Urea assay

Urea is a nitrogen-containing organic compound naturally produced by protein metabolism in living organisms. It is also synthesized on a large scale for agricultural, industrial, and cosmetic uses. Its presence and concentration are important indicators for quality control of formulations, product safety, and the management of nitrogen inputs in animal and agricultural sectors.

Urea analysis is essential for assessing the non-protein nitrogen content in various products. In fertilizers, it allows verification of the effectiveness and conformity of inputs intended for crops. In animal nutrition, it is used to adjust formulations and optimize the digestibility of rations. Finally, in cosmetics, urea is recognized as a powerful moisturizing agent, and its analysis is necessary to validate the conformity of creams, lotions, and dermatological treatments.

Analytical methods
Several approaches are used to quantify urea:

• HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography), suitable for complex matrices and precise assays.
• Enzymatic methods, based on the action of urease, are commonly used in routine analyses.
• Colorimetric methods, which are fast and economical, are suitable for frequent checks.

These techniques guarantee high reliability and can be chosen according to the matrix, the required sensitivity and the industrial context.

Matrices concerned:
Urea assay is applicable to different types of products:

• Moisturizing cosmetics (creams, lotions, dermatological treatments)
• Agricultural products (solid and liquid fertilizers)
• Animal feed and nutritional supplements
• Industrial preparations containing non-protein nitrogen

Industrial applications

• Cosmetics : control of urea content in formulations to guarantee moisturizing efficacy and avoid dosage deviations.
• Agriculture : validation of nitrogen content in fertilizers to optimize yields and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Animal health : evaluation of urea as a source of non-protein nitrogen in animal feed, allowing for optimization of ration formulation.
• Chemical industry : monitoring the quality of batches of synthetic urea used in various applications.

Further analyses:
Urea measurement can be supplemented by other analyses to obtain a more complete picture of the products:

• Total protein measurement to assess overall nutritional quality.
• Assay of amino nitrogen to characterize amino acid intake.
• Determination of free amino acids in nutritional matrices.

Regulations and Quality:
Urea dosage is governed by quality and safety standards depending on the sector of application. In agriculture, the nitrogen content of fertilizers must comply with European regulations. In cosmetics, the maximum permitted concentration in skincare products is regulated to ensure consumer safety. In animal nutrition, urea intake recommendations must be followed to avoid any risk of metabolic imbalance.

YesWeLab Expertise:
YesWeLab collaborates with a network of specialized laboratories, most of which are ISO 17025 certified and COFRAC accredited. Each request is directed to the most suitable laboratory based on the matrix, method, and sensitivity requirements. Our digital platform simplifies the management of analyses, from sample submission to centralized results reception.