Analytical Services Tasmania

What Analytical Services Tasmania does

Analytical Services Tasmania (AST) is a NATA-accredited chemical and biological testing laboratory operated as a business unit within the Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Founded in 1993, AST provides comprehensive analytical services spanning physical parameters, nutrients, metals and mercury, organic chemistry, algal identification, and shellfish biotoxin testing for water, soil, sediment, and biological tissue matrices. The laboratory is the only scope-comparable accredited facility physically located in Tasmania and serves regulators (ShellMAP, EPA Tasmania, Tasmanian Public Health Service), shellfish growers and exporters (oysters, mussels, pipis, scallops, abalone, sea urchin roe, rock lobster), private water suppliers, healthcare sterilizer-compliance customers, and industrial wastewater producers.

The technical platform is anchored by an extensive instrument fleet including GC/MS, GC triple quad, LC triple quad, HPLC DAD, ASE, SPE, SPME, GC-FID, GC-ECD, P&T, ICP-AES, ICP-MS in a positive-pressure environment, Mercury CVAFS, IC, FIA, autotitrators, scanning UV/Vis, Segmented Flow Analysers, and modern microscopes with image processing, operating under an ISO/IEC 17025 Quality Management System. Notable proprietary capabilities include improvements to the international Boundy Method for paralytic shellfish toxins (acknowledged in the Journal of AOAC), a specialist hot-acid-digestion Florfenicol protocol with detection limits as low as 10 ppb, the first Brevetoxin testing method in Australia (Brevetoxin-1/-2/-3), and an LAL gel-formation bacterial endotoxin assay. The facility holds NATA accreditation for chemical testing (since 1993), biological testing (since 2002), shellfish biotoxin and bacterial endotoxin testing, and an Approved Arrangement as a Class 5.1 Quarantine Containment (QC1) facility with the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry.

AST generates revenue on a per-test plus per-submission basis. Pricing is quote-based, varies by analyte and matrix, and operates on a standard 10-working-day turnaround with negotiable rush service. A 5% across-the-board price increase is scheduled for July 1, 2026, alongside a $45 administrative fee per submission. The go-to-market motion is consultative sales-led, driven primarily by regulatory and industry-body referrals (ShellMAP, TSIC, Oysters Tasmania, EPA Tasmania), direct website quote requests, and recurring "Regular Analysis Project" engagements for ongoing clients. Distribution is direct via in-person drop-off, reply-paid postage, and courier submission at the single New Town, Hobart laboratory.

Name

Analytical Services Tasmania

Legal name

Analytical Services Tasmania

Website

https://analyticalservices.tas.gov.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Analytical Services Tasmania is a NATA-accredited government analytical laboratory within the Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, providing chemical, biological, algal, and shellfish biotoxin testing for regulators, shellfish growers, private water suppliers, healthcare facilities, and industrial clients statewide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Laboratory Analytical Testing Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

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

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEUANAJAB

Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services (in-house/contract labs; microbiology, metals, organics)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Water & Wastewater Utilities/Water Quality Testing, Compliance & Reporting

SECONDARYAFALAAAJ

Water, Ice & Process Utility Testing for Food Operations

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Food Testing Laboratories (Microbiological, Chemical, Allergen)

SECONDARYAFALAAAE

Environmental Monitoring & Hygiene Verification (Swabs, ATP, Pathogen Monitoring)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Food Testing Laboratories (Microbiological, Chemical, Allergen)

SECONDARYAFALAAAF

Residue & Contaminant Testing (Pesticides, Vet Drugs, Mycotoxins, Heavy Metals)

Agriculture & Food Production/Food Safety, Testing & Certification/Food Testing Laboratories (Microbiological, Chemical, Allergen)

Keywords

• Chemical testing services
• Shellfish biotoxin testing
• Algal identification services
• Water quality analysis
• NATA accredited laboratory

Headquarters

HQ city

New Town, Hobart

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Chemical Testing Services: Per-test fees for chemical analysis of water, soil, sediments, and biological samples. Pricing varies by test type and quantity. Quote-based pricing with standard 10-day turnaround.
2. Administrative Fee: Fixed administrative fee charged per sample submission ($45.00 from July 1, 2026), covering sample receipt, report generation, and invoicing costs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Analytical Services Tasmania operates as a NATA-accredited chemical and biological testing laboratory providing analytical chemistry and algal identification services for water, soil, sediments, and biological materials (fish, shellfish, algae). The laboratory specialises in shellfish biotoxin testing covering 37 analytes, bacterial endotoxin testing for medical device sterilizer compliance, physical parameters, nutrients, metals, and an extensive organic chemistry panel including pesticides, hydrocarbons, VOCs, and PFAS, operating year-round to support regulatory compliance for government, industry, and shellfish growers.

Product overview

Analytical Services Tasmania (AST) provides NATA-accredited chemical and algal laboratory testing services as a business unit within the Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment. The core offering is a comprehensive suite of analytical chemistry services spanning water testing (drinking water, groundwater, wastewater, environmental water), soil and sediment analysis, and biological material testing (fish, shellfish, algae). Key services include physical parameters, bulk properties, nutrients, metals, organic chemistry (pesticides, hydrocarbons, VOCs, PFAS), algal species identification, shellfish biotoxin testing (37 analytes), and bacterial endotoxin testing for medical device sterilization compliance. AST operates through regular analysis projects with automated submission processes, provides complimentary sample containers, and delivers results via email with data export capabilities. Testing supports compliance monitoring, environmental assessment, contaminated site evaluation, and research programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Chemical Testing Services Comprehensive NATA-accredited chemical testing for water, soil, sediments, and biological materials including physical parameters, nutrients, metals, and organic compounds, serving government, industry, and private water suppliers for regulatory compliance and environmental monitoring.
• Algal Testing NATA-accredited identification and enumeration of algae species in fresh and marine waters, including potentially toxic cyanobacteria and marine algae, for environmental monitoring and seafood safety applications.
• Shellfish Biotoxin Testing Rapid biotoxin testing service for the shellfish industry covering 37 separate analytes including lipophilic toxins, neurotoxic shellfish toxins, and paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) using the Boundy Method. Testing runs 52 weeks per year on Mondays and Wednesdays for oysters, mussels, pipis, scallops, abalone, sea urchin roe, and rock lobster.
• Bacterial Endotoxin Testing NATA-accredited bacterial endotoxin testing in waters and condensates using the Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) gel formation method with kinetic turbidimetric reaction for quantitative endotoxin analysis covering 0.01-10.0 EU/mL, for reusable medical device compliance (AS/NZ 4187, AS/NZ 5369:2023).
• Physical Parameters Testing Testing for pH, conductivity, acidity, alkalinity, total/dissolved/suspended solids, colour, turbidity, and hardness in water samples for environmental and compliance monitoring.
• Bulk Properties Testing BOD5, COD, oil and grease, organic carbon (NPOC), dissolved NPOC, and chlorophyll a analysis for wastewater characterisation and environmental monitoring applications.
• Metals and Mercury Testing

Quantifiable outcome

• Detection limits as low as 0.01 mg/kg (10 ppb) for Florfenicol, 100x lower than proposed MRL
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cawthron Institute (New Zealand)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated in international inter-laboratory trial for the Boundy Method PST analysis. Cawthron is one of the world's leading laboratories in PST analysis.
• Cefas (United Kingdom)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated in international inter-laboratory trial for the Boundy Method PST analysis. Cefas is one of the world's leading laboratories in PST analysis.
• Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council (TSIC)minorOthersConsulted during facility upgrade in late 2017 to develop local shellfish biotoxin testing service.
• Oysters TasmaniaminorOthersConsulted during facility upgrade in late 2017 to industry specifications for shellfish testing service.
• ShellMAP (Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania)coreOthersPrimary regulatory body for Tasmanian shellfish biotoxin zone and area closures. AST biotoxin facility works within the ShellMAP Biotoxin Management Plan framework.
• Department of Agriculture Fisheries and ForestrycoreOthersAST holds an Approved Arrangement as a scientific testing facility for soils and waters, designated as a Class 5.1 Quarantine Containment, level 1 QC1 facility for biosecurity sample handling.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Water Research Australia: Australian water industry research organization collaborating on water quality research and standards. Adjacent ecosystem participant relevant to AST's environmental water testing customer base.
• National Measurement Institute (NMI): Australian government reference laboratory providing chemical and biological measurement standards and testing. Adjacent government peer with comparable accreditation and analytical capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• ALS Global: Major global commercial testing services firm with food, environmental, water, and pharmaceutical testing capabilities across Australia and internationally. Broad incumbent offering overlapping services including biotoxin and shellfish testing via ALS Cork.
• Bureau Veritas Australia: Global TIC player with commodity, environmental, and food testing services in Australia. Competes for industrial wastewater, contaminated site, and environmental monitoring testing contracts.
• SGS Australia: Global leader in testing, inspection, and certification with extensive food and environmental analytical services in Australia. Broad incumbent providing competing accredited water, food, and biotoxin testing solutions.
• Eurofins Australia: International testing services network with strong food, environmental, and pharmaceutical testing footprint in Australia. Broad incumbent with similar NATA-accredited offerings across overlapping analyte categories.

Regional players

• Envirolab Services: Australian NATA-accredited environmental testing laboratory focused on water, soil, contaminated site, and waste classification. Direct overlap with AST's non-biotoxin environmental testing segments.
• Symbio Laboratories: Australian-owned NATA-accredited analytical laboratory offering food, environmental, and pharmaceutical testing. Closest Australian private competitor in terms of scale and accreditation profile.

Direct peers

• Cawthron Institute: New Zealand-based specialist research institute and one of the world's leading shellfish biotoxin testing laboratories. Direct peer on PST/Boundy Method work and AST's established research collaboration partner.
• Cefas (Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science): UK government marine science agency and one of the world's leading PST/biotoxin testing laboratories. Direct peer with whom AST collaborated on the international Boundy Method inter-laboratory trial.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/analytical-services-tasmania

Compliance2 records

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 Analytical Services Tasmania