Laboratory Services

The department’s Laboratories are an essential component of the department’s One Health business area and play a significant part in safeguarding the food-chain. The Laboratories are located at purpose built facilities on the Backweston campus in Co. Kildare and at seven other regional locations across Ireland.

The Service’s role

The laboratory service consists of a central laboratory complex at Backweston, Celbridge, Co Kildare (which was opened in April 2007) together with a number of regional laboratories located throughout the country. The Backweston complex has brought together a number of different laboratories having a variety of functions into the one building. The construction of the new laboratories allows for future developments that are likely to be required to meet needs associated with client requirements and technological developments The laboratories involved are the:

• Central Veterinary Research laboratory (comprising the divisions of Bacteriology, Pathology, and Virology)
• Veterinary Public Health Regulatory Laboratory (VPHRL)
• Pesticide Control Service
• Dairy Science Laboratory
• Seed Testing and Plant Health Laboratories.

In addition to the Backweston complex, six Regional Veterinary Laboratories, (whose primary work is in disease diagnosis and surveillance) located at Athlone, Cork, Kildare, Kilkenny, Limerick and Sligo, a Brucellosis Laboratory in Cork and two regional Dairy Science laboratories at Limerick and Cork complete the laboratory service.

Is to assist the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development in implementing its' Public Health Protection Service by ensuring an effective independent food monitoring and compliance support testing programme for the meat industry currently worth in excess of €6,350 million annually from a centre of excellence in order to comply with current single market conditions under Irish and EU Legislation.

The CMCL is the national reference laboratory for the analysis of a range of residue groups in meat. It also functions as a routine field laboratory with a high through put of samples.

Historically the Veterinary Laboratory Service (VLS) can trace its origins to 1896 when the first Laboratory was established in Hoey's Court near Dublin Castle, where it was responsible for ensuring the implementation of uniform standards for the diagnosis of Swine Fever and thus hasten its eradication. It later moved to Merrion Lane c.1900.

The next move was to a new custom built laboratory, which opened in Thorndale off Collins Avenue in 1924, with the main purpose of producing vaccines for animal disease control. It was moved to Abbotstown on the Holmpatrick Estate near Blanchardstown in 1960. The former Thorndale Laboratory was retained and opened as the Brucellosis Laboratory in 1967 in association with the then recently initiated eradication scheme.

The Central Veterinary Research Laboratory and the Central Meat Control Laboratory were relocated to their present location in the Department's Agriculture Laboratories Complex on the Backweston Campus, Stacummy Lane, Celbridge, Co. Kildare during the latter part of 2006 and early 2007.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food through its Regional Veterinary Laboratory (RVL) network carries out continuous surveillance for exotic and endemic disease conditions in Irish livestock. It provides a laboratory diagnostic service to private veterinary practitioners and farmers. Private veterinary practitioners are welcome to submit animal carcasses and specimens (usually blood, milk or faeces) for diagnostic testing for their farmer clients. Reports are then issued to the veterinary practitioner for interpretation.

The RVL network consists of six strategically located centres: the New Regional Veterinary Laboratories were opened in:

• Sligo (1967)
• Cork (1969)
• Athlone (1970)
• Limerick (1970)
• Kilkenny (1973)
• Abbotstown (1976)
• Cork Brucellosis Laboratory (1982)
• Central Meat Control Laboratory (1985).

Regional Veterinary Laboratory Reports

The Regional Veterinary Laboratories produce annual surveillance reports which provide an overview of the identified causes of diseases in farm animals. These reports are a unique source of information on such diseases in Ireland.

In addition, each month the RVLs produce a report on the noteworthy or interesting cases they encountered. These monthly reports are published in the Irish Veterinary Journal.

The annual and monthly reports can be found using the links below or the navigation box on the left of this page. These reports should be of interest to farmers, private veterinary practitioners, industry, researchers and farm advisors.

RVL Reports

• RVL Reports

Test and Price List

From 31st March 2014 VAT at 23% will be added to all the laboratory charges below.

Submission Form

An appropriate submission form must accompany all samples. Reports are issued to the veterinary practice entered on the form.

The information requested is necessary to determine which laboratory tests are appropriate, to minimise associated laboratory charges and to optimise result turn-around time.

It is our aim to provide accurate results and timely service. However many diagnostic tests are not performed daily and laboratory schedules may change.

The submission form is a formal document designed to be concise yet thorough. The information requested is necessary to determine which laboratory tests are appropriate, to minimise associated laboratory charges and to optimise result turn-around time.

Submission of whole blood for haematological analysis

Blood samples for haematology examination should be collected from the animal in a continuous flow and gently mixed with the anticoagulant (EDTA). Samples should be delivered to the laboratory as soon as possible after collection, ideally on the same day. It may be better to choose to use the nearest laboratory/RVL in order to enable direct (same day) delivery, rather than postal (delayed) delivery if optimal haematology results are required.

Transfer of VLS BVD results to ICBF

Results for samples submitted as part of the BVD national eradication programme are automatically transferred to ICBF.

In a limited number of cases, it may also be necessary to transfer some non-programme VLS BVD laboratory test results to ICBF.

In such cases, complete the below submission form and send to the relevant, acting RVL.

Packaging of Diagnostic Samples

Diagnostic samples include blood, urine, faecal and other clinico-pathological samples sent for laboratory analysis and diagnosis. Since January 1st 2007, the packaging of these samples has been governed by new EC guidelines (ADR 2007).

These samples should be packaged in the manner prescribed below:

The material should be placed in a leak-proof primary container. Faecal samples should be placed in screw-top containers to counter the effects of gas production in the container.

The primary container should then be placed in a leak-proof secondary container. This can be achieved by placing the primary container into a leakproof bag. Ensure that either the secondary container or the outercontainer is rigid, for example, do not place a sample with a secondary plastic baginside a jiffy envelope- it must be in a box.

Absorbent material should be placed between the primary container and the secondary and should be capable of absorbing the entire contents of the primary container.

The words `BIOLOGICAL SUBSTANCES, CATEGORY B' should be clearly printed on the outside of the package.

Provided that these conditions are met, the package may be sent by courier or post without any of the other conditions of the regulations applying

Diagnostic specimens sent in any other way to that prescribed above do not meet the requirements of the ADR and may not sufficiently protect the samples. Leakages of this material in transit may present serious health risks to those transporting the material and to the laboratory staff who receive it.

Note:

The term 'diagnostic specimen' (UN3373) applies to human or animal material - including but not limited to - excreta, secreta, blood and its components, tissue and tissue fluids, and body parts, being transported for purposes such as research, diagnosis, investigational activities, disease treatment, or prevention. This includes specimens likely to contain pathogens in World Health Organisation (WHO) Risk Groups 2 and 3 (see https://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/biosafety/Biosafety7.pdf

Samples that are known to contain, or have a very strong possibility of containing, an infectious micro-organism classified as belonging to World Health Organization (WHO) risk group 4* , or animal Class A diseases (Diseases of Animals Acts, 1966 to 2001), should be regarded as infectious substance and packaged as such. The full requirements of the ADR regulations apply. Further details may be obtained from the relevant legislation: Carriage of Dangerous Goods Act, 1998; S.I. No. 248 of 1998: Safety, Health, And Welfare At Work (Biological Agents) (Amendment) Regulations, 1998 - Fourth Schedule; Diseases of Animals Acts, 1966 to 2001.

• WHO Risk Group 4 pathogens are defined as pathogens that usually cause serious human or animal disease and that can be readily transmitted from one individual to another, directly or indirectly, and for which, effective treatment and preventative measures are usually not available (i.e. high individual and community risk).

The following lists some of the companies that provide regulation compliant diagnostic specimen packaging systems:

Guidelines on Sample Collection

Samples should be submitted as soon as possible after being collected. If immediate delivery is not possible then it is generally recommended that samples be refrigerated (not frozen) until delivery is possible.

Sample bottles should be clearly labelled with an animal number or with a reference number that can be associated with an animal number on the sample submission form here. Samples should be collected in an appropriate container type, pertinent to the tests that are required. Examples of the sample types typically required are listed below. If there is any doubt about what sample type is preferred for a particular test, then it is safer to contact the local RVL for clarification.

Laboratory opening hours (except holidays)

• Monday to Friday: 9:00AM - 5:00PM

• Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Tissue Biochemistry

• Note that BVD eradication scheme samples must be sent to Sligo RVL., Fawcett’s Bridge, Doonally, Sligo F91 XRW7

For other submission queries or for clarification re any of the above, please contact the RVL directly – see details below:

The veterinary laboratory service (VLS) therefore comprises the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) and the Meat Control Laboratory at Abbotstown in Dublin; The Brucellosis Laboratory in Cork and six stand alone multidisciplinary Regional Veterinary Laboratories located in Athlone, Cork, Dublin, Kilkenny, Limerick and Sligo.

Our goal is to cooperate with our customers in achieving the highest possible standards of animal health and welfare in Ireland.

The objectives of The Veterinary Laboratory Service are to implement Department of Agriculture and Food (DAF) policy in respect of animal health and welfare and veterinary public health. This is done through

• providing the state veterinary service with the technical support and diagnostic capability in respect of statutory and regulatory animal disease eradication and control programmes
• assisting the development and implementation of plans for the prevention and control of such diseases

providing an efficient laboratory diagnostic service to the livestock industry through practising veterinary surgeons

• providing a consultancy service when required, to complement laboratory diagnosis and further assist disease investigations
• monitoring and collating information on diseases at national level
• providing expert advice and education on disease diagnosis and control to veterinary practitioners, public authorities, private organisations, agriculturalists and stock owners
• identifying diseases with zoonotic implications and collaborating with public health specialists and the Food Safety Authority
• Initiating and carrying out research and development

Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostic

Diagnostic Tests; A wide spectrum of these tests are provided which facilitate the clinician in the field to introduce appropriate treatment and control measures, and to differentiate endemic diseases from the more serious exotic ones. It also helps to ensure animals for food are healthy and in particular free from zoonotic diseases.

Statutory Import/Export Tests are provided to permit the safe trans. national movement of animals and to meet trade requirements and to comply with trading codes of practice and meet customer requirements. The laboratory is the recognised approved laboratory for these purposes.

Pre movement tests: are provided to facilitate inter and intra-community trade in accordance with statutory requirements. The laboratory provides most of the specific tests required for such movements. Animals designated to go to high health status farms require to pass pre-movement tests for designated diseases to meet EU and national legislation requirements. Purchasers also often require such tests to meet their own requirements.

The Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) comprises three divisions; Bacteriology/Parasitology, Virology and Pathology. In addition to providing a routine diagnostic service, each division operates a number of specific surveillance programmes for endemic, emerging and exotic diseases. The CVRL collaborates in a number of research projects with other research institutions both nationally and internationally. The CVRL is recognised by the EU as the Reference Laboratory in Ireland for a number of diseases- including Salmonellosis, Newcastle disease, Avian influenza, Classical Swine Fever, African Horse Sickness and Aujeszky's disease.

In this role the CVRL validates the proficiency of private laboratories testing procedures. Tests samples collected for disease surveillance or trade purposes as required under various EU directives or national legislation. It also participates in international proficiency testing for designated diseases.

Surveillance Testing

Surveillance testing is designed to give early warning of the occurrence of an exotic disease so that control measures may be implemented. EU legislation also requires that the country prove that it is free from certain diseases. The most recent surveillance testing was for Foot and Mouth disease.

Monitoring of existing diseases is carried out to determine if there is a change in incidence or if the disease is changing its level of virulence or its presenting signs. In conjunction with veterinary practitioners with whom the laboratory has established a close working relationship, extensive information is available on disease occurrence and any changes in disease manifestation which may occur.

Investigations have been carried out in cases of suspected environmental pollution affecting animal health, which may be ascribed to industrial pollution or mining etc.

The primary role of the Virology Division is to service National and EU legislation regarding exotic and endemic veterinary viral diseases.

This includes acting as a National reference laboratory, providing laboratory support for disease control and eradication programmes, and performing tests for statutory and import / export purposes.

In addition, it provides a virology diagnostic service for farm animal species including poultry through the Regional Veterinary Laboratories and private veterinary practitioners.

Virology Division, DAFM labs, acts as the national reference laboratory for a wide range of notifiable infectious diseases in farm animal species including: avian influenza, Newcastle disease, classical swine fever, African swine fever, bluetongue, African horse sickness, bovine viral diarrhoea, lumpy skin disease, peste des petits ruminants, enzootic bovine leucosis and Aujeszky's Disease.

The Virology Division is accredited for a range of tests to ISO17025:2005. Further details of the current scope of accreditation can be found here

Research is continual into improved methods of identifying disease causing organisms and identifying strains such as Tuberculosis, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Porcine Reproductive respiratory Syndrome. A major area of research is in the area of diseases of animals, which can also cause disease in man (Zoonoses)

Our main clients are the State Veterinary Service and the Livestock industries through their practicing veterinary surgeons.

Regional Laboratories