed for rerun in addition to the initial run. If the rerun results are outside of our analytical method variability, you will only be billed for the initial run. If you believe that you need a rerun of your sample, please call our Customer Service team at 1-800-245-5615 for assistance. Reruns are dependent on the type of testing requested, and the amount of sample that is remaining after the initial analysis. In certain situations, a rerun may not be possible. Any reruns being performed by a partner lab will follow the partner lab’s rerun policies.