Science That Supports Your Next Step

We offer specialized services for beekeepers, scientists, conservationists, and ag-sector professionals working to improve pollinator health, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem resilience.

From diagnostics and data analysis to habitat planning and product testing, our tools and expertise are designed to move ideas forward - whether you're studying colony health, testing honey for sweetness, or restoring pollinator habitats.

What we Offer

Our lab provides fast, accurate testing to help understand and respond to pollinator health challenges:

  • Honey bee hive assessments, Queen health testing, and chemical residue analysis
  • Genetic testing for Queen lineage and Africanized bee identification
  • Disease detection for honeybees, bumble bees, and alfalfa leafcutter bees
  • Pollinator identification using morphology or DNA barcoding
  • Bee pollen diet (DNA metabarcoding) and honey floral composition

We support ecosystem-level approaches with:

  • Bee species diversity monitoring
  • Entomological services and taxonomic species identification
  • Habitat enhancement and landscape consultations
  • Crop pollination consultation
  • Wild pollinator habitat and floral resources enhancement

We welcome opportunities to collaborate on applied research:

  • Joint research design and implementation
  • Graduate student training and lab mentorship
  • Knowledge sharing and stakeholder engagement
  • Guest speaking and technical presentations

We’re here to support discovery. At NBDC, we provide access to advanced lab equipment for experienced users and offer a supportive environment where students, researchers, and collaborators can learn and apply molecular biology techniques. Whether you’re running your own tests or training for the future, our lab is equipped to help you do meaningful work.

See below for a full list of available equipment and facilities:

Facilities

  • Level 2 Containment Lab
  • 5-room molecular suite
  • 4-day sample delivery/reception (all of Canada)
  • Live insect sample capability
  • Import permitting assistance
     

Specialized Equipment:

  • Next Generation Sequencer (MiSeq)
  • High Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC)
  • Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS)
  • High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)
  • Fluorescence microscope
  • Microtome (cryostat)
  • Phase contrast compound microscopes
  • Real-time thermocyclers
  • End-point thermocyclers
  • Gel imager
  • Spectrophotometer
  • Hybridization oven
  • Anaerobic incubators
  • Shaking incubator
  • Sample homogenizers
  • Dissecting microscopes with digital capabilities
  • A variety of benchtop equipment (centrifuges, vortexers, heat blocks, etc)

For more information about the services, contact us at @email or submit a sample.

Get in Touch

NWP National Bee Diagnostic Centre

Office: BVE104

Phone: 780-357-7737

Email: NBDC@nwpolytech.ca