Lab Services
Are you moving the needle on soil health?
Many people are unsure about the quality of the biological amendments they add to their soils. Are they really enhancing the soil microbiome? Could you be doing something different to ensure their success? The microscope is a tool that can provide clear answers to these critical questions. Without taking a closer look, people spend years not knowing if their efforts are truly making a difference.
There are a couple different ways to go about evaluating the biology in your samples. Below is an overview of options. Need help deciding? We can help you think through the best fit for your needs during an Intro Call!
Biological Count
MOST POPULAR
What we measure:
✔︎ Nematode Assessment
✔︎ Protozoa Assessment
✔︎ Fungi Assessment
✔︎ Bacteria Assessment
✔︎ Actinobacteria Assessment
What we record & deliver:
➤ Data Report
➤ Discussion Document
➤ Microscope Photos / Videos
$120/Sample
Biological Survey
What we evaluate:
✔︎ Biodiversity
What we record & deliver:
➤ Discussion Document
➤ Microscope Photos/Videos
Example:
Discussion Document
Microscope Photos/Videos
$60/Sample
What Clients Say
What’s the difference between a Survey and a Count?
In both instances we prepare a sample of your soil or compost and evaluate it on the microscope.
Surveys entail a written description of our observations and considerations as well as some visual documentation like photos and video of your sample.
Counts involve a more detailed analysis that measures the microbial community resulting in a dataset of estimated organism values per gram.
When to Use Survey vs. Count
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Counts are ideal when you need data to support the rationale for adopting a biological approach.
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Surveys, on the other hand, are perfect for gaining economical insights across multiple samples, especially when detailed data isn’t critical, or you’re trying to prioritize which samples to analyze further.
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The choice often depends on your budget and goals. Consider whether a descriptive, visual narrative will meet your needs or if quantification is necessary for decision-making or collaborating with stakeholders.
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Where do I start?
At Rhizos, relationships come first!
Begin with an intro call where we can get to know each other and ensure our services align with your needs. If it’s a match, we’ll guide you through our onboarding process, including access to our client portal. From there, you can easily submit lab service orders, request office hours, review sampling guides, and more.
"I highly recommend working with Andie because she's not only professional and accurate with her methods, but easy and fun to work with."
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- Chris Kennedy PhD.
Program Coordinator, Healthy Soils, Healthy Trees
"I love the way Andie’s mind works! We have a lot of fun working together and sharing ideas. She’s considerate of context, knowledgeable about soil health and skilled with the microscope and interpretations."
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- Leighton M.
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Is an Intro Call necessary?An Intro Call is designated time to see if we're a good fit to work together. The insight gained from this meeting helps us tailor our communications and serve you better. As a small team, we kindly ask that you reserve this call for serious business inquiries. For other questions or requests, please refer to our FAQs to find the best way to get in touch. If scheduling an Intro Call feels unnecessary or frustrating to you, it’s likely we may not be the best match. We recommend exploring alternative options, such as connecting with a lab technician through soilfoodweb.com.
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What area do you service?We're based near Austin, Texas. We receive samples from anywhere in the continental United States.
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How is Rhizos different than other third-party labs?Rhizos is a small, woman-owned business specializing in biological analyses using shadowing microscopy—one of the most direct & precise methods for evaluating soil biology, typically not offered by larger third-party labs. Our turn around times are competitive (5-business days) and we provide high-touch communication - it's very important to us you understand your lab results. Our goal is to empower every client with the insights gained through a microscope assessment, giving you the confidence to take meaningful action in the field. Please note: Rhizos does not offer chemical analyses.
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Why is it necessary to schedule assessments?Unlike traditional labs where you can send samples without prior notice, Rhizos requires scheduled assessments for a few key reasons: The microbiome in a sample can change over time, so we limit the number of samples a lab technician processes weekly to ensure timely analysis. Our lab technicians operate from different locations, making scheduling essential to ensure you know where to send each round of samples. Once onboarded as a client, booking is simple: Submit the number and type of samples (soil, compost, liquid, or other) via the order request form in your client portal. We typically respond the same day to confirm your booking and provide the appropriate shipping address. Please note: Samples sent without prior booking will incur a $10 fee per sample and may not be processed in a timely manner.
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Do you offer site visits?Our ability to provide site visits for soil sampling or consulting is very limited and currently available only to clients in the Austin area. Site visits typically range from $250 to $400, depending on scope & location. You can request sampling services via the order request form in the client portal. To get started, book an Intro Call! Regarding sampling, most Rhizos clients collect their own samples be it soil, liquid or solid compost, using our easy-to-follow sampling guides, which are accessible through the client portal.
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Do you have an example of a report?Absolutely! Below is an example of the Data Report & Discussion Document. Lastly, there is a live google drive link included in the Discussion as an example of the Visual Files included with each sampling round. To Recap, Biological Counts are $120 / sample and include the following: ✔ Nematode Assessment ✔ Protozoa Assessment ✔ Fungi Assessment ✔ Bacteria Assessment ✔ Discussion Document ✔ Microscope Photos / Videos
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What's the turn-around time on a report?Clients can expect a report 5 business days from the date their sample(s) are received by the lab.
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Who do you normally work with?We offer business-to-business services, our clients include: commercial farmers, commercial compost makers, consultants, cannabis growers, landscape and turf managers, research scientists, agronomists, ecological conservationists, and more!
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Do you offer general consultations?Yes! Visit our Office Hours page to explore the range of topics we can cover during a consultation. You can also click on the scheduling links to review the intake form and see if it’s the right fit for your needs.
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What are Rhizos' lab protocols?We perform shadowing microscopy using Dr. Elaine'sâ„¢ Soil Food Web lab protocol to evaluate key organisms in the soil food web: bacteria, actinobacteria, fungi, protozoa, and nematodes.
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Do you offer chemical analyses?No, Rhizos only evaluates soil biology. We support taking an interdisciplinary approach towards soil health. i.e. making informed decisions based on soil biology, soil texture, and soil chemistry insights.
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Do you offer mycorrhizal analyses?No, not at this time. To differentiate saprophytic from mycorrhizal fungi requires staining techniques that Rhizos is not currently equipped to perform. Rhizos specializes in shadowing microscopy and performs Dr. Elaine'sâ„¢ Soil Food Web protocol, which evaluates the key organism groups that make up the soil food web.
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How do I send a sample?After an intro call, you will receive an invitation to a client portal where you can access sampling guides and submit order request forms. A shipping address will be provided for each order in an order confirmation email.
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What's Rhizos' shipping address?You won't find our shipping addresses listed on our website. Only clients who have completed an intro call, have been onboarded to the client portal, and placed their first order will be provided a shipping address. If you're an existing client, to book your assessments login to the client portal to submit an order request form. We typically respond the same day with an order confirmation and a shipping address for that order. The shipping address may be different from order to order, so even if you've sent us a sample before, don't assume where to send your samples. Always schedule assessments to receive the correct shipping address. Samples that arrive without a booking will be subject to a fee of $10 per sample and may risk not being processed timely.
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How do I collect a sample?Sampling guides are provided in the client portal to all onboarded clients. To become a client, start by booking an intro call!
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Do you offer non-profit pricing?In most cases we're able to offer 15 - 20% off the listed service price for non-profit (501c3) organizations, just ask!
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Can you come present or lead a workshop with our organization?Thanks for considering me (Andie) to participate in your event! I can't accommodate every request, but would love to hear about your event and what you're looking for, fill out this form to tell me more and I'll be in touch.
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Do you work on creative projects?Yes! I (Andie) love sharing the soil microbiome with others in creative ways. Tell me more about your project here and I'll be in touch.
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Will you be a guest on my podcast?Thanks for considering me (Andie) as a guest for your podcast! While I can't accommodate every request, I'd love to learn more about your podcast, fill out this form and I'll be in touch.
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Can I shadow or intern with you? / Can I pick your brain about your career and business?Thank you so much for your interest in this work! While I hope to offer opportunities for shadowing or internships in the future, I’m not able to accommodate them at this time. To learn more about what I do, follow me on Instagram @soilissexy and subscribe to my newsletter at soilissexy.substack.com. I also host a free monthly Q&A forum, where your questions about this career path are warmly welcomed!
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Do you offer microscope training?We learned how to master microscopy through the Certified Lab Technician program at Soil Food Web School and recommend it! If you've already got the basics down and are looking for help with organism identification, we created a Microorganism Digital Library with over 100 images/videos to help train your eye for all the key organism groups. If you’d like to purchase the library for download it is available for $150, to inquire use the contact form with your inquiry. Additionally, we host the occasional in-person microscope workshop. To stay informed on such opportunities, fill out the form listed on the Events page.