Sample submissions

Find out where and how to send your samples to the Radiocarbon Laboratory at the André E. Lalonde AMS Laboratory.

Radiocarbon Laboratory submissions

Solids

Disclaimer: The AEL AMS Laboratory is a LOW-BACKGROUND laboratory, FREE OF ENRICHED MATERIAL OF ANY KIND (14C, Tritium). As a submitter, you warrant that your samples are free of any enriched material. If enriched material from the samples (or the packaging in which they are shipped) results in contamination of equipment or instrumentation requiring decontamination or replacement, significant charges will be incurred.

Sample submission form

To submit samples for radiocarbon analysis, please send us your completed submission form by email prior to shipping your samples. (We recommend using Google Chrome or Firefox to download the submission file template):

Single sample submissions are accepted, however they may wait in the sample queue for other similar samples.

*Please note, we do not accept samples from private individuals. We only accept samples from academic institutions, government and non-profit agencies, or commercial institutions.

The AEL-AMS Laboratory adheres to cultural heritage protocols on the dating of antiquities that are commonly agreed upon within the international radiocarbon testing community. While our lab does provide dating, we typically do so for academic purposes. We cannot provide a valuation or compositional analysis. If authentication is required, the piece should be evaluated by an accredited appraiser or conservator, as they possess the knowledge to minimize reduction of artifact value when sampling. AEL-AMS staff will not sample potentially valuable pieces of art. If you are interested in dating potentially valuable artifacts, we must receive a signed copy of our antiquities declaration before accepting any sample for analysis.

Please include a printed copy of the submission form with your shipment.

We reserve the right to refuse any samples we deem inappropriate for analysis.

Shipping instructions

  1. Send an electronic copy of your submission to the lab before shipping your samples. Please include a printed copy of your submission form with your sample shipment.
  2. Courier or ship samples with registered post and indicate the tracking number in your correspondence. We recommend Purolator for shipping within Canada and FedEx for international shipments.
  3. Please inform us prior to shipping if you are sending hazardous material or soils internationally.
  4. Classify material as, “Geologically inert samples for destructive scientific analysis - no commercial value”.
  5. Please only send only the material you would like dated. If you would like any residual material returned to you after the analysis, please specify this on your submission form (minimum $30 fee).
  6. Customs charges are the responsibility of the submitter; they will be included in your invoice.
  7. For solid organic samples:
  8. Dried material is best (freeze-dried or oven dried ~60°C).
  9. Please do not use non-stick tin-foil.

Shipping address

Radiocarbon Laboratory
AEL-AMS Lab, University of Ottawa
Advanced Research Complex (ARC)
25 Templeton Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 6N5, Canada
613-562-5800 ext. 6864

Turnaround time

Current estimated turnaround time: 2-3 months (upon sample receipt)

Estimated turnaround time is based on the date samples are received in the lab. Actual times may vary. Please inform us of any project deadlines, we will do our best to accommodate your request.

For researchers with end of fiscal reporting deadlines (March 31), please ship your samples to the lab by the end of November.