Cawthron laboratory services during the festive season
11 December 2023
With the festive season fast approaching, we’d like to share with you the Cawthron Laboratories analytical testing opening hours. All laboratories will be running with a skeleton staff during this period (excluding GMP – see below).
Microbiology Laboratory
This lab is open 365 days a year, but on Sunday and statutory holidays, only routine local regional council water samples can be delivered between 9am and 12 noon.
Sample Reception
| Date | Sample Reception | Micro Lab Limited Availability |
|---|---|---|
| Fri 22 Dec 2023 | Open: 8.00-17.00 | Business as usual |
| Sat 23 Dec 2023 | Open: 9.00-12.00 noon | 9.00-12.00 noon |
| Mon 25 Dec 2023 | STAT DAY: CLOSED | 9.00-12.00 noon |
| Tues 26 Dec 2023 | STAT DAY: CLOSED | 9.00-12.00 noon |
| Weds 27 Dec 2023 | Open: 8.00-17.00 | Business as usual |
| Thurs 28 Dec 2023 | Open: 8.00-17.00 | Business as usual |
| Fri 29 Dec 2023 | Open: 8.00-17.00 | Business as usual |
| Sat 30 Dec 2023 | CLOSED | 9.00-12.00 noon |
| Mon 1 Jan 2024 | STAT DAY: CLOSED | 9.00-12.00 noon |
| Tues 2 Jan 2024 | STAT DAY: CLOSED | 9.00-12.00 noon |
| Weds 3 Jan 2024 | Open: 8.00-17.00 | Business as usual |
| Thurs 4 Jan 2024 | Open: 8.00-17.00 | Business as usual |
| Fri 5 Jan 2024 | Open: 8.00-17.00 | Business as usual |
| Sat 6 Jan 2024 | Open: 9.00-12.00 noon | 9.00-12.00 noon |
GMP Chemistry Laboratory
This lab will be closed from mid-afternoon on Friday 22 December 2023, reopening on Monday 8 January 2024. Samples will be accepted over the holiday period, but turnaround times will be extended due to the closure.
Food Chemistry Laboratory (including Trace Metals)
This lab will be working with a skeleton staff for non-statutory days and closed at weekends.
Natural Toxins Laboratories
The biotoxin and phytoplankton labs will be open on the non-statutory days and closed on the weekends. On open days, samples need to be received at the lab before 10am to ensure they are processed that day. Phytoplankton results will be reported the same day and biotoxin results reported the following day. Samples received after 10am for biotoxin testing will be added to the next run.
Shellfish samples received Friday (29 December and 5 January) may have to be reported the following week, dependent on the sample numbers received. To increase the chances of having results reported before the weekend, please send samples to the lab as early in the week as possible.
Courier Services
If you plan to send us perishable/time sensitive samples for testing, we recommend the following cut off dates to ensure delivery:
Prior to Christmas: Thursday 21 December 2023
Prior to New Year: Thursday 28 December 2023
Full laboratory services will resume from Monday 8 January 2024.
Thank you for your continued business. If you have any questions, please get in touch by emailing: lab@cawthron.org.nz