Nitrate is a ubiquitous analyte in agriculture, food and water systems: it’s an essential nutrient for plants but — at elevated levels — a health and regulatory concern (infant methemoglobinemia and thyroid effects are the most-cited risks). International guideline values are helpful benchmarks: the World Health Organization’s drinking-water guideline is 50 mg/L as NO₃⁻ ( 11.3 mg/L as nitrate-nitrogen) and the U.S. EPA’s regulatory limit is 10 mg/L as NO₃-N ( 44.3 mg/L as NO₃⁻). These thresholds show why rapid screening is often needed at the point of use or on the production line.
What QUANTOFIX® Nitrate 250 offers (at a glance)
Platform: semi-quantitative test strips (dip-and-read).
Gradation (visual): 0 • 5 • 10 • 25 • 50 • 100 • 250 mg/L NO₃⁻. Instrumental measuring range: 4–250 mg/L NO₃⁻. Color change: white → red-violet.
Readout options: visual color chart or objective evaluation with the QUANTOFIX Relax reflectometer (recommended for reproducibility).
Speed: result in ≤ 60 seconds (dip, wait, read).
Shelf life / storage: typically 2 years (store cool, dry; close container immediately). Not hazardous. Packaging: folding box now made from recycled material.
Why choose semi-quantitative strips (data-driven rationale)
Speed & throughput. A single operator can screen many samples in minutes (result in 60 s) — ideal for routine QC checkpoints, farm/harvest sampling, and in-line checks in processing facilities. This timeliness converts directly to fewer delayed decisions and quicker corrective action when elevated nitrate is found.
Practical detection window. The QUANTOFIX Nitrate 250 gradation covers the policy-relevant band: it includes the 50 mg/L WHO guideline and spans to 250 mg/L for high-contamination situations (fertilizer runoff, concentrated process streams). That makes it fit for both regulatory screening and agricultural/food production monitoring.
Objective evaluation option. Using a reflectometer like the QUANTOFIX Relax reduces subjectivity (operator-to-operator variability) and makes results more defensible for internal records.
Where test strips fit vs. lab reference methods
On-site strips = screening tool. Strips are optimized for speed and ease rather than ultra-low detection limits. They are excellent for “is action needed?” decisions and catching spikes or trends early.
Lab methods = confirmation & trace quantitation. Methods such as ion chromatography (EPA Method 300.0 / 300.1 and related validated IC procedures) deliver much lower method detection limits (sub-mg/L to low-µg/L ranges) and are the correct choice for regulatory compliance reporting and detailed speciation. IC also has routine sample-handling SOPs and MDLs that outperform semi-quantitative strips for trace analysis. Use strips to triage samples that then get sent to IC for confirmation when accuracy and reporting limits matter.
Typical applications and use cases
Food industry (dairies, produce, processed foods): monitor raw materials and process streams for elevated nitrate that can affect product safety or shelf life (examples cited in recent product literature include milk, whey and leafy vegetables). On-site checks speed decisions such as accepting/rejecting batches or triggering dilution/processing steps.
Drinking water & field monitoring: quick well checks or distribution-system spot checks to flag samples above guideline levels (50 mg/L WHO; note EPA uses nitrate-N conventions).
Agriculture & fertigation: measure nitrate in runoff, irrigation water or soil extracts to optimize fertilizer inputs and reduce environmental loading.
Practical tips for reliable results (from the datasheet)
Follow the dip–shake–wait timing exactly (manufacturer instructs a 1 s dip and ~60 s wait for many nitrate products) to keep readings consistent. Use a reflectometer when you need objective records.
Watch for interferences. Nitrite can interfere with nitrate determination; the product instructions describe ways to remove nitrite (e.g., sulfamic/amidosulfonic acid treatment) if required before nitrate reading. Very acidic or alkaline samples may need pH adjustment per datasheet guidance.
Dilute high-level matrices. If the sample reads at the top of the scale (250 mg/L), dilute an aliquot and retest to estimate true concentration. Instruction sheets include guidance for calculating dilutions and correcting results.
Storage & QA: keep strips in original container, protect from light/moisture, and record lot/use-by date on QC logs. Consider periodic cross-checks against a laboratory method (IC) as part of your QA/QC program.
For teams that need rapid, repeatable on-site nitrate screening in food, water or agricultural settings, QUANTOFIX® Nitrate 250 combines a sensible measuring range (4–250 mg/L instrumentally), fast run time (≤60 s) and the option for objective reflectometer evaluation — making it a practical first-line tool to catch issues before they become costly or non-compliant. Use it to screen and triage; reserve ion-chromatography or accredited lab methods for confirmation, low-level quantitation and official reporting.
For Further Enquiry Contact: sales@vendart.com.au
