Environmental Analysis Laboratory - EAL

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Analytical services

The Environmental Analysis Laboratory (EAL) specialises in a range of quality analytical services:

Fire ant environmental analysis laboratory

Fire Ant Biosecurity Zones

Sending samples from South East Queensland, South Murwillumbah, and Wardell, Northern New South Wales

Red imported fire ants (fire ants) are invasive, exotic ants that cause serious social, economic, and environmental harm. They are aggressive and have a severe, burning sting. Fire ants currently infest a large area of South East Queensland with nests now found in South Murwillumbah and Wardell, NSW.

If you are sending organic materials from within fire ant biosecurity zones, you are legally obliged to use fire ant-safe practices before moving them to a new location (Biosecurity Regulation 2016; NSW Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order (No 4) 2023). The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) website provides more information on the Order. To check if your area falls within the zone you can search the map updated monthly on the DPI website.

Please follow the NSW entry conditions before sending samples to EAL, including treatment of material. When EAL receives samples, the packages will be either frozen to -18 ˚C or heated to 65.5 ˚C prior to analysis. This is a safety precaution for our staff. We are confident the treatment will not impact on your analytical results.

Operating since 1993, EAL is part of Southern Cross University (SCU), located at the Lismore campus.

Along with partner laboratory the Analytical Research Laboratory, EAL sits within the Southern Cross Analytical Research Services unit.

Strong partnerships with ARL - a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved commercial/research facility providing specialist capabilities in applied phytochemistry, crop quality and herbal medicine quality control - and SCU's Special Research Centres, along with EAL's flexibility and capacity to diversify, enables the laboratory to adopt new and innovative techniques as they are developed and tested, through ongoing research.

Management and staff have a strong commitment to quality assurance. EAL holds NATA accreditation for a wide range of tests. All analysis is backed by rigorous quality control procedures, with proven reproducibility through regular proficiency trials. EAL provides world-standard work in the shortest possible time frame, at commercially competitive prices. Full confidentiality and security are provided for all analytical work.

To submit samples to EAL, please refer to the Sample submission page for delivery address, Turn-around times and pricing information.

Contact EAL for information

eal@scu.edu.au (02) 6620 3678 EAL Enquiry Form