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Waite Analytical Services is a member of ASPAC the Australian Soil and Plant Analysis Council Inc Membership Number C126

Waite Analytical Services

Waite Analytical Services (WAS) is a fee-for-service laboratory within the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine specialising in, but not confined to, elemental analysis of plant tissue. WAS is located in the North Basement of the Waite Main Building. WAS has an expected throughput of 55,000 samples this year. High throughput means low cost per sample. The analyses WAS does for external clients keeps prices low for University of Adelaide clients. (WRITTEN QUOTES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST)

For inquiries, or to make arrangements for analyses, phone (37391) or email teresa.fowles@adelaide.edu.au

Routine Elements & Methods

The Standard Plant Suite

Fe, Mn, B, Cu, Zn, S, Ca, Mg, P, K, and Na are routinely targeted using acid digestion and Radial View Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Mo, Co, Ni, Cd, Al, Pb, & Se are reported but are often below the detection limit of the current instrument. Ti and Cr are now reported and these can help the researcher to determine if the sample may be contaminated by soil or grinders.

Total N

Analysed by Complete Combustion Gas Chromatography.

Chloride

Analysed by Axial view ICPOES

Quality Assurance

Waite Analytical Services (WAS) takes part in the Plant Analysis Quality Assurance Program of the Australasian Plant and Soil Analysis Council. Elements of the Standard Plant Suite, Total Nitrogen and Chloride are accredited by ASPAC. Each research results batch is accompanied by the statistical analysis of standard plant material digested and analysed with the batch.

Results

ICP results are reported in parts per million (milligrams per kilogram) and Nitrogen and Chloride as % and are delivered by email as an Excel spreadsheet, this allows clients to manipulate the data. For security, a .pdf version is also reported

Billing

Invoices are generated quarterly. University of Adelaide clients will receive a quarterly log of batch details. Nominate a debit code on the attached authority, sign it and return it to the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine Finance Officer, Geoff Clarke. If debit codes commence “UNIAD”, the transaction will be a simple Journal Entry. Clients with funding held outside of the University will be regarded as External clients and will need to fill in a BOOKING FORM FOR AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH CLIENTS, agree to ARI terms and conditions, and will have a billing fee and GST added. Notify Teresa of external funding when booking in samples – a different booking form is required.

Non-Routine or New Elements & Methods

WAS has experience in analysing a range of sample types including animal and human blood, animal urine, and tissue. WAS shares an ICPMS (Inductively Coupled Plasma – Mass Spectrometer) with CSIRO and The University of South Australia. This instrument is located at CSIRO Land and Water, on the Waite Campus. We have methods for low levels of Mo, Co, Se, Cd. Because WAS is a fee-for-service facility new methods are developed on a cost-recovery basis. Inquiries are welcome.

Staff

WAS’s main asset is not analytical equipment nor laboratory space but its staff, WAS has a highly experienced core staff – currently working ~ 5 FTE.

• Lyndon Palmer, our analyst, has 30 years experience in elemental analysis, he was head of Elemental Analysis at State Chemistry Laboratory, South Australia, where he worked for 20 years. Lyndon has been with WAS for 11 years.
  
• Teresa Fowles has been working in the laboratory (formerly part of Professor Robin Graham’s research group) for 20 years and has been managing Waite Analytical Services since 1997.
  
• Matthew Wheal did his PhD with Professor Graham and has since held several post-doctoral research positions. Matthew is bringing his research and writing skills to WAS. We are hoping to publish some methods, the outcome of our continuous improvement policy.
  
• Carolyn Smith has been with WAS for 13 years and is currently on maternity leave (her 3rd WAS baby). Carolyn’s time management and attention to detail make her a valuable member of the team.
  
• Deidre Cox has been with WAS for 9 years, but has 25 years of laboratory experience. Her experience working with Gribbles has been very useful to WAS when we have had human blood and serum to analyse.
  
• Stephen Sibson and Elise Head are covering Carolyn’s maternity leave and have adapted well to the rigours of routine analysis where high concentration and attention to detail are needed.