Lab Services

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

Effective Monday March 23, 2020 we will be temporarily reducing the services offered at our Analytical Laboratory and will be accepting only water samples requiring bacterial analysis. Regular business hours and sample drop off times will remain in effect at this time.

In order to ensure the safety of our staff and clients, we continue to take direction from public health and are encouraging the practice of social distancing.

The situation with COVID-19 is changing rapidly, and we will continue to update you with any changes to laboratory services as soon as they become available.

Please contact the laboratory with any questions:
Email: LabServices@novascotia.ca
Phone: 902-893-6565

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.