Frequently Asked Questions
Hours Of Operation
Monday - Friday
8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.
Fees
Fee Policies
Scheduled Services
The funds to operate the AESL are generated from state and federal appropriations, fees and contracts. The fee schedule is the basis for all routine and special analytical services. Deviations from the schedule or special rates may be considered for large quantities, special handling and contractual agreements.
Extension Specialists
With proper submission forms, troubleshooting samples will be tested at no cost in limited quantities. Large-scale surveys or research projects will be charged the scheduled fee per sample, the same as researchers.
Research Samples
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences researchers, in-state USDA and other closely allied UGA units will be charged the scheduled fees and must use a Research Sample Submission Form (http://aesl.ces.uga.edu/forms/Research.pdf?2). Research samples should be submitted directly to the appropriate laboratory, not through the county Extension office.
County Program Support
County extension agents often need laboratory analysis to support educational programs in their county that address issues specific to their clients' needs. These analyses are referred to as "County Program Samples". AESL supports Extension programs by providing an amount of credit to each county every year to be used for free analysis for their county programs.
The amount of county program funds is now calculated as $100 + 1% of the amount of income generated by your online submission samples for the previous fiscal year. For example, if you used Online Submission last year to submit $5,000 worth of samples, your county program total this fiscal year would be $100 + $50 = $150. This amount will be used towards analysis of samples and bookkeeping of available credit for each county provided by the laboratory. The amount of credit available for free county program samples will be updated in Data Transfer once we've processed the samples. Any unused credit provided by the laboratories would not carry over to future fiscal years.
When submitting County Program samples, write "County Program" next to the samples on the submission forms. You may use the Online Submission forms if these are soil or water samples.
We do not offer reduced fees for school projects. You may use county program funds for this purpose at your discretion.
Payment Of Fees
- Our most recent price list is in the Interactive Fee Schedule. Do not refer to prices listed in
the codebook, on sampling kits or on other printed material. If you have old
materials in your office, it would be a good idea to tell your clients that prices
listed in them may not be current.
- Always insert any notification you receive regarding changes in fees in your
Fee Schedule Handbook for future reference.
- Collect fees from clients before submitting them to the lab. If fees are not
submitted with the samples, you must instruct us as to what tests you are
requesting and include specific instructions regarding the billing.
- When payment is sent after samples are submitted but before an invoice is
issued, please provide us with as much information as possible so we can
match the payment with the samples. (Client's name, date submitted, sample
type, etc.)
- If you are submitting payment for an invoiced sample along with prepaid
samples, always include a copy of the invoice or a note referencing the invoice
number, lab number or kit number.
- Do not send cash with samples or invoices.
- When a client requests a special analysis that is not listed on the fee schedule,
call the lab to confirm the fee.
- Make separate checks for samples sent to different lab units
- If your office or a client receives a bill and you believe the fee has been paid,
contact the lab as soon as possible. Unfortunately, checks sometimes get lost
or are separated from the samples in the rush of opening, separating and
preparing the samples for analysis.
- Please inform the appropriate lab of any circumstances regarding problems
with payment of an invoice. We will try to reach an agreement suitable to all
parties involved.
- Make checks payable to UGA
Water Analysis FAQs
W33B - Home Loan Closing Analysis
What analysis is included:
- The W33B Home Loan Closing Kit tests for Total Coli, Lead, Nitrate, and Nitrite.
- Note: Reach out to the lending agency to confirm what tests are needed. They may require additional water testing as well as a third-party collector.
How much does this analysis cost:
- The Kit, which includes a bacteria bottle, a bottle for nitrate, nitrite, and lead, and paperwork is $85. The turnaround time is 5-7 business days.
- Note: For an expedited service with a report sent in 2-3 business days, the test fee is $140.
Payment Information:
- If billing a county write, "Bill *insert County Extension office here*" (example: "Bill Clarke County").
- If shipping, please send a money order or check.
- If you want to pay by credit card write, "Send Invoice".
- Note: If payment is not received or indicated, results will be held until information/payment has been received.
What are the time constraints regarding submission:
- The bacteria portion of the analysis must be received by the laboratory within 24 hours of the collection time.
- Kits are accepted Monday through Thursday 8 am to 4 pm.
- No Home Loan Closing kits will be accepted on Fridays.
Sample Submission Form:
- The W33B Home Loan Closing (W33B) submission form can be found here.
- Note: On the second page of the submission form there is a protocol to help ensure proper sampling.
Shipping Information:
- UPS and FedEX are recommended because they deliver directly.
- Note: USPS does not deliver directly to us (it goes to a central receiving UGA location - this can cause delays).
- The last day to ship overnight is Wednesday.
- Address:
- Feed and Environmental Water Laboratory
- 2300 College Station Road
- Athens, GA 30602-4356
- Email:
- Soiltest@uga.edu; Fewlab@uga.edu
General advice:
- Collect and ship samples on the same day.
- Please be aware of your home closing date and ask the lending company if this analysis is required. Knowing ahead of time allows for efficient analysis and return of results.
- The date and time of collection are needed to make sure the sample has not expired upon arrival at the laboratory (shown below).
- Note: If the sample is expired upon arrival, you will be informed to resubmit only the bacteria portion.
- Analysis results are sent via email.