Molecular and Food Microbiology Testing
Hill Labs has an extensive array of pathogen, food spoilage and food quality related tests for products and swabs. Both traditional and molecular based testing platforms are utilised to ensure industry leading turnaround times and reliability of results.
Quality indicator testing covers a broad range of microorganisms to demonstrate the quality of your products, and allow you to monitor your processes. We offer an extensive range of microbiology tests for quality and/or spoilage indicators with industry-leading turnaround times, so you can get your product to market quicker.
Commonly requested tests include:
Pathogen testing is used to identify the presence of potentially harmful pathogenic organisms in finished products, ingredients, and manufacturing environments. We have a range of tests to detect the presence of pathogens in food samples. Testing is performed by PCR, giving you negative results as quickly as next-day*, giving you peace-of-mind.
Our routinely analysed pathogens are listed below:
*If received at the laboratory by 4:30pm.
Do you have a project to demonstrate shelf-life, antimicrobial efficacy, or other bespoke testing project you would like to do? Get started by discussing it with our knowledgeable Micro Client Service Managers.
We offer a full range of food microbiology testing options for hemp products, and we have a number of IANZ accredited European Pharmacopoeia methods to meet your medicinal cannabis needs. We also offer comprehensive chemistry and residue testing for cannabis. More information can be found here.
European Pharmacopoeia tests:
We offer a wide range of testing options suited for beverage products (including bottled water). Talk to our friendly Micro Client Service Managers about your testing and detection limit needs today.
Specific beverage tests include (but are not limited to):
In the food industry, monitoring cleaning efficacy through environmental swab testing is an essential part of the production process, and can be used to validate critical control points identified in a HACCP. Food and beverage production and distribution is complex with many factors involved in manufacture, packaging, and transport. Preparation, processing, and handling areas can easily be contaminated if not cleaned and sanitised. Testing for appropriate target organisms helps you monitor your processes.
We offer a range of hygiene monitoring options to suit your HACCP or RMP needs; swab testing is available for all our Quality Indicator and Pathogen tests, and we also have options for air quality monitoring using air settle plates.
All kits and media for this testing can be provided as part of our service.
In addition to our routine food microbiological testing, we have a number of tests available specifically for the honey sector, including;
As a MPI Recognised Laboratory (RLP), Hill Labs is also an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited provider for the National Microbiological Database (NMD) programme. The NMD programme provides ongoing monitoring of microbiological process control across red meat and poultry industry participants. NMD testing is performed via petrifilm for a range of sample types and Assurance GDS MPX Top 7 STEC (incl. E.coli O157). We are also a provider of Level 2 Sampler services.
Ensuring a sample is collected correctly is critically important to the accuracy and relevance of your results. Inappropriate sampling methodology and sample treatment can result in erroneous results and cause lost time, or worse, create significant risk within your food safety programme. Hill Labs offers dedicated sampler training (Christchurch only) to give our clients confidence that they are taking water and environmental samples correctly.
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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."
"We strongly recommend Hill Labs as a sound testing service provider to the honey industry."
"Their sample registration system has made things simple and seamless - collect, scan and send!"
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.
