Services
Microbiological Testing
Drinking, Swimming pools, Food, macro invertebrates
This is one of the most important aspects of water quality, since it relates directly to the health and well being of consumers. Tweed has a variety of tests that are performed routinely on drinking water, recreation waters, Swimming Pools, Bores, Spring and Waters of the environment. This ensures that the water people may consume will be safe to do so. + View More
Chemical Testing
General, ICP, FIA, IC
Tweed Laboratory Centre offers a variety of chemical testing both Classical and instrumental. The laboratory provides this analytical service to Council and also to the Ratepayers (at a cost) and other external organisations such as consultants, universities and private companies. + View More
Algae Testing
Blue green, Biovolume, freshwater
Blue green algae in fact all Algae can be deleterious to a water system. Tweed Laboratory prides itself on being to the fore in the identification and enumeration of algal species. The identification must be performed in a timely manner (within 24 -48 hours) along with this reporting of Biovolume is essential with Blue green algae. + View More
Acid Sulphate
Chromium Reducible, sPOCAS
Has become a very important analysis particular to the construction industry but also has significant ramifications to the agricultural industry. This particular aspect of soil science has its heritage in the Tweed region so it is natural for the Laboratory to take a significant interest. This interest has included assisting numerous Universities with speciation analysis in the area of sulphur chemistry.
The Eastern seaboard of Australia has significant areas where the soil is classified as Acid Sulphate. This means that should it be disturbed and open to the atmosphere a significant decrease in pH due to the formation of Sulphuric acid can cause severe problems. We identify these areas by performing 1 of 2 differing suites of analysis: sPocas and Chromium reducible Sulphur.
Organic
Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Pesticides & herbicides, THM’s, Phenols
The need to analyse reticulated water for bi products from the disinfection process led Tweed Laboratory to purchase Gas Chromatography Mass spectrometry instrumentation. The abilities of this instrumentation soon lead to the development of other analytes:
Petroleum Hydrocarbons, Pesticides & herbicides, Pesticides (OC and OP), Phenols.
We will continue to increase the scope of this section with the introduction a new instrument and the development of PCB analysis later this year, early 2008
Developing & Special Services
developing Services
Tweed Laboratory has continued to develop the range of services it offers over the last 20 years, we are currently looking at 3 new services to offer or assist our clients.
- LIMS and the Internet: We are currently establishing a Laboratory Information Management System. This will allow clients to receive their results much faster. Along with this is a Web based interface that will allow clients to view their results in the web, so instead of waiting to receive an email or fax you will see them as they are performed (updated each day)
- PCR – Polymerase Chain reaction: This technique will allow us to identify the toxins in Blue green algae, the benefit of this technique is the speed (over currently used techniques) and the particularly the lower cost of analysis.
- PCB analysis: the laboratory will be purchasing another GCMS to allow development of this suite of testing, it will also give us the added additional capacity to cope with any additional work in our current accreditation scheme
Collecting of samples
Containers, preservation, holding times
While we do specialise in on-site collection, you are more than welcome to supply your own samples. There are a few guidelines to follow to ensure that the sample you collect can be correctly analysed. + View More
Chain of Custody
In the overall process of collection, transportation, receipt and, finally, the reporting of analytical results for environmental samples it is imperative that sufficient documentation be supplied to support each of the phases involved.
Where anyone handles and/or transports samples, there is a legal requirement that this be documented. This is done using a document titled a “Chain of Custody”. + View More
On site sampling and analysis
Tweed Laboratory Centre provides both information on sample collection and the appropriate containers to clients who wish to perform their own sampling.
We also provide a service where we will pick up from clients when they have performed a sampling program but may find it difficult to get to a Laboratory. Simply call the Laboratory on (07) 55 693 100 and we will arrange pick-up (must be within 2hours drive ).
We also provide the service where a client may not have the time or the Skills to collect appropriate samples we will collect the samples perform any testing in the field that needs to be done and then take appropriate samples for Laboratory analysis. Again Call (07) 55 693 100 for a quote.