Counselling and analyses

Soil–Plant Analysis Laboratory, LASP

Electrochemical determinations (pH, conductivity)
Gas‑chromatography determinations (pesticide residues in soil and plant)
Ion‑chromatography determinations (nitrates in soil and plant)
Spectrometric determinations (metals in soil and plant by AAS)
Determination of plant‑available potassium in soil and total potassium in plant tissue
Spectrophotometric determinations (plant‑available phosphorus in soil, total phosphorus in plant; nitrates in soil and plant)
Determination of organic carbon and humus in soil (combustion and wet‑oxidation methods)
Determination of total nitrogen in soil and plant
Moisture determinations

Food Quality & Safety Testing Laboratory – LICSA

The LICSA laboratory is authorised to perform the following physico‑chemical tests:

Water content
Sodium‑chloride content
Crude‑fat content
Fat acidity
Protein content
Nitrite / nitrate content
Organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticide residues (GC & GC‑MS)
Mycotoxins in food (TLC & HPLC)
Bitter compounds in hops (HPLC)
Conductometric value of hop cones, powders & pellets
Moisture of hops and hop products

Apicultural Products Quality‑Control Laboratory

A wide range of physico‑chemical analyses of honey and beeswax are available, including:

Water (refractometric)
Electrical conductivity
Ash content
Honey colour index
pH, free acidity, lactones, total acidity
HMF (White method)
HMF (HPLC)
Sensory (organoleptic) examination of honey
Diastase index & diastase activity
Reducing & easily hydrolysable sugars (Elser method)
Individual sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose)
Pollen content (palynological analysis)
Water‑insoluble matter
Proline
Metals in honey

Agri‑Food & Biomedical Control and Expertise Laboratory – AGRIAL

Analyses of plants, foods, nutraceuticals (plant/mineral powders, tablets, capsules)
Quality‑test battery (QT) and special analyses (SA)
Fixed‑residue / dry‑matter and ash determinations
Direct pH or aqueous‑solution pH
Alkalinity and/or free‑acidity determinations
Spectroscopic “fingerprint” of samples in various solvents:
- Aqueous extract
- Polar extract (ethanol)
- Non‑polar extract (ethyl acetate)
Spectroscopic identification of pigments (chlorophylls, carotenoids, polyphenols, flavonoids)
Fat‑soluble vitamins (A, E, D — separately or A+E, D₃)
Water‑soluble vitamins (B₁, B₂, B₆, B₁₂, niacin, folate, pantothenate)
Vitamin C (alone or combined with vitamins E & A)
Plant pigments: chlorophylls, carotenoids, flavonoids, anthocyanins
Total protein, total carbohydrates, total lipids
Lipid peroxides (MDA test)
Phytohormones
In‑vitro toxicity tests (viability, proliferation, respiration)
Mutagenicity screening
Inorganic phosphates; nitrates & nitrites
Organic nitrogen compounds (ATP, ADP, nitrogen bases)
Ammonia; vitamin C; H₂S (identification)
Peroxide index; chlorides

Water‑Testing & Noise‑Level Laboratory – LIAZ

Electrochemical determinations (pH, conductivity)
Gas‑chromatography determinations (pesticide residues)
Ion‑chromatography determinations (cations & anions)
Atomic‑absorption spectrometry (metals)
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅)
Chemical oxygen demand (COD_Cr)
Noise‑level measurements

Air‑Quality Analysis Laboratory

SO₂ in ambient air
NOx in ambient air
CO in ambient air
O₃ in ambient air
Suspended particulates (PM10 & PM2.5)
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in ambient air
Light‑intensity measurements

Animal Germplasm Certification & Cryostorage Laboratory

Macroscopic semen tests: volume, colour, odour
Microscopic semen tests: concentration, motility, viability, morphology
Microbiological tests: CFU count, bacterial strains, fungal agents
Biochemical assays: glucose, fructose, pyruvate, lactate
Morphological & morphometric evaluation of oocytes and embryos
Fluorescent staining & UV microscopy for embryo viability
Metabolic tests for embryo‑quality assessment
Specific‑marker determination (PCR‑RFLP)
Bovine‑semen freezing; ram/boar semen vitrification
Slow freezing of oocytes & embryos; long‑term straw storage in liquid‑nitrogen tanks

Feed Quality‑Control Laboratory

Proximate analysis of feeds (dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre, crude ash, nitrogen‑free extract)
Mycotoxins – zearalenone
Pesticides – lindane

National Reference Laboratory for GMO Compliance

Integrated testing for Roundup‑Ready soya (event GTS 40‑3‑2) in raw materials and foods
DNA extraction (affinity‑column method)
Qualitative PCR testing
Quantitative real‑time PCR testing
GMO screening, identification & quantification (as above)
Paternity testing (animals or humans)

Techniques employed

Molecular identification (genetic fingerprinting) in plants
PCR‑based molecular analyses in plants and animals/humans
Molecular markers for disease diagnostics, genetic‑predisposition studies, marker‑assisted selection, biodiversity estimation, viral‑contamination detection, and gene‑expression quantification (all under validated protocols)

Regional Genotyping Laboratory for Farm Animals

DNA/RNA/protein extraction, quantification & purification from animal tissues
DNA fingerprinting (PCR‑RFLP, RAPD, AFLP, SSR)
Gene‑expression analysis (real‑time PCR, IEF, PAGE)
DNA sequencing; embryo sexing
Paternity certification of breeding stock
Early selection of elite breeders with genetic markers (caseins, β‑lactoglobulin, growth‑hormone, PIT‑1, prolactin, leptin)
Detection of mutant alleles causing genetic diseases
Biodiversity assessment with genetic markers
Authentication of milk, dairy and meat products (prevention of inter‑species adulteration)

Regional Laboratory for Apiculture Control & Diagnosis – DIA

Acarapis woodi (tracheal mites): microscopic ID
Varroa destructor & Tropilaelaps spp.: macro‑ & stereomicroscopic ID
Nosema apis spore count (direct microscopy)
Paenibacillus larvae detection (PCR)
Bee‑virus ID – CBPV & DWV (RT‑PCR)

Research, Surveillance, Diagnosis & Zoonosis‑Control Centre

Department of Parasitology & Parasitic Diseases

Epidemiological investigations in domestic & wild animals (clinical exam, coproscopy, ELISA, PCR, necropsy)
Testing antiparasitic molecules / plant extracts; chemoresistance; biological products
Coproparasitological, dermatological & serological diagnostics (methods listed)
Trichinellosis diagnosis (trichinelloscopy & artificial digestion)
Consultancy on control and prophylaxis of parasitoses & dermatological disorders

Department of Infectious Diseases

Bacterioscopy (Gram, Ziehl‑Neelsen, Giemsa, Tribondeau‑Fontana)
Bacteriology (culture, biochemical tests, API)
Antibiograms; serotyping (E. coli, Salmonella)
Wildlife & exotic‑animal diagnostics; autovaccine preparation
Molecular epidemiology (fingerprinting, PCR typing)
Vaccine/serum testing (OIE‑recognised)
Newcastle‑disease diagnosis & vaccine efficacy (HA & HI)
Haematology; humoral & cellular immunity assays; adjuvant testing
Porcine circovirus & equine infectious‑anaemia diagnostics; immune‑reactivity in reptiles etc.

Department of Microbiology

Special stains; morphometry; digital imaging
Aerobic/anaerobic cultures; selective/differential media; cultural‑feature archiving
Biochemical IDs (polytest media, API, mycobacteria panels)
Serological IDs; antibiotic/fungicide susceptibility tests; MIC/MBC; pathogenicity tests
Antibiotic‑level assays; bacteriocin production; innate‑immunity effectors
Antigen/antiserum production; electrophoresis & immunoelectrophoresis; statistics (GraphPad, Excel); consultancy

Department of Veterinary Hygiene of Products of Animal Origin & Public Health

Trichinelloscopy (compression & artificial digestion)
Hygienic & safety assessments of meat (total bacteria, spoilage or conditional pathogens)
Milk quality (fat, protein, lactose, TS, NFS, added water; pH, chloride, Cl–lactose index, conductivity, SCC, TBC, cytology, pesticide/antibiotic residues)
Honey quality & authenticity (water, adulteration, pollen spectrum)
Egg freshness tests
HACCP, GMP, SSOP: documentation, implementation & audit
Consultancy for setting up in‑house food labs; SAPARD project support
Species identification of animal‑origin products on request