Micro Essential Laboratory, Inc.

What Micro Essential Laboratory, Inc. does

Micro Essential Laboratory, Inc. is a privately held U.S. manufacturer of pH testing consumables and sanitizer test kits, founded in 1934 and headquartered at 4224 Avenue H, Brooklyn, New York. The company operates with a headcount of 11-50 employees and sells globally under the Hydrion and pHydrion trademarks to laboratories, healthcare facilities, food service operations, educational institutions, and environmental/safety monitoring customers. Its product portfolio addresses routine compliance and measurement use cases, including avoidance of health-code violations in food service and calibration of laboratory pH meters.

The product line is anchored on colorimetric indicator chemistry: pH papers and strips (wide-range 0-13, narrow-range short papers, Spectral plastic strips, MicroFine micro-volume papers, jumbo/DRJ large-format dispensers, surface pencils and spill stiks), multiple sanitizer chemistries (chlorine, quaternary ammonium, iodine, peracetic acid, lactic acid-based, and fryer-oil free-fatty-acid strips), and NIST-traceable pH buffer standards (capsules, Chemvelope triple-foil pouches, and Tri-Chek calibration sets). Notable proprietary components include Color Key auto-tinting buffer preservatives, Chemvelope triple-layer (aluminum/polyethylene/paper) foil packaging, and the MicroFine precision line that reads with as little as 0.001 mL of solution. The company holds ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation through A2LA with ILAC MRA recognition (certificate valid through November 2026), and pHizatest is a separately marketed FDA-listed nitrazine indicator sub-brand with its own dedicated microsite.

The business model combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce via microessentiallab.com (including international shipping, account management, and QuickOrder entry), a multi-tier international distributor network, and an OEM/private-label program that lets bulk buyers sell Hydrion-manufactured products under their own branding. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time unit, carton, and case sales at price points between roughly $6 and $94, with volume discounts for cases and application-based wholesale pricing for distributors. The single-page website emphasizes domestic U.S. manufacturing, a nine-decade operational history, and a continuous Knowledge Center (articles, SDS sheets, instructional videos, certificates of conformance) that supports top-of-funnel education and post-sale compliance documentation.

Name

Micro Essential Laboratory, Inc.

Legal name

Micro Essential Laboratory, Inc.

Website

https://microessentiallab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Micro Essential Laboratory manufactures pH testing papers, sanitizer test kits, and NIST-traceable pH buffer standards under the Hydrion brand, serving laboratories, healthcare facilities, food service operators, educational institutions, and environmental/safety customers globally since 1934.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

pH Testing Products

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)

SIC

Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Food Testing Laboratories (Microbiological, Chemical, Allergen) (AFALAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services (in-house/contract labs; microbiology, metals, organics) (EUANAJAB), Environmental Monitoring & Cleanroom Testing (GMP) (HLAGADAL)

Keywords

• PH testing papers
• Sanitizer test kits
• PH buffer standards
• Colorimetric test strips
• Laboratory testing supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. pH Testing Products: One-time sale of pH papers, pH strips, and specialty test papers sold in various packaging configurations (individual units, cartons, cases). Products include dispensers, vials, and bulk packaging options.
2. Sanitizer Test Kits: One-time sale of sanitizer testing products including chlorine test strips, quaternary ammonium test kits, iodine test kits, and PAA test strips for food service and healthcare industries.
3. pH Buffer Standards: Sale of buffer solutions, buffer capsules, and buffer chemvelopes for pH meter calibration. Available in various pH values from 2.0 to 12.0.
4. Private Label / Custom Packaging: Custom branding and packaging services for bulk orders, allowing distributors and partners to sell products under their own brand names.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Micro Essential Laboratory manufactures and sells pH testing papers, pH strips, sanitizer test kits, and pH buffer calibration standards under its Hydrion and pHydrion brands. The company produces colorimetric testing products for laboratories, healthcare facilities, food service operations, educational institutions, and environmental safety applications, with global distribution through direct e-commerce and a distributor network.

Product overview

Micro Essential Laboratory, Inc. is a manufacturer of pH testing products and sanitizer test kits founded in 1934, offering a comprehensive portfolio centered on its Hydrion and pHydrion brands. The product portfolio consists of: (1) pH Papers and Strips including wide-range dispensers (0-13, 1-12, 0-14), short-range precision papers, Spectral plastic strips, MicroFine micro-range papers, Jumbo and DRJ large-format dispensers, and specialty papers like pH Pencils and Spill Stiks; (2) Sanitizer Test Kits for food service including chlorine tests (10-200ppm, 0-1000ppm), quaternary ammonium tests (0-400ppm, 0-500ppm, 0-1000ppm), iodine tests (0-50ppm, 50-225ppm), peracetic acid tests, and fryer oil test kits; (3) pH Buffer Standards including buffer capsules, Chemvelopes, and Tri-Chek calibration sets traceable to NIST standards; and (4) Accessories including wall-mount starter kits, food safety instructional posters, vial clips, and buffer preservatives. Products serve diverse industries including laboratories, healthcare, food service, education, and environmental safety. The company is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited through A2LA and ships internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• pHizatest: FDA-listed nitrazine indicator paper for pH testing.

Products and services

• Hydrion (93) S/R Inst-Chek Dispenser 0.0-13.0

Quantifiable outcome

• Each 15-foot roll of test paper provides approximately 100-1000+ tests depending on product type
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Distributor NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMicro Essential Laboratory partners with distributors worldwide to sell their Hydrion brand pH testing products. The company offers world-class products known for quality, reliability, and value, along with extraordinary customer service from a dedicated account service team. Distributors benefit from the globally recognized Hydrion brand and guaranteed product quality.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LaMotte Company: LaMotte produces water quality testing kits, including colorimetric test strips and reagent-based testing systems for environmental, pool/spa, and educational use. It overlaps directly with Micro Essential's pH papers, sanitizer test strips, and environmental monitoring SKUs.
• Palintest: Palintest manufactures colorimetric and photometric test kits for water, sanitation, and food safety testing. It is a direct peer to Micro Essential in sanitizer concentration verification (chlorine, PAA) and pH measurement products used in food service and water testing.
• Hanna Instruments: Hanna Instruments manufactures a broad range of pH meters, testers, and chemical test kits for laboratory, food service, and environmental applications. It directly competes with Micro Essential's colorimetric pH and sanitizer testing products, particularly in food safety and water quality segments.
• AquaPhoenix Scientific: AquaPhoenix Scientific produces test strips and water testing kits, often under private label for distributors and educational suppliers. It mirrors Micro Essential's distribution model and competes in the same colorimetric test strip category.

Broad incumbents

• 3M Food Safety: 3M Food Safety (now part of Neogen) produces diagnostic test kits and indicator strips for the food and beverage industry, including pathogen and sanitation testing products. It is a broad incumbent whose food safety testing portfolio intersects with Micro Essential's sanitizer testing product line.
• Thermo Fisher Scientific: Thermo Fisher supplies laboratory consumables, reagents, pH buffers, and test kits through brands such as Fisher Scientific and Orion. It is a broad incumbent in the laboratory and life sciences supply space, overlapping with Micro Essential's lab and buffer calibration products.
• Hach Company: Hach, part of Danaher, manufactures analytical instruments and test kits for water quality analysis across laboratory and field applications. It competes with Micro Essential in pH and water testing, but at a much broader and more instrument-heavy scale.
• Mettler Toledo: Mettler Toledo is a global leader in precision instruments including pH meters, electrodes, and certified buffer solutions. It is a broad incumbent that competes with Micro Essential's laboratory pH calibration products, with a much larger portfolio and global commercial reach.
• Ecolab: Ecolab is a global leader in water, hygiene, and infection prevention, with its own sanitizer programs and branded test kits (e.g., Sink and Surface Sanitizer). Micro Essential even offers a test kit calibrated to an Ecolab product. Ecolab is a broad incumbent whose sanitation ecosystem overlaps with Micro Essential's sanitizer test business.

Emerging players

• Cole-Parmer: Cole-Parmer (part of Antylia Scientific) distributes pH meters, electrodes, and test kits under brands such as Oakton and eDAQ. It is an emerging/niche player in the same pH and water testing category, with overlapping distribution to laboratory and food service customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/147050401983350
• Xx.com/microessential
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/micro-essential-laboratory-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Micro Essential Laboratory, Inc.