ALAB Hours
Service Interruption:
The week of May 19-23 we are having a new Skalar instrument installed and verified as per our ISO 17025 guidelines.
This means that for those days we will not be able to run the following tests:
Free and total SO2
Volatile Acidity
Total Acidity
Total Reducing Sugars
These tests fall under the classical, nutrition, carbohydrates and calories panels for wines, ciders, RTDs, kombuchas, and juices.
The last run on the current machine will be Thursday the 15th of May. Samples needing analyses for any of the above parameters must be in to the lab by Tuesday the 13th of May by 4:30 pm.
Samples arriving after the 13th will be held until the new machine is in service the week of the 26th of May.
FOSS analysis will be available, but as a reminder, it is for 100 % grape-based wines with no alcoholic fortification or extreme sweetness ([100 g/L RS).
If you have any questions, please reach out to alab@acadiau.ca
Yeast Count Analysis is no longer available.
Hours of operation: 9am - 5 pm. Monday- Friday.
Please call to make arrangements for sample drop off – 902-698-1012. The Acadia campus post office is also open for samples sent via courier or Canada Post. Please submit sample submission forms via email.
ALAB ISO/ICE 17025:2017 Accreditation
To ensure that ALAB’s service is of the highest quality and standard, ALAB is accredited by the Canadian Association of Laboratory Accreditation (CALA) to ISO/ICE 17025 and ALAB's accreditation is limited to the tests in ALAB's scope of testing.
Client ID#: 1004245 (3rd from the top)
Who We Are
The Acadia Laboratory for Agri-Food and Beverage (ALAB) is an analytical lab that provides state of the art research and analytical services to the wine, craft beverage and food industries.
Situated within the beautiful Annapolis Valley and Acadia University, ALAB works closely with Nova Scotia’s and the Maritimes’ growing craft beverage industry (wine, beer, cider, spirits, and non-alcoholic beverages) by providing access to a local analytical lab.
What We Do
ALAB uses advanced analytical methods and cutting-edge research to test parameters related to quality control and exporting for craft beverages and agri-food products.
Welcome to Our Lab
ALAB & its Amenities
Situated within the beautiful Annapolis Valley and Acadia University, ALAB uses advanced analytical methods and cutting-edge research to test parameters related to quality control and exporting for craft beverages and agri-food products. ALAB provides an accurate analysis of properties such as alcohol levels, sugars, organic acids, volatile compounds, metals and yeast populations. This creates product fingerprints, which provide quality assurance and meet government regulations. ALAB also conducts flavour and fragrance analyses to help improve the quality of existing craft beverage and food products, while facilitating new product development.
As part of ALAB’s commitment to the highest quality of service and meeting the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 Accreditation, ALAB participates in regular Proficiency Testing Schemes, as well as inter-laboratory comparison testing.
Located in the Beautiful Annapolis Valley
The Annapolis Valley is the heartland of Nova Scotia’s globally recognized wine industry and home to a diverse range of agricultural activities. ALAB is a local analytical lab that allows the wine, craft beverage and food industries in Nova Scotia to develop a close connection with technical lab staff and researchers while obtaining high quality lab services with a fast turnaround time. Additionally, this lab helps Nova Scotia’s wine industry develop new standards and quality control protocols that will further emphasize the high quality and authenticity of Nova Scotia wines.
Meet Our Team
Personnel
Lab Manager, Hayley Craig-Barnes 
Hayley joined ALAB in September 2018 as a full-time technician. She has an MSc in Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology from UofT, and a BSc in Biomedical Toxicology from Guelph. She worked for 7 years as a Research Technologist in the Analytical Facility for Bioactive Molecules at the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, providing small molecule analysis for the greater scientific community. She did two coop work terms at Labatt’s while she was at Guelph, investigating new yeast strains and yeast senescence in the microbiology division of their research and development division.
As Manager of ALAB, Hayley is leading the daily operation of the lab, performing chemical and microbiological analyses on beverage and food-related products. She will work closely with ALAB’s technicians and COOP students on the maintenance of the Quality Assurance System within the laboratory. She also has a level 1 Prud’homme craft beer certification. Originally from the Annapolis Valley, she’s happy to be home.
Lab Technician, Ryan Greenham 
Ryan joined ALAB in August of 2021 as a lab technician. He has a BSc in Chemistry from Acadia University and is happy to return home to his university community! After graduating from Acadia, he pursued his field of interest in analytical testing and environmental analytical chemistry. Working at Bureau Veritas, formerly Maxxam Analytics, for 5 years in Bedford Nova Scotia, he honed his skills in the field of analytical chemistry operating cutting-edge instruments and performing modern, high-volume extraction techniques.
As a technician, Ryan assists in the daily operation of the lab by utilizing advanced instruments and performing the vast array of tests and services ALAB provides. Ryan assisted ALAB in attaining its ISO accreditation, putting the lab on the international map as a source of quality, scientific results for the food and beverage industry. Ryan enjoys working closely with the labs’ colleagues and students, offering his insight and experience, and maintaining a happy, productive work environment.
Ryan will continue to assist in expanding and developing ALAB’s services as the lab grows hand-in-hand with the food and beverage industry. Ryan enjoys partaking in the plethora of unique beverages being produced around Nova Scotia, and beyond, and is proud to provide his skills to help them flourish.
ALAB's Support
The province of Nova Scotia and the Federal Government fund the operations of ALAB. In particular, ALAB receives support from the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, and Acadia University, and has received support from the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada Foundation for Innovation, Nova Scotia Research and Innovation Trust, and Acadia University.
