Shipping Seeds to Other Countries that require an ISTA Certificate?

ISTA Seed Testing reported on an ISTA Certificate can only include accredited tests on species listed in the Current ISTA Rules, Chapter 2 and within the scope of the ISTA Laboratory. (see the current ISTA International Rules for Seed Testing for more details). 

The OSU Seed Laboratory can issue ISTA Orange and Blue certificates or standard OSU analysis reports on the samples, depending on customer requirements and the species being tested. The ISTA Orange sampling must be done by an authorized ISTA sampler. Please contact us if you have questions.

What species is the OSU Seed Lab accredited for?

The Lab is accredited for all species listed in the ISTA Rules. Some species like Meadowfoam (Limnanthes alba), Seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum), Chia (Salvia hispanica), and many native species are not in this list yet. The Lab cannot issue certificates for mixtures.  Please see Chapter 2 of the ISTA Rules to verify if the species can be tested for an ISTA Certificate, which is available on ISTA's website.

What tests is the OSU Seed Lab accredited for?

The Lab is accredited for: purity (ista/p), other seed determination (OSD), germination (ista/g), tetrazolium (ista/tz), moisture (m), 1000 seed weight determination (1000wt), and endophyte (Festuca spp. and Lolium spp.). The Lab is also accredited to test coated seed. Our formal scope of accreditation may be viewed on the ISTA website.

ISTA Purity Test (ista/p) This test determines the percentage by weight of pure seed, other seeds, and inert matter. The minimum sample size is 2500 seeds.

ISTA Other Seed Determination (OSD) (also called Determination of Other Seeds by Number) This test determines the number and identity of other seeds in a test sample. The extent of this determination is referred to as the scope of the test. The scope depends on customer needs: 

  • Complete in which the whole working sample (minimum 25,000 seeds) is searched for all other seeds present (this equates to the AOSA C&W exam).
  • Limited in which the search is restricted to stated species in the whole working sample.
  • Reduced in which only part of the working sample is examined for all other seeds.
  • Reduced-Limited in which only part of the working sample is examined for stated species only.

ISTA Germination Test (ista/g) This test determines the germination percentage of the seed.

ISTA Tetrazolium (ista/tz) This test determines the viability percentage of the seed.

ISTA Moisture (ista/m) This test determines the moisture percentage of the seed. Please reach out to the lab or reference the ISTA Rules before sending in samples for moisture testing, as this testing has different sampling requirements. 

WHAT ARE THE TESTING FEES?

All fees can be found on the Testing Fees page.

What if my customer/country requires additional tests such as ploidy, grow-out, etc. that are not in the ISTA Rules?

If a customer requires grow-out, ploidy, or other tests not in the ISTA Rules, the Lab will be able to provide these additional test results on an ISTA certificate as long as at least one ISTA test (e.g. purity, OSD, germ, etc.) also appears on the certificate. The additional test results are included under Other Determinations.

What is the Other Seed Determination (OSD) Test?

This test determines the presence of seeds other than the crop seed in a subsample of approx. 25,000 seeds. This is similar to the crop and weed exam in the AOSA system. All seeds found are listed by number in alphabetical order. Also known as an "Other Seeds by Number" test.

What is the scope of Other Seed Determination (OSD)?

ISTA Other Seed Determination (OSD) (also called Determination of Other Seeds by Number) This test determines the number and identity of other seeds in a test sample. The extent of this determination is referred to as the scope of the test. The scope depends on customer needs: 

  • Complete in which the whole working sample (minimum 25,000 seeds) is searched for all other seeds present (this equates to the AOSA C&W exam).
  • Limited in which the search is restricted to stated species in the whole working sample.
  • Reduced in which only part of the working sample is examined for all other seeds.
  • Reduced-Limited in which only part of the working sample is examined for stated species only.

Shipping to Australia? The OSU Seed Laboratory can help you!

australiaAustralia is an important market for seeds produced in Oregon and the USA. If your seed is headed for Australia, it is important to know their requirements and how the OSU Seed Laboratory can help you.

What does Australia require?

  • ISTA Other Seed Determination (AU) Australia accepts test reports from ISTA accredited laboratories that are approved by AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service). Otherwise, the shipment is held at the port for quarantine until it is sampled, tested and evaluated for acceptance or rejection. This creates delays. Additionally, if the lot is rejected, you are required to re-clean it or ship it back, which would result in significant losses.
  • If Glyceria spp. are found in Oregon grass seeds, the Glyceria is ploidy tested by flow cytometry or PCR to further specify because G. declinata is acceptable and other Glyceria spp. are not. (See BICON import conditions for more information.)

How can the OSU Seed Lab help you?

The OSU Seed Laboratory is ISTA accredited and AQIS approved and can issue ISTA certificates and analysis reports that are accepted by AQIS. (See BICON for more information.)

If Glyceria spp. seeds are found, knowing that your seed is headed for Australia, the OSU Seed Laboratory can quickly proceed to test the Glyceria by flow cytometry.

Australia requires a special classification scheme for reporting purity and specific OSD (AU) results. Whether you need an ISTA Orange Certificate, ISTA Blue Certificate, or OSU analysis report, the test results will be classified according to Australia's requirements.

Shipping Seeds to New Zealand?

New Zealand is an important market for seeds produced in Oregon and the USA. If your seed is headed for New Zealand, it is important to know their requirements and how the OSU Seed Laboratory can help you.

What does New Zealand require?

  • ISTA Other Seed Determination (NZ) New Zealand accepts test reports from ISTA accredited laboratories. 

How can the OSU Seed Lab help you?

New Zealand requires a special classification scheme for reporting purity and specific OSD (NZ) results. Whether you need an ISTA Orange Certificate, ISTA Blue Certificate, or OSU analysis report, the test results will be classified according to New Zealand's requirements.

Delivery of reports?

ISTA Certificates are mailed unless a customer requests to pick them up in person. Certificates may only be given to the person listed on the certificate or an authorized company representative. You may be asked to provide identification. Standard OSU and  ISTA preliminary analysis reports are provided via the Oregon State University Seed Services website