PORTABLE FLUID CONTAMINATION ANALYSIS
Portable Fluid Contamination Analysis — Test. Identify. Act.
Identify oil, hydraulic fluid, coolant and grease contamination directly in the field.
The FA-ST Portable Patch Test Kit provides maintenance, reliability and engineering teams with a practical way to assess fluid contamination and wear debris at the point of use — helping identify potential problems before they develop into costly equipment failures.
Complete field testing kit
ISO & NAS reference charts
Oil & grease testing
Smartphone microscopy
FIELD-BASED FLUID ANALYSIS
Know What's Inside Your Oil
Get immediate visual insight into contamination and wear debris without waiting for every sample to reach a laboratory.
Turn a fluid sample into actionable information.
The Portable Fluid Contamination Analysis Kit gives maintenance and reliability teams a practical way to investigate fluid cleanliness directly in the field.
Filter a representative sample, examine the resulting membrane and identify visible contamination such as metal, fibres, silica, rust, plastics and other wear debris.
Use the results as an immediate indication of fluid condition and to help determine when further laboratory analysis or investigation may be required.
01
Sample
Take a representative fluid sample directly from the machine or system.
02
Capture
Capture particulate contamination on a membrane for examination.
03
Inspect
Examine the membrane using the supplied magnification equipment.
04
Act
Record your findings and decide whether further investigation is required.
READY TO SCREEN CONTAMINATION IN THE FIELD?
Take the FA-ST portable fluid contamination analysis kit with you and investigate contamination closer to the equipment.
Portable equipment for practical field screening of oil, hydraulic fluid, diesel and grease contamination.
✓
From sample to evidence
Capture contamination evidence using the supplied microscope and smartphone imaging equipment.
SEE WHAT'S INSIDE YOUR FLUID
What Can You Find?
Contamination can tell an important story about what's happening inside a machine. Examine the captured particles and identify potential sources of contamination and wear.
WEAR DEBRIS
Metal
Identify metallic particles and wear debris captured from hydraulic and lubricating fluids.
FOREIGN MATERIAL
Fibres
Detect fibres and other foreign material that may indicate contamination introduced during maintenance or operation.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Silica
Identify fine particulate contamination such as silica and other environmental debris entering a system.
CORROSION
Rust & Corrosion
Look for corrosion products and rust particles that may indicate moisture ingress or component degradation.
FOREIGN MATERIAL
Plastics & Elastomers
Detect non-metallic particles including plastics, elastomers and other materials within the fluid.
CONDITION
Wear Debris
Examine the size, shape and appearance of particles to help investigate abnormal wear within equipment.
VISUAL ANALYSIS
Turn contamination into useful maintenance information.
Record your findings, capture microscope images and use the results to support maintenance decisions or determine when further laboratory investigation is appropriate.
SEE IT. IDENTIFY IT. INVESTIGATE FURTHER.
Use the FA-ST kit to investigate visible contamination and gather evidence directly in the field.
APPLICATIONS
One Kit. Multiple Applications.
From hydraulic systems and lubrication circuits to diesel, grease and mobile equipment, the Portable Fluid Contamination Analysis Kit gives maintenance teams a practical way to investigate contamination where it matters.
HYDRAULIC SYSTEMS
Hydraulic Oil
Investigate particulate contamination and wear debris in hydraulic fluids used across mobile and industrial equipment.
Power Packs
Mobile Plant
Plant Equipment
LUBRICATION
Lubricating Oils
Examine lubricating oils for visible contamination and wear debris as part of routine condition monitoring.
Gearboxes
Bearings
Industrial Machinery
Lube Systems
FUEL
Diesel & Fuel
Assess particulate contamination in diesel and other compatible fluids where cleanliness can affect equipment performance.
Diesel Engines
Fuel Systems
Storage Tanks
Heavy Equipment
GREASE ANALYSIS
Grease
Use the dedicated grease testing workflow to investigate contamination and wear debris in lubricating grease.
Bearings
Heavy machinery
Industrial Lubrication
Wear Investigation
FIELD MAINTENANCE
Take Testing to the Machine
Use the dedicated grease testing workflow to investigate contamination and wear debris in lubricating grease.
Mobile plant
Mining equipment
Construction sites
Remote locations
ONE KIT. MULTIPLE FIELD APPLICATIONS.
Whether you're investigating hydraulic oil, lubricating oil, diesel or grease, FA-ST provides a practical way to screen contamination closer to the equipment.
SIMPLE FIELD-BASED TESTING
From Fluid Sample to Actionable Insight
A straightforward workflow designed to help maintenance teams investigate fluid contamination directly at the machine.
STEP 01
Sample
Take a representative sample of oil, hydraulic fluid, diesel or other compatible fluid from the equipment being investigated.
STEP 02
Filter
Pass the sample through the appropriate membrane to capture particulate contamination and wear debris.
STEP 03
Inspect
Examine the membrane using the supplied microscope equipment and capture images of significant findings.
STEP 04
Identify
Assess the appearance and type of contamination, including particles such as metal, fibres, silica and other debris.
!
FIELD SCREENING
Rapid assessment. Informed decisions.
Record the findings and use them to support maintenance decisions or determine whether further laboratory analysis is appropriate.
CLEANLINESS ASSESSMENT
Compare what you find against recognised cleanliness references.
Use the supplied comparison material to support an indicative assessment of particulate cleanliness and document changes between samples.
COMPLETE FIELD ANALYSIS SYSTEM
Everything You Need in One Portable Kit
A self-contained testing system supplied with the equipment, accessories and consumables needed to carry out practical field-based fluid contamination investigations.
INCLUDED
What's inside the case?
Vacuum Pump
Portable hand-operated equipment for drawing fluid through the test membrane.
Membrane Patches
Supplied filtration membranes for capturing particulate contamination from fluid samples.
Patch Holder & Filtration Equipment
Components required to securely hold and process the test membrane during filtration.
Microscope & Smartphone Adapter
Magnification equipment for examining particles and capturing images for documentation.
Sample Bottles & Preparation Equipment
Equipment for collecting, preparing and handling representative fluid samples.
Scales & Grease Testing Equipment
Additional equipment supporting the dedicated grease contamination testing workflow.
PPE & Consumables
Essential consumables and protective equipment to help carry out the testing process.
Portable Carry Case
Keep the complete testing system organised, protected and ready for field use.
Portable
Take the testing equipment to the machine.
Self-Contained
Essential equipment organised in one case.
Reusable
Continue testing with replacement consumables.
Field Ready
Designed for practical maintenance environments.
READY TO INVESTIGATE YOUR FLUID?
Put practical contamination analysis in the hands of your maintenance team.
DOCUMENT • COMPARE • SHARE
Turn Contamination Into Visual Evidence
The FA-ST Portable Fluid Contamination Analysis Kit makes contamination visible in the field. Capture microscope images, record your observations and share evidence with the people responsible for maintenance, reliability and further analysis.
01
Capture What You Find
Use the supplied microscope and smartphone adapter to capture images of particles and contamination found on the membrane patch.
02
Compare Findings
Compare current contamination findings with previous samples, reference images or known contamination types.
03
Record Observations
Record sample information, visible contamination and cleanliness observations alongside the physical patch and captured images.
04
Share the Evidence
Share visual findings with maintenance teams, reliability engineers, laboratories, technical support teams or OEMs when further investigation is required.
✓
From sample to documented evidence
Create a clearer record of what was found, where it was found and what action may be required next.
MAKE CONTAMINATION VISIBLE
See the evidence before deciding what happens next.
INTERPRET • ASSESS • ACT
Understand What the Contamination Is Telling You
A contamination patch is more than a visual inspection. Combined with reference charts, cleanliness classifications and sample history, field observations can help maintenance teams understand what they are seeing and decide what to investigate next.
CLEANLINESS REFERENCE
ISO 4406 / NAS Assessment
✓
Use the supplied reference information to support a consistent assessment of visible contamination and cleanliness condition.
WHAT THE KIT HELPS YOU ASSESS
Combine visual evidence with technical reference
The FA-ST gives maintenance personnel a practical way to inspect contamination at the point of use and build a clearer picture of fluid condition.
01
Particle Presence
See whether visible particles or deposits are present on the test membrane.
02
Particle Characteristics
Examine particle appearance, shape, colour and other visible characteristics to support contamination identification.
03
Cleanliness Condition
Use the supplied ISO 4406 / NAS reference information as part of a field cleanliness assessment.
04
Next-Step Decisions
Use the evidence to help determine whether further investigation or laboratory analysis should be considered.
PARTICLE IDENTIFICATION
What Could You Be Looking At?
Use visual characteristics and the supplied reference material to support identification of common contamination types found in industrial fluids.
Metal & Wear Debris
Visible metallic particles may provide useful evidence when investigating component wear or abnormal machine condition.
Fibres
Fibre contamination can be visually assessed and documented as part of an investigation into fluid cleanliness or external contamination.
Silica & Dirt
Hard, mineral-based particles can be recorded and investigated as part of a contamination monitoring programme.
Rust & Corrosion
Corrosion-related particles can provide useful visual evidence when investigating equipment condition and fluid contamination.
Plastics & Elastomers
Non-metallic particles can also be documented and investigated to help identify potential contamination sources.
Residue & Deposits
Gel residues, deposits and other visible contamination can be captured and recorded during field inspection.
→
FIELD SCREENING
Use field evidence to decide what happens next.
The FA-ST is designed to support field screening and contamination investigation. Where more detailed quantitative or laboratory analysis is required, the documented field evidence can help inform the next step.
FIELD SCREENING • DECISION SUPPORT
Know When to Investigate Further
Not every contamination finding requires the same response. The FA-ST provides maintenance teams with practical field evidence that can help determine whether to continue monitoring, investigate the equipment or send a sample for further analysis.
Inspect
Take a representative fluid sample and examine the membrane patch for visible contamination.
Sample & inspect
Assess
Review particle characteristics, contamination type, cleanliness information and previous sample history.
Build the picture
Decide
Determine whether the finding can be monitored in the field or whether further investigation is appropriate.
Choose the next step
Investigate
Where appropriate, use the documented field evidence to support further testing, laboratory analysis or technical investigation.
Take informed action
ROUTE 01
Continue Monitoring
Where findings are consistent with an established baseline, continue routine sampling and record the result as part of the equipment's condition history.
✓ Establish a repeatable sampling routine
✓ Compare results over time
✓ Build equipment contamination history
ROUTE 02
Investigate Further
Where unusual contamination, significant change or other concerns are identified, use the field evidence to help determine the appropriate next investigation.
→ Obtain further laboratory analysis
→ Investigate potential contamination sources
→ Examine equipment or component condition
!
Field screening is not a replacement for laboratory analysis
The FA-ST is designed to provide rapid field visibility and supporting evidence. Where quantitative particle counting, detailed chemical analysis or other specialist testing is required, laboratory analysis should be considered.
FROM FIELD FINDING TO NEXT STEP
Build a clearer picture of fluid condition.
Give maintenance teams a practical way to inspect, document and communicate contamination findings.
DESIGNED FOR FIELD USE
Built for the Way You Work
Fluid contamination doesn't only happen inside a laboratory. The FA-ST is designed to travel with maintenance and reliability teams, bringing practical contamination screening closer to the equipment.
01 • MOBILE MAINTENANCE
Take contamination screening to the machine.
When equipment is spread across a site, fleet or remote location, taking the test equipment to the sample can make contamination screening more accessible to maintenance teams.
✓
Inspect at the point of use
Collect and examine samples without relying on a fixed laboratory location.
✓
Capture findings immediately
Photograph contamination while the equipment and sample are readily available.
✓
Support faster investigation
Use field observations to help determine what should happen next.
Engineering & Maintenance Workshops
Inspect hydraulic and lubricating fluids during routine maintenance, troubleshooting and equipment servicing.
Construction & Mobile Plant
Take contamination screening into the field when servicing excavators, loaders, cranes and other mobile equipment.
Manufacturing & Process Equipment
Support condition monitoring and contamination investigations across hydraulic, lubrication and process equipment.
Agricultural Machinery
Bring fluid contamination screening to tractors, harvesters and other machinery where maintenance often takes place away from a workshop.
Remote Maintenance & Service
A portable solution for service teams working across sites where access to laboratory facilities may be limited.
Fleet & Equipment Maintenance
Use consistent field screening across multiple machines to support repeatable inspection and contamination monitoring.
ONE PORTABLE SYSTEM
Wherever the equipment is, your contamination test can be too.
The FA-ST combines sampling, filtration, inspection and visual documentation in one portable system, helping bring contamination screening closer to the equipment being maintained.
Field
Screening
Visual
Evidence
Repeatable
Sampling
SEE HOW IT FITS YOUR OPERATION
Looking for a portable contamination screening solution?
WHY CHOOSE FA-ST
A Practical Step Between Routine Sampling & Laboratory Analysis
The FA-ST gives maintenance, reliability and engineering teams a practical way to screen fluid contamination directly in the field. It combines filtration, visual inspection and smartphone-enabled microscopy in one portable system.
Make Better Decisions Closer to the Machine
Laboratory analysis remains an important part of a condition monitoring programme. But not every sample requires immediate laboratory investigation.
FA-ST provides a practical screening step that can help teams identify visible contamination, document findings and decide whether further investigation or laboratory analysis is appropriate.
01
Screen in the Field
Examine samples where the equipment is located, without relying solely on laboratory access.
02
See the Evidence
Filter contamination onto a membrane and inspect particles, fibres, debris and residues visually.
03
Decide What Happens Next
Use the findings to support monitoring, investigation and decisions about further laboratory analysis.
BUILT AROUND PRACTICAL FIELD USE
One System. Multiple Advantages.
01
Repeatable Process
Follow a consistent Sample → Filter → Inspect →Identify → Act workflow across different applications.
02
Visual Evidence
Inspect contamination directly and capture microscope images using a compatible smartphone setup.
03
Rapid Field Screening
Move from sample collection to filtration and visual inspection as part of a structured field workflow.
04
Portable by Design
A complete contamination screening system contained within a practical, transportable kit for use across maintenance and field environments.
05
Reusable Equipment
The core equipment can be used repeatedly, with consumable components replaced as required between tests.
06
Supports Lab Decisions
Field observations can help teams determine when a sample warrants further laboratory investigation.
Portable
Take it to the equipment
Reusable
Designed for repeated screening
Visual
See and document contamination
Field Ready
Built for practical maintenance use
EXPLORE FA-ST
Bring Fluid Contamination Screening Closer to the Machine.
Discover how FA-ST can become part of your fluid contamination monitoring and maintenance workflow.
INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
More Than a Kit. Practical Support Behind It.
Whether you are introducing field contamination screening to your own maintenance team, supporting customers as a distributor, or developing a wider condition monitoring programme, Oil Sampling Services can help you put FA-ST into practice.
Help Your Team Get More From Every Sample
Introducing a new contamination screening process is about more than having the right equipment. Teams need to understand the workflow, recognise what they are seeing and know when further investigation may be appropriate.
FA-ST provides a structured approach to field screening, supported by practical guidance around sampling, filtration, visual inspection and contamination identification.
01
Product Guidance
Understand the equipment, consumables and practical workflow required for field screening.
02
Practical Training
Build confidence around sample preparation, filtration, inspection and recording findings.
03
Technical Resources
Use reference information to support contamination identification and assessment.
04
Ongoing Support
Maintain a consistent approach as FA-ST becomes part of your wider maintenance process.
Maintenance & Reliability Teams
Introduce practical field screening into hydraulic, lubrication, diesel, mobile plant and industrial maintenance programmes.
International Distribution
Discuss opportunities to introduce FA-ST to customers within your territory and develop a practical field contamination screening proposition.
Condition Monitoring Programmes
Use field observations alongside routine sampling and laboratory analysis to create a broader contamination monitoring workflow.
HOW WE SUPPORT YOU
From First Test to Repeatable Field Practice
01. Understand
Identify where field contamination screening could complement your existing sampling process.
02. Equip
Configure the appropriate FA-ST equipment, consumables and supporting resources.
03. Train
Establish a consistent approach to sampling, filtration, inspection and documentation.
04. Apply
Put field screening into everyday maintenance and condition monitoring workflows.
!
Field screening complements laboratory analysis.
FA-ST is designed to provide practical field observations and contamination evidence. Where a sample requires detailed quantitative or laboratory analysis, the findings can help support the decision to investigate further.
INTERNATIONAL ENQUIRIES
Looking to Introduce
FA-ST to Your Market?
Talk to Oil Sampling Services about applications, distribution opportunities, technical support and international requirements.
INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY
Built for Global Markets
Fluid contamination is a global maintenance challenge. FA-ST provides a practical field screening approach for organisations working across industrial, mobile, energy, agricultural and equipment maintenance environments.
One Core System. Multiple Market Applications.
The same fundamental contamination screening workflow can be applied wherever hydraulic fluids, lubricants, fuels and greases are used to keep equipment operating.
From maintenance teams working on mobile equipment to industrial plants and specialist service providers, FA-ST can support a consistent approach to field contamination inspection.
Hydraulics
Industrial
Mobile Plant
Energy
Agriculture
Fleet Maintenance
MARKET APPLICATIONS
Designed Around Real Maintenance Challenges
Screen hydraulic fluid for visible contamination including wear debris, fibres, corrosion products and other particulate material.
Support contamination checks across manufacturing, processing and industrial maintenance environments.
Take contamination screening directly to excavators, loaders, cranes and other mobile equipment.
Provide field teams with a practical screening tool for equipment where fluid cleanliness is important to maintenance programmes.
Support field-based maintenance of tractors, harvesters and hydraulic agricultural equipment.
Add field contamination screening to equipment inspection, maintenance and condition monitoring services.
EXPAND YOUR OFFERING
Interested in FA-ST for Your Market?
Contact Oil Sampling Services to discuss your application, market requirements or international distribution enquiry.
TECHNICAL FAQ
Questions About FA-ST?
Find answers to common questions about field fluid contamination screening, sampling, filtration, particle identification and the relationship between FA-ST and laboratory analysis.
FA-ST
Field Fluid Contamination Screening
A portable approach to inspecting contamination directly where equipment is operating.
?
Need more information?
Contact our team to discuss your application, technical requirements or international distribution opportunities.
What is the FA-ST kit used for?
FA-ST is a portable fluid contamination analysis system designed for field screening of oil, hydraulic fluids, diesel/fuel and grease samples. It allows users to filter a sample, inspect the eesulting membrane and identify visible contamination characteristics.
Is FA-ST a replacement for laboratory oil analysis?
No. FA-ST is designed as a field screening and visual inspection tool rather than a replacement for detailed laboratory analysis.
Field findings can help teams understand what is present in a sample and decide when further laboratory investigation may be appropriate.
What types of contamination can be identified?
Depending on the sample and inspection conditions, FA-ST can help users visually identify and characterise contamination such as metal wear debris, fibres, silica or other mineral particles, rust and corrosion products, plastics, elastomers, deposits and other visible residues.
Can FA-ST be used for hydraulic oil?
Yes. Hydraulic oil is one of the key applications for field contamination screening. A filtered hydraulic oil sample can be inspected for visible particulate contamination, fibres, wear debris and other material present on the membrane.
Can the kit be used with grease?
Yes. FA-ST includes equipment and consumables intended to support grease contamination assessment. The supplied filtration approach differs from the membrane used for oil samples, allowing users to work with different sample types.
Can microscope images be captured?
Yes. The FA-ST system includes a microscope and smartphone adapter that can be used to capture images of the filtered sample.
This provides a practical way to document findings, compare samples and share visual evidence with maintenance, engineering or reliability teams.
Does FA-ST provide an ISO 4406 or NAS cleanliness assessment?
FA-ST can support an indicative visual assessment of fluid cleanliness using appropriate ISO 4406 and NAS reference information supplied with the system or used alongside the inspection process. It should not be represented as equivalent to automated laboratory particle counting or a laboratory-certified cleanliness result.
Is the FA-ST equipment reusable?
The core equipment is designed for repeated use. Consumable items such as membrane patches and other sample-preparation components are replaced as required between tests.
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Let's Discuss Your Application
Tell us about your equipment, sampling requirements or market and our team can discuss how FA-ST could fit into your workflow.
READY TO GET STARTED?
Ready to Take Fluid Contamination Testing Into the Field?
FA-ST gives maintenance, reliability and condition monitoring teams a practical way to screen fluid contamination closer to the equipment — helping you identify what is present and decide when further laboratory analysis is required.
ONE KIT. PRACTICAL FIELD INTELLIGENCE.
A practical step between routine sampling and laboratory analysis.
FA-ST is designed to help engineers and maintenance teams investigate fluid contamination directly in the field, workshop or maintenance environment.
Portable Field Screening
Investigate fluid contamination close to the equipment.
Oil & Grease Applications
Suitable for practical contamination screening across multiple fluid types.
Visual Particle Identification
Inspect contamination and identify particle characteristics.
Smartphone Microscopy
Capture images of findings for records, comparison and communication.
Reusable Equipment
A practical system designed for repeated field investigations.
Supports Laboratory Decisions
Use field observations to help determine when further analysis is appropriate.
Contact Us
01
Portable
Take testing closer to the equipment.
02
Reusable
Designed for repeated field investigations.
03
Visual
See and document contamination evidence.
04
Field Ready
Built for practical maintenance environments.
Important: FA-ST is intended for field screening and visual assessment of fluid contamination. It complements, rather than replaces, laboratory analysis where detailed or certified analysis is required.
