As we head towards the end of the year, we are looking forward to a winter break! Here’s what you need to know if you are planning on ordering any cultures or shipping samples for analysis in December or January.
Holiday closing dates
NCIMB will close for the holidays at noon on 24 Dec 2024, and re-open for business on 3 Jan 2025.
Culture orders
- You can still place culture orders during this time, via our online catalogue, by emailing us at enquiries@ncimb.com, or by completing the form on this page, but your order will not be dispatched before Mon 6 Jan 2025.
- If you need a fast turnaround on your order in January, completing and submitting our material transfer agreement (MTA) when you place your order will speed up the process when we return. You can download a copy of the agreement from the MTA page of our website
Sending samples for microbial identification
We can receive samples for microbial identification up to and including the 23 December. We cannot guarantee that final reports for samples received from the 20th – 23rd Dec will be issued before we close for the holidays. Please get in touch to discuss any specific requirements. We re-open for receipt of samples on 3 January, but will not undertake analysis until 6 January.
| Date | Status |
| Up to 19 Dec | operating as normal |
| 20-23 Dec | samples accepted but results may not be issued until January |
| 24 Dec – 2 Jan | Closed and cannot receive samples |
| 3 Jan | Can receive samples but won’t be progressed until 6 Jan |
| 6 Jan | Open and operating as normal |
Energy and environmental microbiology services (EEMS)
Some of our analytical services have a longer running time and the last dates for samples sent to our EEMS department are as follows.
| Sample/ analysis type | Last date for receipt of samples Dec 2025 |
| Microbiological analysis of waters/ pigwax | 19 Dec |
| Fuel analysis | 19 Dec |
| Chemical analysis of effluent | 12 Dec |
| BOD | 03 Dec |
| MARA & LumiMARA | 13 Dec |
Shipping of culture collection orders in December
If you are ordering to a UK address, the last date for placing an order for delivery before Christmas is Thurs 19 Dec. We cannot guarantee that orders placed after that date will arrive before the Christmas break. However, our freeze dried strains are stable at ambient temperature, and so a few extra days in the post won’t impact their viability. Do remember to put them in the fridge as soon as possible though to keep them in the best condition.
Shipping times to overseas destinations vary, but will usually be subject to some delay over Christmas and new year. If you are placing an order close to Christmas but would like us to delay dispatch until the new year, please let us know.