LABORATORIES MANAGEMENT DIRECTORATE

OFFICE
 

 ABOUT
 

 ULMD UNITS
 

 ULMD Services
 

 FORM DOWNLOADS
 

 STAFF
 

 CONTACT
1. Background
 Haramaya University has been actively involving in teaching, research and community
engagement activities since its inception. There is an urgent need for the university to make
efforts to link its academic programs to its research and outreach activities in order to make its
training programs relevant to the needs of the stakeholders and the country at large.
The goal of Haramaya University in general is to evolve as an autonomous and independent
academic and research university with a competitive national and international quality and
relevance standards in its academic, research and community services endeavors. The university
should devote much of its resources and time to achieve these goals. Besides, academic staff
members must also motivated to engage in research activities that eventually lead to quality
publications.

Haramaya University, like other institutions, is structured into faculties, colleges,

directorates, schools and departments. University laboratories management is one of the
directorate offices established to promote practical teaching experience through support,
supervision, training by encouraging proper and wise use of laboratories resources.
 2. University Laboratories Management  Directorate Office (ULMDO)
 Haramaya University has more than 90 laboratories (dry and wet). These laboratories are owned
by colleges, schools, departments and ULMD. ULMD is carrying out range of activities that enable
laboratories to achieve and maintain high levels of accuracy and proficiency even though most of
laboratories are owned by different colleges, schools and departments. Organizing and managing a
functional laboratory is needed for each and every science/technology training program in order
to deliver sound practical learning experiences to the students beyond routine laboratory services
demanded by customers (graduate students, researchers & others) who are in pursue of basic and
applied research investigations.
The ULMD office is, therefore, supporting laboratories by providing training, maintenance,
installation and calibration of laboratory equipments, chemicals and reagents. Consequently, the
office is building laboratory capacity to improve the quality of teaching and research outputs.

2.1.            Vision                                                                                                    
To build a functioning and well managed state of the art research and teaching laboratories at
Haramaya University

2.2.            Mission
 With the existence of several non functional instruments and technology devices haphazardly
placed at various laboratories, the mission of the ULMD could not be anything else but caring and
protecting these old resources that are not working but indispensably needed by the academia for
complete analytical and extensive services in the university then by promoting quality education
through practical learning.
3. Contribution of ULMD
Since the goal of Haramaya University is to evolve as an autonomous and independent
research university with a competitive national and international quality and relevance standards
in its academic, research and community services, the ULMD has been working towards the
realization of this goal. The office’s contribution could be viewed from the following angles.

3.1.            Teaching-Learning Activity
Most of the laboratories managed by ULMD have provided conducive and satisfactory services for
the academic staffs, researchers, under graduate and post graduate students, and other
stakeholders of the University. Such provision of favorable environment has been created through
the supply of chemicals, equipments, working spaces, and manpower in the laboratories.
3.2.            Research Activity
It is obvious that the academic staffs and other members of the university have been actively
participating and engaging in various valuable activities in and outside the university to attain the
goal of the university. Community based research activity is highly prioritized along with the
teaching-learning activities. Accordingly, many researchers and other academic staffs, project
owners, under graduate and post graduate students, and other stakeholders of the university have
involved in various research projects to solve the problems of the community and the country.
These could be achieved through equipped and conducive working laboratories. In light of these
conditions, ULMD is working towards fulfilling the needed facilities and resources of the
laboratories of the university.

3.3.            Community Service Based Activity

  Organizing and providing a community service is another goal of the university. This can be
carried out through skill building training, problem solving research activities and workshops.
Accordingly, ULMD could, facilitate, and provide many laboratory based trainings and services
which have benefits the communities inside and outside the university.
3.4.            Customer Service Based Activity
Even though,fewof the university laboratories have limited scientific equipments, and trained
manpower that may hinder the satisfaction of the scientific community, most of the laboratories
are equipped with the modest instruments and facilities, and managed with trained manpower.
These laboratories have been providing services (chemicals, consumables, equipments, working
spaces, experimental analysis, etc) for MSc/PhD students, researchers, project owners, and other
stakeholders both in and outside of the university. Central laboratories have a leading role to give
central services. In such activities, ULMD has vital role through organizing, facilitating, managing
and oversee the day- to-day activities of the laboratories. This has its own positive impact towards
implementing the university’s goal by producing a competitive, well trained and experienced
manpower.

Laboratory Management Office Units

 
  ABOUT
 

 ULMD UNITS
 

 ULMD Services
 

 FORM DOWNLOADS
 

 STAFF
 

 CONTACT
There are five units established under ULMD. These are:

1. Central Laboratories Unit

Currently, central laboratories are actively involving in various activities related to teaching-
learning, research and community engagements. It is considered as the powerhouse for other
laboratories of the university. Yet much need to be done to meet diverse demands of
teaching/research activities. The central laboratories have the following goals to support the
goals of the university.

  To organize and standardize central laboratories to be efficient and smart;

 To fulfill all the necessary and advanced equipments placed centrally so as to serve
researchers and students, project owners and other stakeholders. By placing, managing and
handling centrally, the central laboratories are managing resources of the university and
allowing customers easy access to these scientific equipments and services in which they may
not be able to access in their own laboratories;
 To have well trained and skillful manpower in central laboratories for installation,
operation, calibration, maintenance, etc of equipments;
 To make central laboratories to be the centre of innovations, instrumental analyses and
trainings;
 To make central laboratories to be model laboratories for Haramaya university
laboratories;
 To work towards accreditation and ISO standard certification of central laboratories.
There are three main laboratories organized under central laboratory. These laboratories are
independent but shared available resources to provide services. The laboratories are:
1.1. Soil, Water and Plant Analysis Laboratory
This laboratory was mainly established for the purpose of analyzing soil, water and plant samples.
The most experimental analyses which have been carried out in this laboratory are:

 All physicochemical parameters of soil, water, plant, feed and related samples;
 Determination of mineral composition of all sample types (soil, plant, water, etc)
1.2. Food Microbiology and Toxicology Laboratory

This laboratory focuses on isolation, characterization and preservation of microbes, and toxicants
of food origin. The main activities are:

 Culture preservation;
 Isolation and characterization of bacteria;
 Detection of bacteria and fungus;
 Laboratory and equipment services (e.g., bio-safety cabinet, incubator, colony counter)
1.3. Biochemistry, Phytochemistry and Instrumental Analysis Laboratory

 This laboratory was mainly established for scientific studies of traditional medicinal based
plants and instrumentations of various analyses. The main activities are:
 Soxhlet extraction and determination of crude/fat extracts of oily and other plant
samples;
 Screening of major phytochemicals;
 Isolation and characterization of bioactive compounds from medicinal and aromatic plants,
and plant seeds;
 Thin layer chromatographic analysis of various plant extracts
 Laboratory and equipment services (e.g., rotary evaporator, Soxhlet apparatus, AAS, deep
freeze)
 Central laboratory also provides services related to statistical data analysis (SPSS, SAS,
MINTAB and then like) for researchers, postgraduate students, etc.

2. Teaching-Learning Laboratories Unit

The teaching-learning laboratories unit is mainly concerned with supervising all academic
laboratories hosted under colleges/schools/departments. The unit shall be committed to
communicate with the laboratory managers to follow up on the resources usage, activities and
services. The unit has also the responsibility to ensure good laboratory practices through close
interaction with each laboratory.
Generally, the unit has the responsibility to:
 discuss with laboratory managers concerning the situation in their respective laboratory
 update the status of each laboratories periodically through survey and questionnaire
 identify the problems and gaps of each laboratories regarding facilities (chemicals,
equipments, water and electric systems) and trained manpower, and report to the concerned
body (ULMD, director)
 review all inventories made by each laboratories at least once a month
 evaluate laboratories working rules and give them feedback
 follow up on proper use of resources for the intended activity
 disseminate supplementary materials (manuals, guidelines, procedures, etc) to the
laboratories and help them to establish their own data base system
 Crosscheck the availability of first aid and emergency materials in each laboratories and
let the technical assistants to know and aware about their usages
 ensure health and safety of laboratory personnel
 help department/laboratory manager/technical assistant to develop safety guidelines
 evaluate and identify model laboratories
 follow up on service fees and other agreements made by postgraduate students and other
customers working in each laboratories
 encourage laboratories of different colleges/ departments to work together
 work in collaboration with central laboratories unit head, consumable unit , head technical
assistants, etc to share ideas, experiences, etc
 Participate in any multi-activities carried out in central laboratory

3. Laboratory Materials and Consumable Unit

The laboratory materials and consumable unit has a mandate to follow up on resources/facility
utilization in all university laboratories. The laboratory materials and consumable unit is also
responsible to evaluate the purchase requisitions, inventories, and facility management in each
laboratory. Besides, it also follows up on distribution of centrally purchased laboratory materials
to colleges/schools/departments/laboratories as per request, and up on inventories made by each
laboratory. Generally, the unit has the responsibility to:

 facilitate laboratory manager/TA to develop an up- to- date inventory in respective

laboratory
 collect and review the inventory report at the end of each academic quarter of the year
 let a chemical and material data base software to be created and managed in
collaboration with data manager of central laboratory and ICT of the University
 follow up on proper usage and management of the established data base in collaboration
with data base manager
 up –to- date the status of chemicals and equipments via the data base
 make all the analytical forms so simple and systematic for customers by using a data base
 follow up on proper usage of chemicals and equipments in each laboratory
 evaluate the purchasing requisition made by each department and cross check them with
their up-to-date inventories
 control resource wastage (avoid unwise use of resources and facilities in the laboratory)
 evaluate and review all files concerning purchased, stored, distributed, used up
equipments and chemicals, and cross check with the data base
 follow up on the introduction of newly purchased laboratory materials
 record and handle all files, data, videos and other documents properly
 let all data and files display on the TV show and ensure accessibility information to the
customers
 create different website pages (email, face book, etc) and upload various documents via
the pages
 implement Kaizen principles in the day to day activities
 participate in any multi-activities carried out in central laboratory

4. Laboratory Technology Unit

The aim of this unit is to provide a technical and maintenance supports for the university
laboratories to ensure safe working environments. The unit provides repairs and maintenance
services for all university laboratories. It also installs and calibrates newly purchased
instruments/equipments and fixes electrical, plumbing and other technical problems.
Generally, the unit has the responsibility:
 To provide all technical support for the university laboratory.
 To provide repairs and maintenances services for all laboratories equipment.
 To calibrate and install newly purchased instruments.
 To fix electrical, plumping problems faced by the laboratories.
 To ensure water accessibility to the laboratories by fixing any problems concerning tap
water.

5. Laboratory Animal Unit

This unit was established to provide experimental animals which can be employed for various
biological and medical research activities at in vivo levels. This probably helps students and
researchers of the university to save time and money which would have been spent elsewhere to
get such services.

ULMD SERVICE FEE

ULMD is rendering different services that enable laboratories to achieve and maintain high levels
of accuracy and proficiency even though most of laboratories are owned by different colleges,
schools and departments.

1. ULMD Service;
   1.1. Analysis on
 Soil
 Plant
 Water
 Waste water
 Solid waste
 Food
 Feed etc
           1. 2. Training on
 Lab safety,
 Basic lab skills,
 Analysis of soil, plant and water
 Basic skills on microbiology
 Basic skills for phythochemistry and Medicinal plants
 Statistical data analysis and research methods using SPSS, SAS, MINITAB, R and STATA.
1. Analytical Service Fee for Some Selected Parameters different Samples
1.1 Soil Routing Analysis Fee per Sample

Rates by ULMD (Eth. Responsible HU

S.N Parameter
Birr) Laboratory

 1 pH-H2O 25 SL,CL

 2 pH-KCl 25 SL,CL

 3 EC (1:2.5 Soil, water) 25 SL,CL

 4 EC (saturated extract) 60 SL,CL

 5 Cation Exchangeable Capacity 80 SL,CL

 6 Ex. Base (Na, K, Ca, Mg) 100 SL,CL

 7 Micronutrient (Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn) 125 SL,CL

 8 Calcium carbonate 30 SL,CL

 9 Total Nitrogen 85 SL,CL

 10 NO3– 70 SL,CL

 11 NH4 70 SL,CL

 12 Organic Carbon/matter 50 SL,CL

 13 Available phosphorus (P) 50 SL,CL

 14 Available potassium 50 SL,CL

 15 Available sulfur (S) 50 SL, CL

 16 Texture (hydrometer) 90 SL,CL

 17 Texture(pipette wet sieving) 110 SL,CL

 18 Moisture content 20 SL,CL

 19 Available Boron 90 SL,CL

 20 Exch Acidity (H &Al) 85 SL,CL

  21 Particle density 50 Soil physics

 22 Bulk density 50 Soil physics

 23 Field capacity 60 Soil physics

 24 P.W.P. 70 Soil physics

 25 P.F.curve 5 point 150 Soil physics

 26 Water holding capacity 80 Soil physics

  1.2. Feed Analysis Fee Per Sample 

Rates by ULMD (Eth.  Responsible HU

S.N Parameter
Birr) Laboratory

1 Dry Matter (550C/1050C) 20 ANL

2 Ash (550-6000C) 30 ANL

3 Neutral Detergent Fiber 65 ANL

4 Acid Detergent Fiber 60 ANL

5 Acid Detergent Lignin 80 ANL

6 Crude Protein/Nitrogen 60 SL /ANL/CL

7 Ether extract 80 ANL

8 Crude fiber(Fat) 80 ANL

9 HCN 65 ANL

1.3 Soil Soluble Salts Analysis Fee per Sample

S.N Parameter Rates by ULMD(Eth. Birr) Responsible HU Laboratory

1 Cl– 50 SL,CL

2 HCO3– 50 SL,CL

3 SO42- 55 SL,CL
 4 CO32- 60 SL,CL

5 CaCO3 50 SL,CL

6 Mg 50 SL,CL

7 Na 50 SL,CL

8 K 50 SL,CL

9 Mo 50 SL, CL

1.4 Solid Waste Analysis Fee per Sample

 
S.N Parameter Rates by ULMD (Eth. Birr) Responsible HU
Laboratory

1 pH-H2O 35 SL, CL

 2 pH-KCl 35 SL, CL

 3 EC (1:2.5 Soil, water) 35 SL, CL

 4 EC (saturated extract) 115 SL, CL

Cation Exchangeable Capacity

 5 95 SL, CL
(CEC)

 6 Ex. Base (Na, K, Ca, Mg) 115 SL, CL

 7 Micronutrient (Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn) 150 SL, CL

 8 Calcium carbonate 45 SL, CL

 9 Total Nitrogen 100 SL, CL

10 NO3– 85 SL, CL

11 NH4 85 SL, CL

12 Organic Carbon/matter 70 SL, CL

13 Available phosphorus (P) 75 SL, CL

14 Available potassium 70 SL, CL

 15 Available sulfur (S) 70 SL, CL

16 Texture (hydrometer) 110 SL,CL

17 Texture(pipette wet sieving) 125 SL,CL

18 Moisture content 35 SL,CL

19 Available Boron 110 SL,CL

20 Exch Acidity (H &Al ) 100 SL,CL

21 Particle density 65 Soil physics

22 Bulk density 65 Soil physics

23 Field capacity 75 Soil physics

24 P.W.P. 85 Soil physics

25 P.F. curve 5 point 165 Soil physics

26 Water holding capacity 95 Soil physics

  1.5. Food Sample Analysis Fee per Sample

   
S.N
Parameter Rates by ULMD (Eth. Birr) Responsible HU
 
  Laboratory

1 Titrable acidity (TA) 50 FSL

2 Ascorbic Acid 60 FSL

3 Reducing sugar 75 FSL

4 Total sugar 90 FSL

5 Texture profile of food sample 40 FSL

6 Bulk Density 50 FSL

7 Water Absorption index 60 FSL

 8 Firmness 30 FSL

9 pH of Seed/Fruit 40 FSL

10 Condensed Tannin 80 FSL

11 Anthocyanin Phytic Acid 100 FSL

12 Brix Total soluble solid 50 FSL

13 Total Phenolic Content(TPC) 90 FSL

Characterization of dough physical strength by

14 100 FSL
Rheofermentometer

15 Grain size 30 FSL

16 Test weight (Hectorliter weight) 30 FSL

17 Thousand-Kernel Weight) 30 FSL

18 Glidin gluten ratio 70 FSL

19 Ash and moisture 45 FSL

20 Carbohydrate 90 FSL

21 Minerals (Fe, Zn, P, K, Ca) 30 for each mineral FSL

1.5. Food Sample Analysis Fee per Sample 

Rates by ULMD (Eth.  Responsible HU

S.N   Parameter 
Birr) Laboratory

1 Titrable acidity (TA) 50 FSL

2 Ascorbic Acid 60 FSL

3 Reducing sugar 75 FSL

4 Total sugar 90 FSL

5 Texture profile of food sample 40 FSL

6 Bulk Density 50 FSL

7 Water Absorption index 60 FSL

 8 Firmness 30 FSL

9 pH of Seed/Fruit 40 FSL

10 Condensed Tannin 80 FSL

11 Anthocyanin Phytic Acid 100 FSL

12 Brix Total soluble solid 50 FSL

13 Total Phenolic Content(TPC) 90 FSL

Characterization of dough physical strength by

14 100 FSL
Rheofermentometer

15 Grain size 30 FSL

16 Test weight (Hectorliter weight) 30 FSL

17 Thousand-Kernel Weight) 30 FSL

18 Glidin gluten ratio 70 FSL

19 Ash and moisture 45 FSL

20 Carbohydrate 90 FSL

21 Minerals (Fe, Zn, P, K, Ca) 30 for each mineral FSL

  1.6. Plant Analysis Fee per Sample 

Responsible HU
S.N Parameter Rates by ULMD (Eth. Birr)
Laboratory

4 N (wet digestion) 100 SL,CL

5 P (wet digestion) 100 SL,CL

6 K 50 SL,CL

7 Ca 50 SL,CL

8 Mg 50 SL,CL
 9 Na 50 SL,CL

10 Fe 50 SL,CL

11 Mn 50 SL,CL

12 Cu 50 SL,CL

13 Zn 50 SL,CL

14 B 100 SL,CL

15 SO42- 100 SL,CL

16 Cl 60 SL,CL

17 NO3– or NH4+-N 125 SL,CL

18 Co 50 SL,CL

19 Pb 50 SL,CL

20 Cd 50 SL,CL

21 Ni 50 SL,CL

1.7 Water (drinking, irrigation) Analysis Fee Per Sample

Responsible HU
S.N Parameter Rates by ULMD (Eth. Birr)
Laboratory

1 pH 30 SL,CL

2 EC 30 SL,CL

3 Na (after pre-treatment) 40 SL,CL

4 K 40 SL,CL

5 Ca 40 SL,CL

6 Mg 40 SL,CL

7 Cl– (titration) 50 SL,CL
 8 NO3– (UV) 50 SL,CL

9 NO2– (UV) 50 SL,CL

10 NH4+ 60 SL,CL

11 SO42- (UV) 60 SL,CL

12 CO32- + HCO3– (Alkalinity) (titration) 100 SL,CL

13 B 60 SL,CL

14 TDS 40 SL,CL

15 P (UV) 60 SL,CL

16 Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn (each) 40 SL,CL

17 Total N 70 SL,CL

18 F– 40 SL,CL

19 PO43- (UV) 45 SL,CL

20 TS (Total Solid) 40 SL,CL

21 Turbidity 30 SL,CL

22 Hardness (total) 80 SL,CL

23 Ca Hardness or Mg Hardness 40 SL,CL

24 COD 150 SL,CL

25 BOD 200 SL,CL

26 S 45 SL,CL

27 TSS or TDS 40 SL,CL

28 NH3 70 SL,CL

29 Mo 40 SL,CL

30 CO2 (free) 70 SL,CL

 
 1.8 Waste Water Analysis Fee Per Sample

Responsible HU
S.N Parameter Rates by ULMD (Eth. Birr)
Laboratory

1 pH 40 SL,CL

2 EC 40 SL,CL

3 Na (after pre-treatment) 50 SL,CL

4 K 50 SL,CL

5 Ca 50 SL,CL

6 Mg 50 SL,CL

7 Cl– (titration) 60 SL,CL

8 NO3– (UV) 60 SL,CL

9 NO2– (UV) 60 SL,CL

10 NH4+ 70 SL,CL

11 SO42- (UV) 70 SL,CL

CO32- + HCO3– (Alkalinity)
12 110 SL,CL
(titration)

13 B 70 SL,CL

14 TDS 50 SL,CL

15 P (UV) 70 SL,CL

16 Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn (each) 50 SL,CL

17 Total N 80 SL,CL

18 F– 50 SL,CL

19 PO43- (UV) 55 SL,CL

20 TS (Total Solid) 50 SL,CL

21 Turbidity 40 SL,CL

22 Hardness (total) 90 SL,CL

23 Ca Hardness or Mg Hardness 50 SL,CL

24 COD 160 SL,CL

25 BOD 210 SL,CL

26 S 55 SL,CL

27 TSS or TDS 50 SL,CL

28 NH3 80 SL,CL

29 Mo 50 SL,CL

30 CO2 (free) 80 SL,CL

1.9 Fertilizer/Composite Analysis Fee per Sample

Rates by ULMD (Eth. ResponsibleHU

S.N Parameter
Birr) Laboratory

 1 pH-H2O 30 SL, CL

 2 pH-KCl 30 SL, CL

 3 EC (1:2.5 Soil, water) 30 SL, CL

 4 EC (saturated extract) 100 SL, CL

 5 Cation Exchangeable Capacity (CEC) 90 SL, CL

 6 Ex. Base (Na, K, Ca, Mg) 100 SL, CL

 7 Micronutrient (Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn) 150 SL, CL

 8 Calcium carbonate 50 SL, CL

 9 Total N (wet digestion) 100 SL, CL

 10 NO3– 80 SL, CL

 11 NH4 80 SL, CL

  12 Organic Carbon/matter 60 SL, CL

 13 Available phosphorus (P) 90 SL, CL

 14 Available potassium 70 SL, CL

 15 Available sulfur (S) 60 SL, CL

 16 Texture (hydrometer) 90 SL,CL

 17 Texture(pipette wet sieving) 110 SL,CL

 18 Moisture content 30 SL,CL

 19 Available Boron (B) 90 SL,CL

 20 Exch Acidity (H &AI ) 90 SL,CL

 21 Particle density 60 Soil physics

 22 Bulk density 60 Soil physics

 23 Field capacity 60 Soil physics

 24 Permanent Welting Point (PWP) 80 Soil physics

 25 P.F. curve 5 point 150 Soil physics

 26 Water holding capacity 100 Soil physics

1.10. Preparation of Crude Plant Extracts Fee Per Sample

Responsible HU
S.N Parameters Rates by HU-LMO
laboratory

1 Maceration with  Hexane 445 CL

2  “                 with  Petroleum ether 290 CL

3  “                 “       Diethyl ether 590 CL

4  “                 “       Dichloromethane CL

5  “                 “      Chloroform 406 CL

6  “                 “      Ethanol 1010 CL

 7  “                 “      Methanol 245 CL

8 Soxhlet extraction 250 CL

9 Hydro/Clevenger distillation 300 CL

10 Concentrating using rotary evaporator 250 CL

1.11 Preliminary Phytochemical Screening Fee per Sample

Rates by ULMD (Eth. Responsible by HU

S.N Class of compounds
Birr) laboratory

1 Alkaloids 200 CL

2 Glycosides 150 CL

3 Tannins & Phenols 100 CL

4 Flavonoids 170 CL

5 Sterols 80 CL

6 Lignins 80 CL

7 Quinones 100 CL

8 Carbohydrates 100 CL

Remark:  External Customers (project workers, researchers and institution) will supposed to

pay 30% labor cost and 10% service charge; whereas the students (MSC and PhD) will supposed
to pay 20% labor cost with no service charge. This cost has to be charged together with the cost
of parameters.
²  Each parameter has to be done in triplicate (based on customer interest)

²  Customers should pay the analytical cost and all required costs before starting sample analysis

 FSL= Food Science laboratory; NSRL = National soil Research Lab; SL = Soil Lab; CL= Central
Lab; MWRL= Ministry of water Resource Lab; ANL = Animal Nutrition Lab; ILRI = International
Livestock Research Institute; HCL = Horticulture Laboratory; 
JJATSL=JIJE Analytical Testing Service Laboratory
 Please Note (for analysis on payment bases):
 Analyses of blanks are provided at no charge.
 Duplicate/triplicate samples are charged.
Requests
As standard procedure, we would like to be provided with the following information (in advance)
to assist us in scheduling laboratory work.

 An estimate of what types of analyses you need

 How many samples you plan to take.
 When you expect samples to arrive at our laboratory