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Public Health Laboratory food, water and environmental testing
- The Public Health Laboratory is a food, water and environmental testing laboratory based in Hobart.
- We provide microbiological testing services to the Tasmanian government, local government, private businesses and individuals across the state.
- Our testing services (listed below) are NATA-accredited except where marked with an asterisk (*).
Testing services
Water testing |
Food testing |
Other |
|
Heterotrophic Colony Count * Marine Heterotrophic Colony Count Total Coliforms Thermotolerant Coliforms Escherichia coli Enterococci Pseudomonas aeruginosa Salmonella spp. Legionella spp. * Listeria spp. * Listeria monocytogenes * Marine Heterotrophic Colony Count |
Standard Plate Count Total Coliforms Escherichia coli Coagulase-positive staphylococci Bacillus cereus Campylobacter spp. Salmonella spp. Listeria spp. Listeria monocytogenes Vibrio parahaemolyticus * Yeasts and Mould Count * Clostridium perfringens |
* Environmental swabs * Sterility checks |
Food and Water Guidelines
- For Food Safety Standards and Guidelines, please visit the food safety section of our website.
- For Water Safety Standards and Guidelines, please visit the water safety section of our website.
- Download the Guidance on the use of rainwater tanks.
Price Schedule
Public Health Laboratory Schedule of Charges 2020-21
2020-21 fees have been frozen at the 2019-20 schedule as part of the coronavirus (COVID-19) response.
Download the current schedule of charges
Microbiological examination of waters general sampling procedures and techniques
- Sampling is your sole responsibility.
- If appropriate sampling procedures are not used, the validity of results cannot be guaranteed.
- To help you carry out appropriate procedures and obtain valid results, download customer instructions on how to collect and submit samples.
- To arrange testing, please contact us on 03 6166 1106.
Submission and forms
- Microbiological tests generally take between 24 and 72 hours to complete.
- Some like Legionella take up to 7 days (Legionella).
- Samples should be tested within 24 hours of being taken (excluding packaged foods with a use-by).
- Submission must be before 2 pm on Friday, to allow same-day testing.
- Samples submitted after 2pm on Monday-Thursday may be tested the next day.
Forms
You can download request forms below in PDF for printing or Word for use with assistive technology. Forms are also available in hardcopy on submitting the sample to the laboratory.
- Sample request form - Potable water
- Sample request form - Swimming pool water
- Sample request form - Natural waters and effluents
- Sample request form - Shellfish lease waters
- Sample request form - Food
- Sample request form - Regulated Systems Water
- Sample request form - Miscellaneous
National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation
Public Health Laboratory: NATA Accredited Laboratory No. 1785
- Download the Scope of Accreditation
- Download the Scope of Accreditation (PDF version)
Measurement uncertainty
All measurements have an inherent uncertainty due to:
- small unavoidable variations in the sample
- media used in testing
- person doing the analysis
- all other conditions at the time of analysis.
The following document is a guide to measurement uncertainty and provides MU values for all quantitative methods used by the Public Health Laboratory.
Download the Measurement Uncertainty Notice
How to contact the Public Health Laboratory
- Phone: 03 6166 1106
- Manager: 03 6166 1107
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: 18 St Johns Avenue, New Town, TAS 7008 (customer parking is available).
