Lab Services

Important Notice – Animal and Plant Lab Transition

This is an update on the operations of the NSDA lab during its transition to Perennia.

Soil, Feed, Manure and Plant Tissue Testing

Testing for soil, feeds, manure and plant tissue are now being tested in Harlow. Several former NSDA team lab members are now part of the Perennia team and as of Monday are processing samples everyday.

Regional offices will continue to accept all these types of samples.

Water Testing

Drinking water and mineral water samples are being referred daily to another lab until further notice.

A few things to note:

  • the Harlow location in Bible Hill is the only location accepting water samples
  • samples can be dropped off Monday through Thursday
  • the cut off time to drop off water samples at Harlow is 1:00pm
  • water samples must be less than 15 hours old

Regional offices cannot accept drinking water samples at this time. 

If you cannot get your drinking water sample to the Harlow location, check the Department of Environment website for a list of alternate labs.

Registered farmers will continue to receive a 50% discount on lab fees

The Department of Agriculture manages laboratories that analyze a range of animal, food and agricultural materials, including: individual animal and herd/flock health diagnoses; raw and processed milk and related dairy products; drinking, milk house and greenhouse water; soils; livestock feed; plant tissue; compost; and manure analyses. Our services are aimed primarily at agricultural producers and industry, but we are available to private companies, other government agencies, researchers and the public.

Our labs are located in two buildings. The Animal and Plant Lab is located at 176 College Road, while the Animal Health Lab is at 65 River Road. Dairy Lab functions are carried out in one of these two locations.

For more in-depth lab information including drop-off hours, fees and specifics on sampling:

Animal and Plant Lab

Responsible for testing: water, feed, soil, manure, compost, and fruit and vegetable crop tissues.

Animal Health Lab

Responsible for testing: livestock and other animals and post-mortem examinations.

Dairy Lab

Responsible for testing: dairy products and related materials.