Fish, Shellfish & Aquaculture Testing

Fish Testing, Shellfish & Aquaculture Testing

Hill Labs is an RLP-accredited laboratory offering a wide range of fish testing, shellfish testing, and aquaculture analysis services to support the fishing and aquaculture industries. Fish, shellfish (such as mussels, oysters, and clams), and even seaweed are tested for compliance with domestic and/or export requirements. Commonly conducted analyses include chemistry testing for Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs), particularly heavy metals, as well as 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, meaning that they can bioaccumulate in fish and shellfish and potentially humans. As such, testing soil, water, fish, shellfish, fruits and vegetables for heavy metals is commonplace. Hill Labs has an extensive suite of heavy metal tests for a wide range of sample types, including soil, water, fish, shellfish, produce and honey. Our technical notes will help guide you through which test is 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. 

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Helpful links

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

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As I write this, we are finishing the clean up after a complex and high-stakes piece of work which was delivered over the weekend – an upgrade to the power supply at our largest lab, located in Hamilton. This has been months in the planning, and included a full power shut down to the site, with generators used to keep essential operations running until the power was restored.
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  27 Aug 2026

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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."

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.