Page 35 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

4 Susan C. Cork, Roy Halliwell and Willy Schauwers

laboratory facilities, including specialized facili- veterinarians and extension staff as well as
ties, are well set out in the standards adopted providing timely updates to the relevant regu-
by the 182 Member Countries of the World latory authorities and reference laboratories.
Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and in Regular information bulletins outlining new
2
guidelines prepared by the OIE and the Food and diagnostic procedures or disease control/treat-
Agriculture Organization of the United Nations ment recommendations may also be useful to
(FAO) (see also the bibliography at the end of motivate field and extension staff to utilize the
the chapter). It is the smaller regional and dis- diagnostic services available.
trict laboratories that are the focus for this book.
In regional facilities, livestock extension staff
should be encouraged to liaise with laboratory Legislation and responsibility
staff on a regular basis, this may be via the vet-
erinary officer in charge, or directly with the Before planning a new laboratory facility local
laboratory technical staff, such as when visit- and national regulatory authorities should be
ing the facilities to drop off samples, or when contacted in order to check what, if any, specific
working alongside laboratory staff investigating restrictions and bylaws may apply to the con-
disease outbreaks. Laboratories can provide bet- struction of new buildings. The local regulations
ter diagnostic services when veterinary field and and provision for waste disposal, power and
extension staff are well trained so it is important water supply, as well as the proximity of residen-
that a team approach is encouraged and devel- tial areas and commercial animal housing, must
oped. Extension staff and field veterinarians also be considered, as well as the international
need good training in sample selection, pres- standards. This will be discussed in later sec-
ervation and transportation as well as in the tions of this chapter.
submission of supporting information. They will
also benefit from ongoing feedback with respect
to sample quality. Education and public relations
To maintain support for the laboratory it is Practical training (workshops)
important to ensure a timely turnaround of test
results and an efficient response to requests for The development and delivery of an effective vet-
technical assistance. Regular community and erinary service requires good communication and
professional updates from the head of laboratory teamwork. Workshops can provide a good forum
facility, for example, with regard to the preva- for different cadres to meet and discuss current
lent disease problems in an area, can also be a animal health issues and through which to gain a
good way to ensure that the role of the labora- better perspective of what each component of the
tory and its staff is recognized by the wider local animal health service can provide. Workshops
and professional community. Veterinary staff in can also be organized for regional and national
the laboratory network should be encouraged to groups of veterinary field and extension workers
facilitate, and participate in, targeted local dis- to promote new disease investigation campaigns
ease surveillance and animal health awareness and to provide a background on current diagnos-
programmes, in collaboration with the field and tic procedures. It is helpful if sample collection
extension staff. and sample submission guidelines are accom-
It is important that the laboratory service panied by practical demonstrations. Workshops
has an efficient and reliable, reporting system. provide the opportunity to motivate veterinary
This is true for reporting results out to the field field, extension and laboratory staff to jointly

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