Policy and prices for analytical services
These are general policy guidelines, and users will also need to refer to specific laboratory safety and usage guidelines which are available in each area. There are two pricing schedules for analytical services.
Internal user price
An internal user price is available for analyses which are:
- for UNE staff or students, and
- part of UNE core teaching or research activities, and
- paid from DEST funds administered by the University.
Internal user prices are kept to a minimum and are based on running costs for the analytical instrument, such as reagents, gas and other consumables, plus a contribution towards equipment maintenance and replacement. They are subsidised in order to support the core business of the Unversity, namely teaching and research. Internal users are expected to carry out sample preparation work and, if necessary, assist with the analysis under the supervision of the Laboratory Manager. It may be possible for a UNE technical officer or casual research assistant to take on this task.
External user price
The external user price applies to analyses:
- which are carried out as a consulting service to clients external to the University, or
- where the analyses do not contribute to core UNE research or teaching, or
- where analyses are paid for by funds other than UNE DEST funds.
However, at the Dean's discretion, UNE staff may be eligible for the internal user price for analyses paid from a non-DEST fund (eg an Academic Pursuits Fund, or a UNE consultancy) if the work contributes to University teaching or reseach. A user may request this by writing to the Associate Dean (Research) who will then make a recommendation to the Dean and advise the user.
The intention of the external user price is to provide services at commercially attractive rates, which nonetheless provide a financial return to the University, after the costs of labour, equipment, consumables, admistration, infrastructure, etc. are taken into account.
Contributors to analytical instruments
In cases where UNE staff contribute to the purchase cost of an analytical instrument, the contributor will be entitled to carry out analyses with that instrument at a discounted price, while she or he remains a UNE staff member and until the contribution has been recouped. The intention is to encourage staff to contribute to expansion of the analytical facilities.
Prices as at March 2004
Prices are set subject to approval by the Dean of the Faculty of the Sciences, and may be changed at any time without notice. The prices will be reviewed at the start of each calendar year. Where possible price changes from year to year will be small, so as to assist users with budget planning for research grants applications.
| Laboratory | Instrument | Analytical service | Internal price per sample | External price |
| Agricultural and Environmental Analytical Lab
| ICP-OES | Standard suite of elements on aqueous samples requiring no sample preparation. | $7 | $34 |
| ICP-OES | Acid digestion of plant, soil, rock, etc. - add | Cost recovery | $23 | |
| ICP-OES | Grinding of plant, soil, rock, etc. - add | Cost recovery | $6 | |
| Carlo Erba-MS | Two of C, N or S in ground sample | $9 | $17 | |
| Carlo Erba-MS | Isotopic abundance (ground sample) | $5 | $14 | |
| Carlo Erba-MS | Elemental analysis + isotopes (ground sample) | $14 | $30 | |
| Carlo Erba-MS | Grinding for Carlo Erba, add | - | $8 | |
| NIRS | Standard constituents on plants which have been calibrated | $3 | $18 | |
| Ion Chromatograph | Standard suite of anions on aqueous samples requiring no sample preparation | $10 | $40 | |
| GC-MS | Identification and quantification of unknown volatiles (no sample preparation) | $10 | $40 | |
| HPLC | Non-volatile organics (no sample prep., price excludes cost of standards) | $8.50 | $20 | |
| GC (Varian 3400) | Volatile organics (no sample prep., price excludes cost of standards) | $8 | $15 | |
| GC (SRI 8610C) | Gas analyses (no sample preparation) | $6 | $15 |
Notes
- It is essential to contact the appropriate laboratory manager to discuss the cost of meeting your particular analytical requirements. Analyses requiring additional sample preparation, dilutions, etc., may by charged at different rates.
- The prices apply to analyses for which the laboratory has already developed a method. For external users, method development by UNE analysts is charged at $45 per hour for labour plus the cost of equipment and consumables. In some cases internal users may be able to carry out their own method development, supervised by the laboratory manager, or be allocated technical support time, lowering the labour cost. Consult the laboratory manager.
- For each analysis, the prices per sample are based on a minimum number of samples. For small runs the price per sample is greater. Contact the relevant laboratory manager for details.
- The laboratories also have the capability to carry out many analyses not included in the table.
Document created: February 2004
Last reviewed: 7 April 2004
Faculty Management Group