How to commission a pollen analysis: a practical buyer's guide

Whether you need honey tested, an archaeological deposit sampled, a sediment core counted or trace evidence examined, the questions that decide the quality of the result are mostly the same. Here they are, with a sample submission sheet you can reuse.

Blog · 11 min read · Published 28 September 2026 · Sources checked 28 September 2026

To commission a pollen analysis, first define the question you need answered, then choose a lab with proven experience in that sample type, agree the method, count size and report format in writing, and only then take and ship samples following the lab's instructions. Most disappointing results trace back to one of those steps being skipped.

Pollen analysis is a family of methods, not a single test. A honey lab, an archaeological palynologist and a forensic specialist use related techniques but answer different questions, work to different standards and report in different ways.

This guide is independent of any laboratory. It lists what to ask, what a sound report contains, what drives cost and turnaround, and the warning signs that a provider is overselling what pollen can prove.

Which kind of analysis do you need?

Start from the decision you have to make, not from the test name. The table matches common questions to the type of analysis and the specialist who usually does it.

For background on each field, see our guides to how honey pollen analysis works, pollen in archaeology, forensic palynology and palynology in oil and gas exploration.

Questions to ask a lab before you send anything

Ask these in writing and keep the answers with your order. A competent lab will answer them without hesitation.

1. Experience with your sample type

Ask how many analyses of this material they run and for which kind of client. Honey, archaeological soils and forensic traces need different reference data and skills. A lab that excels at deep-time rock samples may have no reference collection for your region's honey plants.

2. Accreditation, where it applies

ISO/IEC 17025:2017 sets the general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. Accreditation is granted by national bodies for specific methods, not for a lab as a whole. If you need results for trade, regulators or court, ask whether this particular method is inside the lab's accredited scope, and ask to see the scope. Much academic and archaeological palynology is done in research labs without accreditation; that is normal, but it changes how you evaluate the work.

3. The method, by name

Ask which published method they follow and how they adapt it. For honey, most labs cite the harmonised methods of melissopalynology (von der Ohe et al., 2004), built on Louveaux, Maurizio and Vorwohl (1978). For sediments, ask how samples are prepared, including whether they use hydrofluoric acid or an alternative and whether they acetolyse. Our explainer on how samples are processed explains why those choices matter.

4. How many grains they count

Percentages from small counts are noisy. For honey, the harmonised method asks for at least 300 grains for an estimate and says only counts of at least 500 grains should be expressed as percentages. For other materials there is no single rule, so ask what minimum count they use and what they do when a sample is too poor to reach it.

5. Reference collection and identification level

Ask what reference slides and atlases they use for your region, and to what level they will identify grains (family, genus, “type”). Many taxa can only be separated to genus or pollen type. A lab that promises species-level identification for everything is overselling.

6. Controls and contamination checks

Ask whether they run laboratory blanks, how they avoid cross-contamination between samples, and, for forensic or archaeological work, how control samples from the surroundings are used in the interpretation.

7. Turnaround and report format

Ask for a date, not “a few weeks”, and a sample report. Confirm whether you will receive raw counts, not only a summary, and whether slides and residues are archived and for how long.

8. Other analyses

Pollen is often one line of evidence among several. For honey authenticity, sugar-adulteration testing is a separate chemistry question. For archaeology, radiocarbon dating, plant macrofossils and phytoliths are separate services. Ask whether the lab coordinates these or whether you need separate providers.

Sampling and shipping: do's and don'ts

The lab can only analyse what you send. Poor sampling cannot be fixed at the microscope. Always follow the specific instructions of your lab; the points below are general principles.

Honey: how much to send

The harmonised qualitative method uses 10 g of honey per preparation. Labs normally ask for more than that so they can homogenise the sample, repeat the analysis and keep a retained portion. Ask your lab for its minimum.

Archaeology: sample early

Pollen samples are best planned with the specialist before excavation begins, so that the right contexts are sampled in the right way. In England, Historic England's guide to environmental archaeology covers sampling strategy and recovery and is a useful briefing document to share with your team.

Forensic: chain of custody and controls

Forensic samples are evidence. Every transfer should be recorded, packaging sealed and signed, and control samples taken from the relevant places. Horrocks, Coulson and Walsh (1998) showed that the pollen content of soil surface samples varies from place to place, which is one reason a single control sample is rarely enough. Published protocols for forensic palynology (Wiltshire, 2016) are the reference for practitioners.

A sample submission sheet you can copy

Labs have their own forms, but sending this information up front avoids most delays. Copy the fields into a spreadsheet and fill one row per sample.

What a good report contains

Whatever the field, a report you can rely on lets a second specialist check the reasoning. Look for:

• Sample identification that matches your submission sheet, and the condition of samples on arrival.
• Method: the published method followed, preparation steps, any deviations, and the mounting medium.
• Counts: the number of grains counted per sample and, ideally, the raw count table.
• Identifications at a stated level (family, genus, type) with the references used.
• Results: percentages, frequency classes or concentrations, as appropriate, with any diagram.
• Interpretation that answers your question and states clearly what the data cannot show.
• Uncertainty: poor preservation, low counts or taxa that could not be separated.
• Quality information: blanks, controls, accreditation status of the method used, analyst name and signature.
• Archiving: where slides and residues are kept and for how long.

For forensic work, reports also need to address the evidential weight of any comparison. Horrocks and Walsh (1998) discussed how to assess the value of pollen evidence, and Walsh and Horrocks (2008) reviewed the place of palynology in forensic science, including the case for validation studies and proficiency testing.

What drives cost and turnaround

Labs price very differently and few publish tariffs, so we do not quote figures. These are the factors that move the price and the timescale:

Ask for a written quote that separates preparation, counting, reporting and any extras. For archaeological and research projects, a staged approach (a quick assessment of a few samples before committing to full analysis) often saves money when preservation is uncertain.

Red flags

• “Definitive proof” language. Pollen evidence supports or weakens a hypothesis. Forensic palynology in particular is usually corroborative.
• Pollen offered as a purity test for honey. Dilution with sugar syrup is not reliably detected by counting pollen. In the EU coordinated action “From the Hives”, 147 of 320 imported honey samples (46%) were suspected of non-compliance because markers of extraneous sugars were detected, using sugar-marker methods, not pollen counting.
• No method named, or reluctance to say how many grains were counted.
• Percentages without counts, or percentages reported from very small counts.
• No mention of controls in a comparison question.
• Species-level names for everything. Many pollen types cannot be separated below genus by light microscopy.
• Exact origin claims (“this honey comes from this valley”) without regional reference data.
• No archiving of slides or residues, so nobody can re-check the work.

Where to find labs

Start with our directory of palynology laboratories, societies and databases. It currently lists university labs, including a group whose work covers archaeological, forensic and honey analysis. Other routes:

• Professional societies such as AASP – The Palynological Society and national palynology societies, listed in the directory, can point to members who do contract work.
• Accreditation bodies' public databases let you search for accredited labs and check their scope for honey pollen analysis.
• Published papers on your region or sample type show who has relevant reference collections.
• For archaeology, your local planning archaeologist or heritage body usually knows which specialists work in the region.

FAQ

How much honey does a pollen lab need?

The harmonised method of melissopalynology uses 10 g of honey for each qualitative preparation. Labs usually ask for more so they can homogenise the sample, repeat the analysis and keep a retained portion, so check your lab's minimum before shipping. Send a representative sample from a homogenised batch, with its lot number.

Can a lab tell if honey is fake?

Not with pollen alone. Pollen analysis checks botanical and geographic origin claims and can reveal heavy filtration or blending. Adulteration with sugar syrups is detected with chemical methods; the EU “From the Hives” action flagged 46% of 320 imported samples using sugar markers. Ask for both tests if authenticity is the concern.

Do forensic palynologists work privately?

Some do, as independent consultants, and others are based in universities or research institutes and take casework by arrangement. In criminal cases they are usually instructed by police, prosecutors or defence lawyers, so that evidence handling and disclosure follow legal procedures. Ask about their casework experience and court testimony record.

How long does a pollen analysis take?

It depends on sample type, preparation difficulty, the number of samples and the report required. Honey spectra need little chemistry, while sediment and rock samples may need several days of preparation before counting. Ask for a written date and whether an expedited service exists.

Should I ask for raw counts?

Yes. Raw counts let another specialist check percentages, recalculate groupings and combine your data with future work. Many research labs provide them routinely; for commercial tests, ask for them in the quote so they are included in the price.

Sources

• ISO/IEC 17025:2017. General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. iso.org
• von der Ohe W., Persano Oddo L., Piana M.L., Morlot M., Martin P. (2004). Harmonized methods of melissopalynology. Apidologie 35: S18–S25. doi:10.1051/apido:2004050
• Louveaux J., Maurizio A., Vorwohl G. (1978). Methods of melissopalynology. Bee World 59: 139–157. doi:10.1080/0005772X.1978.11097714
• European Commission. EU coordinated action “From the Hives” (honey, 2021–2022). food.ec.europa.eu
• Mildenhall D.C., Wiltshire P.E.J., Bryant V.M. (2006). Forensic palynology: why do it and how it works. Forensic Science International 163: 163–172. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.07.012
• Wiltshire P.E.J. (2016). Protocols for forensic palynology. Palynology 40: 4–24. doi:10.1080/01916122.2015.1091138
• Horrocks M., Coulson S.A., Walsh K.A.J. (1998). Forensic palynology: variation in the pollen content of soil surface samples. Journal of Forensic Sciences 43: 320–323. doi:10.1520/JFS16139J
• Horrocks M., Walsh K.A.J. (1998). Forensic palynology: assessing the value of the evidence. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 103: 69–74. doi:10.1016/S0034-6667(98)00027-X
• Walsh K.A.J., Horrocks M. (2008). Palynology: its position in the field of forensic science. Journal of Forensic Sciences 53: 1053–1060. doi:10.1111/j.1556-4029.2008.00802.x
• Historic England (2025). Environmental Archaeology: A Guide to the Theory and Practice of Methods, from Sampling and Recovery to Post-excavation, 3rd ed. historicengland.org.uk