Yes. We follow the 2022 NEMS (National Environmental Monitoring Standards) for sample processing, subsampling, quality control (QC), and biotic index calculation. This means our results are suitable for use by councils, in resource consent assessments (AEE), State of the Environment (SOE) reporting, consent monitoring, and other official applications.

If you require a different recognised processing method (such as Stark et al. 2001 protocols), let us know when submitting your sample and we can discuss options to meet your specific requirements.

Freshwater macroinvertebrates (the aquatic insects, snails, worms, and crustaceans living in our streams) are excellent indicators of water quality. Different species have different levels of tolerance to pollution, so by studying which ones are present (and in what numbers), we can measure stream health in a scientifically robust way.

This method is widely used across New Zealand by councils, researchers, and community groups because it’s reliable, cost-effective, and gives insight into long-term ecosystem trends that simple water chemistry tests can’t always show.

Your container should be about 30% full of sample residue with the remaining 70% being ethanol. That balance helps preserve the invertebrates appropriately. You’ll find full instructions in our How to Take a NEMS Standard Stream Bug Sample?

We require each sample to be between 500mL and 1L in volume, preserved in ethanol to NEMS 2022 standards. Samples smaller than 500 mL may not provide enough material for a reliable analysis, while larger than 1L will be charged as an additional sample. If you’re unsure, get in touch and we’ll guide you through the preparation.

No. At Aqualore Labs we specialise exclusively in freshwater macroinvertebrate analysis. By focusing solely on this area, we maintain the highest accuracy, consistency, and scientific integrity in our results. If you need additional monitoring (such as water chemistry or fish surveys), we recommend working with an environmental consultant who can integrate our data into a broader assessment.

No. We specialise solely in macroinvertebrate identification and analysis. Our role is to give you accurate, NEMS-compliant results, not to prepare full reports. What you will receive are clear results, however if you require a formal interpretive report, we recommend engaging with an environmental consultant.

We don’t create formal reports or full farm plans, but we can absolutely help your consultant by providing high quality, NEMS-compliant macroinvertebrate data. If you're collecting samples for a freshwater farm plan or resource consent, just let us know and we’ll make sure the data format fits your needs.

Yes. Our Coded Abundance (P1) analysis and Macroinvertebrate Photo Summaries are great options for education and community engagement. These methods provide clear, visual insights into the bugs living in your stream, even if full compliance data isn’t needed.

If you’d like to go further, you can also start a quarterly monitoring routine. This is a simple way for schools or community groups to see if their restoration or planting efforts are making a difference to stream health over time.

Yes - it just depends on what you need the data for.

• For compliance, consents, or official monitoring: Samples must follow NEMS 2022 field protocols so the results are scientifically robust and repeatable. If your data needs to be recognised officially, it’s important the correct method is followed. We’ve written a clear, step-by-step blog on How to Take a NEMS Standard Stream Bug Sample? to guide you through the process.

• For education, planting projects, or personal interest: If you’re simply curious about your local stream, you can absolutely collect a sample yourself with just a few low-cost items. This is a great way to get an indicative picture of your stream’s biodiversity.

We can also supply sample jars, ethanol, and return courier labels to make things easier - or, if you prefer, our field team can come and collect the sample for you in line with NEMS protocols.

When your samples arrive, we check them immediately. If any ethanol has leaked, we will notify you right away and top up the sample to the correct level to keep it stable and suitable for analysis. A small ethanol fee will be added to your invoice in these cases. This ensures your sample remains preserved properly and can still be processed to NEMS standards.

If fewer than two taxa are identified, we apply our Low Taxa Fee Reduction - your laboratory analysis fee is reduced instead of the full price. Note this reduction only applies to the base analysis fee (e.g. P200, Full Count).

When your samples arrive at our lab, we check them immediately. If any ethanol has leaked in transit, we will notify you on arrival and top them up to the correct level so they remain stable and suitable for analysis.

From there, your samples are logged into our system, assigned a Job ID, and queued for processing under the analysis protocol you selected (Coded Abundance, 200+ Fixed Count, or Full Count with Subsampling Option). Once analysis is complete, we prepare your results package and send it to you electronically, and, if you selected return on your submission form, your preserved vials, containers, and packaging are also posted back to you.

No, once preserved with ethanol, your sample is stable and doesn’t need to be kept cold. You can ship it when you're ready, but we recommend sending it sooner rather than later to avoid issues like ethanol evaporation or damaged labels. Just keep it sealed, upright, and out of direct sunlight.

A Quality Code (QC) is a score applied under NEMS 2022 that shows how reliable your sample is, based on how many individuals were identified and how closely the method followed the standard. Higher codes (like QC600) indicate stronger, more defensible results, while lower codes reflect reduced certainty.

We include a Quality Code summary with your order so you can get an idea of how robust your data is and can use it with confidence.

We work with a wide range of clients, including councils, environmental consultants, landowners, schools, and community groups. Whether you need compliance-grade results or simply want to understand your local stream better, we can tailor the service to your needs.

Quotes cover all expected costs for your job. However, minor adjustments may apply only if required for correct processing or delivery. These include:

• Ethanol top-ups if a sample leaks in transit.

• Return postage or courier fees if you’ve asked for vials or jars to be sent back.

• The Low Taxa Fee Reduction, which lowers the cost per analysis if fewer than 2 taxa are found in a sample.

We’ll always notify you if additional charges apply, and they’ll be clearly itemised on your invoice.