Margaret M Blood Group

01/01/2026

Today is day 1 of 2026. It has been rocky, unstable, fragile, and without many loved ones, whom I miss dearly, that are now at peace. Somehow upright and very slowly achieved and a good day overall🌻

Today started the rebuild of many things, and in many ways. 2025, for me, was finally the reset year, albeit bumpy and unexpectedly and heartbreaking, losing our dear Nikki. Still the closest to the reset year, that I've been trying to achieve, both personally and in business, since covid, losing my precious mumma in 2021, my daughter moving to the GC in 2022, losing our beloved Chris in 2024, and 2023 a total blur ❤️

January 2025 saw the expansion and opening of our new beautiful laboratory and office space.

January 2026, with a delayed re-opening now to be on Monday 19th January, 2026, you will see us all back refreshed, renewed and ready to regroup, to get Blood Consulting, Blood Recruiting and the Australian Gem Testing Laboratory, back on track finally, bigger and better than ever.

New and exciting ventures are coming our way. Watch this space, and as always, our door is open to everyone. Pop past for a visit and/or to see how we may support or assist you and your business successes in 2026.

From all the team, we wish you a happy, healthy, safe, and prosperous 2026! 🎆 🎇

30/12/2025

Today, we said farewell to our dear Nikki. Thank you to everyone who supported Nikki through her journey to her last days, supported the family and also myself. It meant so much and absolutely helped get us all through a heartbreakingly sad situation. Taken too quick and too young. The only positive, she is now free of any pain or suffering and resting in peace. Nikki will be terribly missed but never forgotten ❤️ Australian Gem Testing Laboratory Blood Consulting Blood Recruiting Margaret Blood

28/12/2025

Nikki's funeral details for Tuesday in link below 😥🙏

https://tobinbrothers.com.au/tribute/nikki-papaioannou-2510409 🌸

View the tribute page for Nikki Papaioannou. See Funeral Service Details, View the Webcast, Post Condolences and More.

22/12/2025

It is with the deepest sadness and heartfelt grief for me to share that our dear and precious Nikki lost her battle with pancreatic cancer at 1.00pm on Friday 19/12/2025.

After a short, but tough road of 9 months, Nikki passed peacefully, and is no longer suffering. She was not alone and can now join her father up with the angels.

Our industry as a whole, and for all those who knew Nikki, will miss her infectious smile and wit, she will never be forgotten and had been taken from us too young.

Nikki's funeral service will be held on Tuesday 30 December 2025.

Full funeral service details will be forthcoming.

Please take the time to spare a thought this Christmas for anyone who is on their own, or has lost a loved one. 😢💔🙏

26/11/2025

I am so proud to announce the whole AGTL team passed through winter WITHOUT colds, flu, or otherwise. No one has been sick since May 2025! I am also solving my 'cat' allergies after all these years, and getting through a few ridiculous weeks of over 100 work hours per week with a spring in my step!

Thanks to the HR Healthy Rebel Pine Needle Extract! This has been life changing. Now we're testing the extract against the 'pollen & winds' of 'Spring' so far, so good!

A huge thank you to the AGTL team, family and friends, for entrusting me with their health, and to the amazing HR Healthy Rebel for caring more about the human race than politics and money by producing this fantastic natural product 🙏

18/11/2025

A great education post from the team at the Australian Gem Testing Laboratory!

08/10/2025

Dust off your runners and join our team 'Walking with Nikki' on Sunday 19th October. Supporting our beautiful Nikki and this charity is a must do! 5klms in Elwood. Register yourself, then join our team. Any queries, contact Marg on 0448 723 888

Hi there, We’re proud to be taking part in the Put Your Foot Down walk to help drive change for Nikki and other people impacted by pancreatic cancer. We are taking on this walk as a team which we’ve called Walking with Nikki and our goal is to raise $5000, and we’d love your support to help ma...

01/10/2025

A little motivation from Blood Consulting.

01/10/2025

Another case of buyer beware, synthetic material treated to add "inclusions".

Occasionally, great lengths are taken to disguise synthetic or treated gemstones from natural gems.

The crackle quenched flux healing method, applied to natural or synthetic corundum (ruby or sapphire) for instance, is one such technique.

It involves quickly heating then cooling a natural or synthetic corundum (ruby or sapphire). This causes internal fractures to form. Then reheating and using a 'flux' mixture, helps to heal the fractures from the inside.

These healings in some cases can improve the look of a poor quality natural gemstone, or make a synthetic gemstone look like a natural gemstone.

The web-like, honeycomb pattern of the healed fractures themselves is an indication of the treatment. However, to the untrained eye, it may appear or assumed to be natural inclusions.

Our next 'treatment' topic, will be on 'glass filled' gemstones.

25/09/2025

Thanks for the reminder, Australian Gem Testing Laboratory!

Psst! It's officially 3 months until Christmas!

Whilst this hallmark looks like it could be straight from Santa's workshop, it's actually from Portugal!

Using the extensive resources available at AGTL, we were able to determine the origin. The reindeer and outer profile indicate this bracelet was manufactured in Porto, Portugal between 1985-1998. '800' is the metal purity mark for 19 carat gold. Metal testing confirmed that this piece is stamped correctly.

We loved doing our research on this one!

23/09/2025

Another great FAQ answer from our team at the Australian Gem Testing Laboratory, this week's topic was on testing rough/uncut gemstones.

~ Frequently Asked Question ~

Can AGTL identify rough gemstones or crystals?

We certainly can, however, the Australian Gem Testing Laboratory (AGTL) is primarily set up to examine fashioned (cut and/or faceted) gemstones and jewellery.

Each uncut gem is unique in its form and attributes. Uncut gemstones have a limited range of testing available as opposed to their 'fashioned' counterparts. Whether or not we can assist in the identification of an uncut gemstone is dependent upon a combination of factors.

We pride ourselves on delivering the best service therefore, we always take into consideration the cost of testing versus the potential value of an identified piece. In the event we deem it is not viable for us to charge for laboratory based testing, we do have contacts you can reach out to, who may be able to assist you further.

We welcome all enquiries and will do our best to assist wherever possible.

Call for an appointment today.

21/09/2025

Are you feeling overworked?

Just can't go on anymore?

Spare a thought for our FujiXerox printer over at the Australian Gem Testing Laboratory.

After a few annoying issues we were working around, it was finally time to call in the printer technicians.

Australian Printer Services came to the rescue (ps. they were speedy, professional and got the job done).

The result was a maintenance kit and new rollers, as our poor, overworked printer had clocked 95,332 prints, WHAT!

Oh wait, perhaps that is also why we are feeling so tired hahahaha :)