Aquaculture and Fish

Aquaculture and Fish

Hill Labs is a RLP accredited laboratory with a wide range of tests to support the fishing and aquaculture industries. Fish, Shellfish (such as mussels, oysters, clams) and even seaweed are tested for compliance against domestic and/or export requirements. Commonly conducted analyses include chemistry testing for Maximum Residue Levels (MRL’s) particularly heavy metals, and Microbiological testing to ensure food safety.

Heavy Metal Testing

Water may become contaminated with heavy metals for many reasons. Many soil contaminants, such as heavy metals remain in biologically accessible states for extended periods of time, and are water-soluble, which means that they can bio-accumulate in fish and shellfish and potentially humans. As such testing soil, water, fruits and vegetables for heavy metals is commonplace. Hill Labs has an extensive suite of heavy metal tests for use on everything from soil through to honey. Our technical notes will help guide you through what test may be right for your needs.

Pathogen Testing

Hill Labs has an extensive array of pathogen-related tests that use either traditional culture, or molecular based detection. Our turnaround times are industry-leading and can be used with product or environmental swabs alike. Some of our routinely analysed pathogens are listed below:

  • Listeria species (by PCR)
  • Listeria monocytogenes (by PCR)
  • Salmonella (by PCR)
  • Aerobic plate count (APCs)
  • Enterobacteriaceae
  • Total coliforms
  • Faecal coliforms
  • E. coli
  • STEC E. coli ((including O157) by PCR)
  • Clostridium perfringens
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Camplyobacter

Pesticide Residue Testing

Hill Labs has extensive experience in the analysis of pesticide residues. We have developed award winning purification systems that ensure the best possible extraction of contaminants across the most diverse array of sample types available in New Zealand. Our test offering is IANZ accredited and suitable for use in both domestic and export-based situations. 

Contact us for more info

Helpful links

Our team of testing experts has meticulously crafted these documents to offer recommendations tailored to your testing requirements.

Latest Stories

Fieldays 40th Birthday Competiton - Terms and Conditions

To celebrate our 40 year success story, we're giving away a free test* to 40 lucky winners who enter on our stand at Fieldays, 12-15 June 2024, Mystery Creek, Hamilton. Come and see us at site PE24 in The Pavilion to enter!
  11 Jun 2024

40 Years of Environmental Excellence

Over the past four decades, Hill Labs has been at the forefront of environmental testing in New Zealand. We initially provided basic water tests for farmers, but in 1986, following an enquiry about water analysis for mining projects, the Environmental division was established. The landscape of environmental testing shifted significantly with the enactment of the Resource Management Act in 1991, which precipitated a surge in demand for Hill Labs’ services.
  28 May 2024

The First 40 Years

When Roger and Anne Hill started Hill Laboratories, they had no idea what was ahead of them. Roger had been working as the manager of a small, private soil testing lab in Cambridge, but when it was clear the promised significant shareholding was not going to happen, it was very unsettling. Anne finally said to him “You know what you are going to have to do. You need to leave and start your own laboratory, otherwise you will just grow into a grumpy old man, wondering what might have been.”
  28 May 2024

What our customers have to say

"We've always found them to be responsive in getting results back and giving advice on problems we might be facing."

Andrew Hutchinson, Technical Manager, Turners & Growers

"We strongly recommend Hill Labs as a sound testing service provider to the honey industry."

Nick Walker, Technical Manager, Egmont Honey

"Their sample registration system has made things simple and seamless - collect, scan and send!"

Mathew Bannister, Compliance Manager, First Fresh New Zealand

Accreditations

As a New Zealand accredited laboratory by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ), Hill Labs' commitment to quality is tantamount to our overall operating philosophy. We pride ourselves on the quality of our work.