Intraocular Lens implants testing - send your products to QRA International.

 

Intraocular Lens of all types need to have sterile barrier testing. QRA International provides prompt, cost competitive testing with ISO approved test reports and upholding the highest standards of test protocols for International markets. We do the accelerated aging tests according to :

ASTM F 1980 - 16 (21)

ISO 11607 - 1 

for many opthalmic manufacturers worldwide. These tests are standard requirements for biomedical manufacturers of international standing and have been practised and approved by many standards bodies for compliance to international markets like the USA, Europe and Asia.

For more information and consultancy, please email to :

Asia

mark@qra.com.sg

Europe

reypereira@qra.com.sg

USA

tim@qra.com.sg

Australia

clifford@qra.com.sg

and a specialist will be happy to guide you through your test essentials and requirements.

Website : https://www.qra.com.sg

Aiming for 500, 000 views by APRIL. Thank You !

 

I am in disbelief that my 'little' blog is now hitting 500, 000 in what I can only dream of, in a months' time. The last 2 months, I have had 100, 000 + views, I never in my wildest dreams imagined this could actually happen. I had targetted 500, 00 views by June, now, this is brought forward to April. 

Now, if only this will happen for my company QRA International  > the views >  then the enquiries > then the actual orders. 

Its one step followed by another. 

 

Excellent Pizza at Sam Leong Road. Pity about the ambience though.

 

Spicy Angel Hair Pasta with Prawns

Yesterday evening, my son and I ventured off Jalan Besar road, to a 'hole in the wall' eatery serving Italian food. Helmed by a Singaporean (I believe) named Fernando, this eatery makes one of the BEST Italian foods I have tasted this year. That is saying a lot, since I am a fan of Italian cuisine and have been to Italy 4 times in the last 6 years.

We ordered the following, as shown in the pictures above and below. 

1. Spicy Angel Hair Pasta with Prawns

This was my dish, and I enjoyed it very much. Only one comment, the gravy was overflowing which in my son's opinion, was too much. That was his opinion, though this dish suited me just fine. There was 5 - 6 fresh prawns in the bowl and I was overjoyed at my dish. 

Linguine Aglio Olio Pasta with Seafood

2. Linguine Aglio Olio with Seafood.

I would give this dish 10 out of 10. The linguine was just nice, "Al Dente' (chewiness) and the spicy aspect of this dish was a standout winner. There was ample seafood ingredients from fresh mussels, calamari and prawns interspersed with some spring onion. 

A winner.

Parma Ham with Burrata Cheese  

3. Parma Ham with Burrata Cheese

This is the Piece de la Resistance. The Magnus Opus of this eatery. The ham was thinly cut with just the right savory flavor and the burrata cheese was top class. The pizza crust was also not too thick neither too thin. So this, in my opinion is the top seller of this eatery.

Ambience - Not great ; barely acceptable

Its a hole in the wall. When we were there, the eatery was catering mainly to undergraduates and some people who didn't seem to be locals. In total, 10 people would be deemed full house. The area is not in the best part of town, that is all I would say.

The business owner Mr. Fernando is nice and welcoming. His staff are all friendly and helpful too. 

Pricing 

It is rather pricey. Just take a look below

> Parma Ham Burrata - $ 40 (for 2- max 3).

> Spicey Angel Hair Pasta with Prawns - $ 28 (1 pax only)

> Linguini Aglio Olio with Seafood - $ 28 ( 1 pax).

Compare this with Peperoni (Greenwood Ave and United Square)and their large pizzas (Speziale) is $28  for a 12 inch. The seafood aglio olio is also $27 for 1 pax, AND the portions are bigger (easily 50% more) than this place.

Ambience is much better (in residential area), and you get my drift. 

> For the food, would I go back there again ?  Yes definately.

> To dine in, how would I rate the experience ?  Barely acceptable.

> Price wise how would I rate it ?  Rather expensive, for the relatively small portion.

Fernando's Pizza

11 Sam Leong Road

#01-09  Trio Mall (newly opened)

SGP 207903

ASTM F 1980 - 16 (21) a simple summary

 

What exactly is the ASTM F 1980 - 16 (21) ? 

It is simply the American Standards for Test and Measurement whereby biomedical products such as endoscopes, contact lenses (for example) must subject these products for 2 types of tests :

a) accelerated aging

b) shelf life testing.

What is Accelerated Aging

The standard (you can purchase it online) gives a detailed 5 page formula derived assertion that IF you wish to know how your products will age during its shelf life, the manufacturer must subject it to a test called accelerated aging. 

In essense, if the product's shelf life is 5 years (or 60 months), and it sits idle in the storage facility of the doctor's clinic, the standard asserts the following :

> Temperature (storage) : 25 C

> Humidity (storage)       : 50% 

The product must be subjected to a 10 C increase in temperature, for it to 'age' by 1/2 or the shelf life shortens by half. In this case, 30 months. So at 35 C, the shelf life is 30 months

If another 10 C increase is added to the storage temperature, then the shelf life shortens another 1/2 or 15 months. At 45 C, the shelf life is 15 months.

If another 10 C increase, the shelf life becomes 7.5 months. At 55 C, the shelf life is 7.5 months.

Now, ordinarily you would think Voila !, increase another 10 or 20 more C and you get 3.75 months and 1.875 months respectively.

Well, most biomedical products have Styvek polymer seals, and it will literally melt above 60 C, so practically it is not advisble to do accelerated aging for biomedical products above 60 C.

Most manufacturers would purchase a stability chamber which can do either of the most common accelerated aging tests.

Temp      : 55 C

Humidity : 50%

OR 

Temp     : 50 C

Humidity : 50%

Want to learn more ?

Speak to the experts at QRA International Pte Ltd.

Email :     mark@qra.com.sg    (Asia)

                reypereira@qra.com.sg (Europe)

We would be happy to discuss your test requirements and advise you in detail.

QRA International Laboratories - Focussing on improving Opthalmic and Biomedical Devices in line with ASTM F 1980 - 21

 

20 Test Chambers at 2 Test Labs in Singapore 

Presenting QRA International (Estd : 2003) . 2 Laboratories in 2 locations with 20 chambers for the purposes of :

a) accelerated aging

b) shelf life testing     (5 C, 30 60% rH)

c) photostability testing 

of products for biomedical, pharmaceutical industries in and around the region. We serve global opthalmic manufacturers, endoscope manufacturers, proximity sensors, and pharmaceutical product manufacturers looking for sterile barrier testing according to 2 internationally benchmarked standards :

a) ASTM F 1980 - 21 Sterile Barrier Testing for Biomedical Products

b) ISO 11607 - 1 

3 VC (Germany) Chambers for Testing 

Each chamber comes with its own Certificate of Calibration. (9 points)

Chart Recorder, Temperature and Humidity sensors are calibrated according to SINGLAS 

ISO 17025 - Laboratory Standard. 

Lab Test reports with Calibration submitted every :

a) end test (short and long duration)

b) start of test

c) month end

We also provide other types of test in house :

a) resistance testing

b) acoustic functionality

c) device functionality  

3 QRA (Singapore) Chambers for Testing 

Test chambers are routinely serviced (every 6 months) to ensure tip top functionality.

Parts are changed every 3 years due to wear and tear.

We keep chambers on rotation to ensure minimal downtime 

Customers are invited to visit our Lab - by appointment only.

3 ETSP (S Korea) Chambers for Testing  

Test with the Best, Test with QRA International 

Email to : mark@qra.com.sg (Asia)

                reypereira@qra.com.sg (Europe)

Locations :

Lab 1

21 Toh Guan Road East

#04 - 02 Toh Guan Centre

Singapore 608 609

Lab 2

7 Perahu Road

Singapore 718836 

Website : www.qra.com.sg

Aiming for 500, 000 views by June 2026! Amended Target.

Earlier last month, I set a target that the readership of this blog hopefully reached 500,000 by end of the year. That was roughly 150, 000 views for this year 2026 alone.

I am reviewing this number and setting it upwards. I believe in all sincerity, that the blog views will reach 400,000 by April and 500,000 by June 2026

I am just so grateful and thankful that people actually bother to read blogs these days, especially this small one which I started way back in 2008.

Thanks for the views.

We are all here on this Earth only for a short while, so do meaningful activities which assist our common man, and especially the people who mean a whole lot to us. By that I am referring to our immediate family,. our wives, our children, our in laws, our outlaws, friends, associates, and the people we come across in our lives on a daily, weekly, monthly or even occasionally. 

Be nice and kind. 

Be present. 

Be accountable

Be wise.

Be firm and fierce when I must 

Carpe Diem 

Courage isn't having the strength to go on. It is going on even when you don't have strength.

 

Nearing the finish line of my 9th full marathon in 2014. 

This is the words of Napolean Bonaparte to motivate myself when all around me are flailing and falling. 

"Courage isn't having the strength to go on. It is that you have to go on even when you don't have strength"

Take heart, there are countless people who have gone through the limits of pain both mentally and physically and overcome their greatest obstacles.

And when they do, they are so much more grateful that they went through the fire.