North Island Laboratories Ltd.

North Island Laboratories - Specialists in Water, Wastewater, and Shellfish Analysis.

Specialists in water, wastewater, and shellfish analysis.

When you submit a sample for analysis by North Island Laboratories, you may be wondering what information you will receive in return. This page explains what you will receive and how to interpret it.

At the time of sample submission (preferably using our Requisition for Water Analysis or Requisition for Lab Analysis), you have the option of selecting how we can provide results to you. We will:

Notify you immediately (by fax or phone) if you have any fecal coliforms or E. coli in your drinking water.

Mail a hard copy directly to the billing address provided.

Fax results to one number only, if requested.

Email results as a Snapshot Viewer attachment.

In all cases, you will receive results from North Island Labs in the form of a printed report (click here to view a sample report in PDF format).

At North Island Labs, we strive to make interpreting your results as easy as possible. Here is a verbal description of how to review your report:

On the left-hand side of your printed report, you will see a list of the analyses performed on your sample(s).

Beside each test name, you will see a number, which is your result.

Across the page along that same row on the right-hand side, you will see the detection limit for that test method.

If yours is a drinking water sample, we list weblinks to both provincial and federal websites that provide useful information regarding drinking and groundwater quality from a safe drinking water perspective.

To assist you further, the notes following your results describe important information related to the tests performed, and if applicable, their health impacts. Information sheets and/or instructions are also provided with your hard copy, where appropriate.

If you are having difficulty interpreting your results, please either contact us or your local Vancouver Island Health Authority office for assistance.