Customers
The main customers
of the diagnostic service are livestock, poultry and fish farmers and poultry organisations, through
their private veterinary surgeons. Samples from farm animals including poultry are examined at the request
of private veterinary surgeons. Fish may be accepted directly from the owner when submission through
a veterinary surgeon is impracticable. The results of testing on all species are reported directly to
the nominated veterinary surgeon.
Specialisms
- Bacteriology
- Clinical chemistry
- Haematology
- Parasitology
- Pathology
- Serology
- Virology
Disease
Outbreaks
Many animal diseases can be caused by multiple infectious
agents e.g.
- Abortion:
Salmonella,
Leptospira, Brucella, Neospora spp. - Enteritis:
E.
coli, rotavirus, coronavirus, cryptosporidia - Pneumonia:
PI3
and RS viruses, Mycoplasma bovis, Haemophilus somnus, Pasteurella spp.
Laboratory
testing is therefore essential for the identification of the precise cause so that the most effective
control measures can be implemented.
Herd Health Information
Knowledge of the disease status of a herd or flock can be used to improve
economic returns and benefit animal welfare. Animals with subclinical disease do not show outward signs
but may have reduced levels of production due to, for example, nutritional imbalances or parasitic infections.
Herd infection with bovine virus diarrhoea (BVD) virus may manifest as reduced fertility, scours, wasting,
illthrift or death.
- Metabolic Profiles: Tests on
blood samples from a selection of animals in the herd or flock can be used to detect deficiencies in
minerals such as magnesium, selenium, cobalt or copper, and nutritional imbalances restricting production.
- Serological Screenings: Blood or milk samples can be tested
for evidence of infection with viruses such as BVD so that control or eradication programmes can be
initiated.
- Parasite Status: Anthelmintic treatments can be targeted
more effectively
by first analysing manure samples for worm or fluke eggs.
Submission
of Samples for Diagnostic Testing
Samples or carcases of farm animals
may be submitted
to AFBI through a veterinary surgeon. (Farmed poultry and fish specimens can be accepted directly from
the farmer or organisation when it is impracticable to involve a veterinary surgeon).
Turnaround
Times
AFBI aims to complete tests and report results as quickly as possible;
turnaround
time depends on the nature of the test but many results are provided to the customer on the day of receipt
of the sample.
Quality Assurance
AFBI
strives
to ensure the highest level of accuracy in diagnostic testing. AFBI scores consistently highly
in national
and international quality assurance programmes. The internationally recognised ISO 17025 accreditation
standard has been achieved for transmissible spongiform encephalopathy and chemical surveillance testing.
A continuous programme of training is in place to ensure that AFBI staff are up to date with the latest
veterinary
diagnostic techniques.
New Test Development
AFBI
aims to be at the forefront of method development and is continually introducing new techniques for
the detection of disease-causing agents. Current tests include PCR, ELISA, in situ hybridisation, immunofluorescence
and immunoperoxidase labelling, and electron microscopy.
Other
Activities
In addition to diagnostic testing, AFBI also carries out
import/export
testing of farm animals, testing of sires for use in artificial insemination services, non-regulatory
testing of poultry for evidence of salmonella infection and a small volume of diagnostic testing on
samples from companion animals (excluding post-mortem examinations).
A large
volume of regulatory testing is carried out in support of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's
animal disease eradication and surveillance schemes, and food safety programmes.
