Custom Analytics

What Custom Analytics does

Custom Analytics is a privately held, FDA/DEA-registered and Health Canada-inspected contract analytical testing laboratory founded in 1998 by Charles Metcalfe and headquartered in Dalzell, South Carolina. The company provides regulated analytical testing services to manufacturers of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, prescription (Rx) pharmaceuticals, health & beauty products, and personal care items, with particular specialization in sunscreens, inorganic sunscreens, volatiles, and preservative assay testing.

The company's core service portfolio spans eight modalities: HPLC/UPLC chromatography (operating up to 15,000 psi with UV, RI, conductivity, fluorescence, and mass spectrometry detection), gas chromatography with FID and MS detection (achieving low-ppm and ppt detection limits), atomic absorption and ICP-OES spectroscopy for single- and multi-element metal analysis (including heavy metals), FTIR spectroscopy with spectral library matching, Karl Fischer titration, USP <61>/<62>/<60> microbiology with preservative challenge testing and DNA sequencing, physical testing (pH, density, viscosity, UV-Vis), and stability/shelf-life storage at 25°C/60%RH and 40°C/75%RH plus freeze/thaw testing. Custom Analytics primarily runs USP methods but also accepts customer-provided methods and develops in-house methods for non-standard testing needs.

The business model is project-based B2B contract testing. Customers submit samples directly to the single Dalzell facility using a standardized sample submission form; testing is priced via quote per project with optional premium rush services, and standard turnaround is 5-10 days. The lab serves customers across the United States and Canada. Total headcount is approximately 11 staff, including a Vice President, Lab Manager, Office Manager, multiple chemists, lab technicians, stability coordinators, and customer service personnel. No public funding, institutional investors, M&A activity, awards, patents, or distribution partnerships are disclosed in the available data, indicating the company has operated as an independent, founder-controlled entity for its entire 30-year history.

Name

Custom Analytics

Legal name

Custom Analytics

Website

https://customa.calabs.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Custom Analytics is an FDA/DEA-registered and Health Canada-inspected contract analytical testing laboratory serving pharmaceutical, OTC drug, health & beauty, and personal care product manufacturers across the United States and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Analytical Testing Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Release Testing & Batch Certification (QC) (HLAGADAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Small-Molecule Analytical Development & Method Validation (CMC) (HLAGAHAF), Analytical Development & QC Testing (Release/Stability/Potency) (HLAGAGAF)

Keywords

• Contract analytical testing
• Pharmaceutical laboratory services
• HPLC UPLC analysis
• Stability shelf life testing
• Personal care product testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Dalzell

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contract Laboratory Testing Services: Project-based analytical testing services for raw materials, bulk, and finished products. Services include HPLC/UPLC, GC, AA/ICP/OES, FTIR, titration, microbiology, and physical testing. Revenue generated through per-test or per-project pricing based on analytical methods performed, sample types, and turnaround requirements. Rush services offered at premium pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Custom Analytics is a contract analytical testing laboratory providing FDA/DEA registered and Health Canada inspected testing services for OTC, prescription, health & beauty, and personal care products. Services include HPLC/UPLC, GC-FID/MS, AA/ICP-OES, FTIR, titration, microbiology, physical testing, and stability/shelf-life testing, with results delivered as an official Certificate of Analysis in 5-10 days. The lab specializes in sunscreen, inorganic sunscreen, volatiles, and preservative assay testing using USP methods, customer-supplied methods, and in-house developed methods.

Product overview

Custom Analytics is an FDA/DEA registered and Health Canada inspected contract laboratory offering a unified portfolio of analytical testing services for the personal care, pharmaceutical, health & beauty, and OTC industries. The company's core offerings include HPLC/UPLC testing, Gas Chromatography (GC-FID, GC-MS), AA/ICP-OES spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, Titration analysis, Microbiology testing, and Laboratory physical testing, all supported by Stability/Shelf Life testing services. The laboratory specializes in sunscreen testing, inorganic sunscreens, volatiles, and preservative assay testing, utilizing both USP methods and customer-provided methods. Results are typically delivered within 5-10 days with rush services available.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HPLC/UPLC Testing Services High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) testing services for separation, identification, and quantification of components in mixtures. Includes testing for sunscreens, actives, preservatives, pharmaceuticals, and personal care ingredients, with detection methods including UV, RI, Conductivity, Fluorescence, and Mass Spectrometry.
• Gas Chromatography (GC-FID, GC-MS) Testing Services Gas chromatography testing using flame ionization detector (FID) achieving low ppm detection limits and mass spectrometry (MS) achieving ppt level detection. Used for analysis of volatiles, menthol, camphor, fatty acids, glycols, and other organic compounds.
• AA/ICP-OES Testing Services Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AA) for single-element analysis and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for simultaneous multi-element analysis. Detection limits in low ppb range with temperatures up to 10,000°C, used for zinc, titanium, copper, silver, aluminum, and heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury).
• FTIR Spectroscopy Services Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for identification of solid or liquid samples by matching against spectral libraries. Used for raw materials and finished products identification testing.
• Titration Analysis Services Karl Fischer titration and other quantitative chemical analysis methods for determination of water content, acidity, and concentration of known substances including sorbic acid, hydrogen peroxide, zinc pyrithione, and sodium chloride. Uses automatic burette titration technology.
• Microbiology Testing Services Quantitative enumeration of mesophilic bacteria and fungi under aerobic conditions following USP <61>, <62>, and <60> methodology for raw materials, bulk, finished goods, and stability samples. Includes preservative challenge testing and DNA sequencing.
• Laboratory Physical Testing Services Physical testing services including pH, density, viscosity, specific gravity, melting point, saponification number, ashed residue, fill volume, and UV-Vis analysis for raw materials and finished products.
• Stability and Shelf Life Testing Services Stability storage and testing services at controlled conditions (25°C/60%RH and 40°C/75%RH) plus freeze/thaw testing for determination of product shelf life and stability profiles.

Quantifiable outcome

• Results and invoices delivered within 5-10 days of sample log-in
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Intertek: Global testing and quality assurance provider with pharmaceutical and personal care analytical services including chromatography, spectroscopy, and microbiology. Competes in overlapping categories with much broader geographic and service breadth.
• Pace Analytical: Large US-based contract testing network offering analytical, environmental, life sciences, and pharmaceutical testing services across multiple sites. Competes with Custom Analytics for pharmaceutical and consumer products testing but at materially larger scale.
• SGS: Global testing, inspection, and certification company with pharmaceutical and consumer products testing services including analytical chemistry, stability, and microbiology. Broader and larger competitor in adjacent service lines.
• ALS Global: International testing services provider with pharmaceutical and life sciences analytical testing capabilities across chromatography, spectroscopy, and microbiology. Larger-scale competitor with broader geographic footprint.
• Eurofins Scientific: Global leader in contract laboratory testing for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, personal care, and consumer products with a broad method menu and international footprint. Overlaps Custom Analytics' pharmaceutical and personal care testing categories but operates at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.

Direct peers

• Microbac Laboratories: Mid-sized US contract testing laboratory network offering analytical, microbiological, and chemistry testing to pharmaceutical, personal care, food, and consumer products companies. Directly comparable in service mix and SMB contract lab positioning.
• Chemir / EAG Laboratories: Contract analytical services provider offering spectroscopy, chromatography, materials characterization, and custom method development for pharmaceutical, consumer products, and personal care manufacturers. Direct overlap in HPLC, GC, FTIR, and method development capabilities.
• Hall Analytical: UK-based contract testing laboratory serving pharmaceutical, cosmetics, personal care, and OTC industries with HPLC, GC, ICP, FTIR, microbiology, and stability testing. Highly comparable in scope, customer verticals, and method mix to Custom Analytics.
• Particle Technology Labs: Specialized contract laboratory providing particle characterization and analytical testing for pharmaceutical, personal care, and cosmetic industries. Comparable niche specialty lab positioning serving similar OTC and personal care end customers.
• Avomeen Analytical Services (Element Materials Technology): Contract analytical testing laboratory serving pharmaceutical, cosmetic, personal care, and consumer products industries with method development, stability, and QC testing. Now part of Element, it is the closest US-based mid-market analog to Custom Analytics' service portfolio and customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CustomAnalyticsLab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/custom-analytics-llc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Custom Analytics