The Testing Centre is based in Walvis Bay in the light industrial area. The laboratory renders services both to government and private institutions. Commercial customers include fishing industry, various food producers, local authorities, water bottling companies, mines, cleaning companies other private industry. Customers needing analysis are encouraged to approach the laboratory to engage on services on offer.
The Testing Centre is utilised for its technical capacity and resources in delivering testing services over a wide range of sample types, according to customer requirements.The laboratory services include microbiological and chemical analyses on fish and fishery products, shellfish, dairy products, meat and meat products, environmental surveillance samples such as swabs and air quality plates, potable water, sea water, ice and effluent water.
The Testing Centre is accredited by the South African National Accreditation Services (SANAS) to the international standard ISO/IEC 17025 since May 2011 (facility number T0449). The standard ISO/IEC 17025 outlines the general competency requirements for testing and calibration laboratories and forms the basis of the well-documented Quality Management System (QMS) of the Testing Centre. The QMS is supported by the Testing Centre Quality Policy Statement stating that it is committed to consistently provide accurate and timely results to customers.
During 2019 the Testing Centre laboratory has successfully transitioned its quality management system to the new ISO/IEC 17025:2017 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories which is the main ISO standard used by testing and calibration laboratories to demonstrate competence.
Sample submission logistical arrangements
Kindly take note of the sample submission logistics detailed in the Logistical arrangements for sample submission document. Customers outside the Walvis Bay town area are encouraged to contact the laboratory representatives to discuss special sample submission arrangements.
Should there be need to obtain information or discuss our current service offerings or any of the new services please do not hesitate to contact the laboratory representatives in the contact section below.
New customers are welcome to access the New Customer Tool box which offers the full set of documents required to register and initiate services with the Testing Centre.
Chemistry laboratory current methods
The Chemistry laboratory provides testing services for heavy metals in foods, marine algal toxins in shellfish, histamine in fish and water chemistry testing for a variety of sample types as described in the table below.
The laboratory provides as part of its service prepared water sampling bottles and sampling services for environmental samples can be requested through the email address: receptions@nsi.com.na
| # |
Sample Type(s) |
Types of Tests/Techniques |
Test Method |
| Chemistry Section |
| 1
|
Shellfish |
Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP) by HPLC |
TM/B/01
|
| 2 |
Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) by Mouse Bioassay |
TM/B/03 |
| 3 |
Lipophilic Toxins by LC MS/MS |
TM/B/08 |
| 4 |
Fish, Fishery Products; Poultry and Poultry Products |
Histamine by LC MS/MS |
TM/B/05 |
| 5 |
Fish, Fishery Products; Poultry and Poultry Products; Meat and Meat Products |
Mercury by DMA-80 |
TM/B/06 |
| 6 |
Cadmium and Lead by AAS-GF |
TM/B/07 |
| # |
Sample Type(s) |
Types of Tests/ Techniques |
Test Method |
| 7 |
Water (Potable, Bottled and Waste water) |
pH by pH Meter |
TM/B/09 |
| 8 |
Conductivity and Total Dissolved Solids by Conductivity Meter |
TM/B/10 |
| 9 |
Turbidity by Turbidity Meter |
TM/B/11 |
Microbiology laboratory current methods
The Microbiology laboratory provides service on a variety of sample types. The laboratory can analyse most food samples and environmental samples such as hygiene swabs, air quality plates and all water samples. The laboratory provides as part of its service prepared sterilised bottles, swabs and air quality plates on request. Sampling services for environmental samples can be requested through the email address
| # |
Sample Type(s) |
Types of Tests/Properties Measured |
Test Method/Standard method |
| 1 |
Food Products Including:
– Fish and Fishery Products
– Meat and Meat Products (bovine)
– Egg and egg Products
– Ready to eat Foods
– Chicken and Chicken Products |
Enumeration of Total Viable (TVC) Colony Count |
TM/M/01 (ISO 4833-1) |
| 2 |
Detection and Enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae |
TM/M/02 (ISO 21528-2) |
| 3 |
Enumeration of Total coliforms |
TM/M/03 (SANS 4832) |
| 4 |
Enumeration of β – glucoronidase positive Escherichia coli (E. coli) |
TM/M/04 (ISO 16649-2) |
| 5 |
Enumeration of Coagulase positive Staphylococciincluding Staphylococcus aureus |
TM/M/05 (SANS 6888-1) |
| 6 |
Detection of Vibrio spp. including Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholerae and Vibrio vulnificus |
TM/M/06 (ISO 21872-1) |
| 7 |
Detection of Salmonella spp. |
TM/M/08 (ISO 6579-1) |
| 8 |
Enumeration of Clostridium perfringens |
TM/M/09 (SANS 7937)
|
| 9 |
Detection of Listeria monocytogenes |
TM/M/10 (ISO 11290-1) |
| 10 |
Shellfish |
Enumeration of E. coli by MPN |
TM/M/11 (ISO 16649-3) MPN technique |
| 11 |
Water types including:
Potable water- Tap water, RO3, borehole and Ice Seawater- Seawater and Ice
Effluent water |
Enumeration of Total Viable (TVC) Colony Count |
TM/M/14 (SANS 5221) |
| 12 |
Enumeration of Clostridium perfringens |
TM/M/26 (Adapted method: SANS 7937 & SANS 5221) Membrane Filtration technique |
| 13 |
Water types including:
Potable- Tap water, RO3, borehole and Ice Seawater- Seawater and Ice
Effluent water |
Enumeration of Total coliforms |
TM/M/15 (SANS 5221) Membrane Filtration technique |
| 14 |
Enumeration of Faecal coliforms and Escherichia coli |
TM/M/16 (SANS 5221) Membrane Filtration technique |
| 15 |
Enumeration of Intestinal Enterococci |
TM/M/17 (SANS 7899-2) Membrane Filtration technique |
| 16 |
Water (Potable -Tap water, RO3, borehole and Ice) |
Enumeration of Total coliforms and Escherichia coli |
TM/M/18 (Colilert) |
| 17 |
Microbial cultures (Bacteria and yeast) |
Identification of Microorganisms using Vitek MS |
TM/M/21 ( Vitek –MS) |
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