What SureScreen Scientifics does

SureScreen Scientifics is a UK-based forensic ecology laboratory specializing in environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis and molecular species identification for the ecological industry. The company was founded in 1991 (per firmographic records) and is headquartered at Morley Retreat, Church Lane, Morley, Derbyshire, operating as a private limited company (SureScreen Scientifics Limited) within the wider SureScreen Group. Its core technology is qPCR-based eDNA detection using species-specific mitochondrial DNA primers, validated against the DEFRA WC1067 protocol for great crested newt (GCN) surveys and accepted by Natural England. Service portfolio includes GCN eDNA testing, water vole eDNA, crayfish eDNA (including the first commercial UK white-clawed crayfish test), bat dropping species identification, biological species ID across mammals, fish, birds, insects, plants and fungi, and DNA-based bird sexing across 53+ species. Supporting products include proprietary sample collection kits (GCN kit, filter eDNA kit, bat dropping kit, biological kit, refill kit) and accessories (telescopic pole), sold via an e-commerce shop and PO-based institutional ordering.

The company earns revenue through two streams: hardware sales of sample collection kits (priced £15-£35 ex. VAT) and professional services for laboratory analysis (£17-£355 per sample depending on service tier and turnaround speed, with same-day options available). Collection kits and analysis are billed separately, with first-time customers paying upfront and returning customers invoiced post-analysis. Free UK delivery is offered on most kits; Northern Ireland and Ireland incur surcharges. Customers are primarily mid-market UK ecological and environmental consultancies, with secondary demand from conservation organizations, government planning authorities, and academic institutions. GTM is sales-led via direct e-commerce, phone, and PO ordering, supported by content marketing (species finder tool, sample collection guides, species factsheets, FAQ resources) targeted at ecological professionals. The business has no disclosed external funding, no M&A activity, and remains a single-geography (UK) operation, growing primarily through assay portfolio expansion rather than geographic or channel diversification.

Name

SureScreen Scientifics

Legal name

SureScreen Scientifics Limited

Website

https://surescreenscientifics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SureScreen Scientifics is a UK forensic ecology laboratory that uses qPCR-based environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis to detect protected and indicator species for ecological consultancies, planning authorities, conservation organizations, and academic researchers, selling proprietary sample collection kits and laboratory analysis services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Forensic Ecology Laboratory Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental DNA (eDNA) & Advanced Biodiversity Methods (Bioacoustics, Camera Traps) (EUAHAHAM)

Keywords

• Environmental DNA analysis
• Forensic ecology laboratory
• Species detection kits
• Molecular ecology testing
• Wildlife DNA testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Morley

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Analysis Services: DNA analysis and testing services for ecological samples including eDNA analysis, biological species identification, and bird sexing. Analysis is invoiced separately after samples are received. First-time orders require upfront payment for analysis.
2. Sample Collection Kits: Sale of sample collection kits for field sampling including GCN eDNA kits, filter eDNA kits, bat dropping collection kits, biological collection kits, and accessories. Kits are sold at fixed prices with separate analysis fees.
3. GCN eDNA Refill Kits: Sustainable refill kits containing preservative-filled tubes to extend use of expired GCN eDNA kits, reducing waste and providing cost-effective alternative to full kit purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SureScreen Scientifics is a forensic ecology laboratory that sells sample collection kits (GCN eDNA, Filter eDNA, Bat Dropping, Biological Collection kits and accessories) and provides separately billed laboratory analysis services including eDNA-based species presence/absence detection, DNA barcoding for biological species identification, and DNA-based bird sexing. Services use qPCR-based molecular methods validated to Natural England-approved protocols such as WC1067, with assays designed and validated in-house across amphibians, crayfish, fish, mammals, birds, invertebrates, plants, and microorganisms.

Product overview

SureScreen Scientifics is a forensic ecology laboratory specializing in eDNA-based species detection and molecular biology services for the ecological industry. Their product portfolio consists of sample collection kits (GCN eDNA Kit, Filter eDNA Collection Kit, Bat Dropping Collection Kit, XL Bat Dropping Collection Kit, Biological Collection Kit, GCN eDNA Refill Kit) and laboratory analysis services (eDNA Analysis Services, Biological Species ID Services, Bird Sexing DNA Service, Great Crested Newt eDNA Service, Water Vole eDNA Service, Crayfish eDNA Analysis Service, Bat Dropping Analysis Service). They also offer a Telescopic Pole (2m) as a collection aid. The collection kits are sold separately from laboratory analysis, which is invoiced after sample receipt. Analysis uses qPCR-based methods following industry standards and approved protocols.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GCN eDNA Kit Environmental DNA collection kit containing 6 preservative-filled tubes for detecting Great Crested Newt presence in water samples, following the Natural England approved WC1067 protocol; designed for ecological consultants conducting protected species surveys for planning and development projects.
• GCN eDNA Refill Kit Sustainable refill solution of preservative-filled replacement tubes that extend the use of expired GCN eDNA kits, reducing waste and offering a cost-effective alternative for ecological surveyors.
• Filter eDNA Collection Kit

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.3% detection rate for GCN eDNA analysis (139 out of 140 known positive samples)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• University of DerbycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSureScreen Scientifics has supported two PhD projects in conjunction with the University of Derby, contributing to research and development in the field of forensic ecology and eDNA analysis.
• University of SheffieldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with University of Sheffield to develop a new assay enabling confirmation of water vole presence through eDNA, a UK first.
• Nottingham Trent UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Nottingham Trent University alongside University of Sheffield to develop the first commercially available eDNA test for water voles in the UK.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SPYGEN: French-headquartered global leader in aquatic environmental DNA analysis, providing species detection services worldwide. Comparable as a fellow eDNA laboratory using qPCR/metabarcoding for species detection, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic footprint than SureScreen Scientifics.
• ADAS: UK environmental and agricultural consultancy offering ecological survey, environmental impact assessment and related testing services. Comparable as a UK-based provider of ecological surveys and environmental testing to consultancy and government clients, but at significantly broader scale and service scope.
• Fera Science: UK-based scientific services organisation providing environmental, agricultural and ecological testing including DNA-based species identification. Comparable as a UK laboratory serving ecological and government customers, though operates as a much larger, broader-scoped organisation than the specialist SureScreen Scientifics lab.

Direct peers

• NatureMetrics: UK-based eDNA biodiversity monitoring company offering species detection services across aquatic and terrestrial environments. Directly comparable to SureScreen Scientifics as a UK eDNA lab serving ecological consultants, though typically focused on broader multi-species biodiversity assessments rather than protected-species planning surveys.

Regional players

• Jonah Ventures: US-based eDNA laboratory providing environmental DNA analysis for biodiversity and water quality monitoring. Comparable in species-detection service model, but primarily serves North American ecological and academic markets.
• EnviroDNA: Australia-based eDNA service provider for aquatic species detection and environmental monitoring. Comparable in core eDNA laboratory offering and species detection methodology, but serves Australian and Asia-Pacific markets rather than UK planning/development customers.
• Wilderlab: New Zealand-based eDNA laboratory providing species detection and biodiversity monitoring services. Uses similar qPCR and metabarcoding approaches to SureScreen Scientifics, but focused on New Zealand and Pacific ecological applications rather than UK protected-species surveys.
• eDNAtec: Canadian eDNA service provider offering species detection and biomonitoring for aquatic environments. Comparable in technology stack and service offering, but primarily serves North American markets rather than the UK ecological consultancy sector.

Emerging players

• NatureSpace: UK organisation involved in great crested newt district licensing and ecological data services. Comparable as a UK-focused GCN ecological service provider, though primarily focused on licensing/district-level scheme administration rather than laboratory analysis.
• Naturehood: UK-based ecological consultancy and biodiversity services provider. Comparable as a downstream customer/partner of SureScreen Scientifics that conducts protected-species surveys and could also be considered an adjacent competitor for survey work, though it does not operate its own eDNA laboratory.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/surescreen-scientifics

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SureScreen Scientifics