Page 43 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

12 Susan C. Cork, Roy Halliwell and Willy Schauwers

a note on isolated district laboratories of the project. At the district level, it would be
common for all members of the team to share in
District or ‘satellite’ laboratories are often estab- routine work, such as preparing sample collec-
lished in isolated rural areas as a focus point tion equipment, collection of samples and initial
from which to provide a basic diagnostic service preparation of specimens for field based labo-
and technical advice to the rural livestock exten- ratory tests. It should be noted, however, that
sion network. This is especially common where there may be specific regulatory requirements
the transportation between regions is slow or outlining job descriptions for staff, and govern-
services limited. The district facilities are usu- ment or provincial legislation outlining what
ally supplied with basic equipment, test reagents technical staff may do in the field, which should
and consumables through the nearest regional be checked for the country or area in which the
laboratory. District animal health extension work will be conducted.
staff may also have an office located close by the
laboratory, where they will have basic medicines
and vaccines in stock. The tests performed in Laboratory
these smaller facilities are usually restricted to
basic parasitology procedures and simple micro- The quality of a laboratory is directly dependent
biological tests, such as screening milk samples on the training and performance of the labora-
for mastitis. The staff responsible for the district tory personnel. The laboratory management in
facility will often take samples to a regional labo- charge of the laboratory is generally responsible
ratory if additional laboratory tests are required. for the following.
District facilities can improve direct services to
the farmer through collaborative efforts between • Deciding the grade (laboratory assistants,
laboratory and extension staff. However, it is technicians, senior technicians, veterinary
important to ensure that isolated laboratory scientists/specialists, team supervisors and
units are given sufficient logistical and techni- so on) and number of laboratory personnel
cal backup from regional and central units. Staff required to staff the service.
morale can deteriorate rapidly if resources • Preparing job descriptions for each grade of
are too restricted and regular contact is not laboratory worker and determining the quali-
maintained. fications required for each grade.
• Employing suitably qualified personnel and
provision of training and career development.
1.3 Staff requirements • Developing standard operating procedures
(SOPs).
Fieldwork • Ensuring that health and safety regulations
are complied with.
Field programmes based at small district labo- • Ensuring that quality standards are maintained
ratories can be run in conjunction with other (for example, for laboratory accreditation).
livestock extension projects (such as artifi-
cial insemination schemes, vaccination or The requirement for laboratory staff depends on
educational programmes). This can save time the size of the laboratory unit and the antici-
and resources and also encourages teamwork. pated workload, as well as on the degree of
The number and cadre of staff required for field- technical competency required. A small regional
work will depend on the nature and the size laboratory may function efficiently with a team

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