Page 509 - The Veterinary Laboratory and Field Manual 3rd Edition

446 Jennifer Lasley

Terrestrial Animal Health Code validation of diagnostic tests and three chap-
ters of recommendations for the manufacture
The glossary of the Terrestrial Code defines a of vaccines. Part 3 comprises chapters on OIE
laboratory as ‘a properly equipped institution Listed Terrestrial Diseases and other diseases of
staffed by technically competent personnel importance; and Part 4 is the list of OIE refer-
under the control of a specialist in veterinary ence centres at the time of publication. 6
diagnostic methods, who is responsible for the Parts 1 and 2 of the Terrestrial Manual are of
validity of the results. The Veterinary Authority interest for anyone working in the laboratory set-
approves and monitors such laboratories with ting. Important information related to the good
regard to the diagnostic tests required for inter- management of veterinary diagnostic laborato-
national trade.’ 4 ries, including collection, submission, storage
8
7
Laboratories provide the scientific informa- and transport of biological materials, biosafety
9
tion needed for decision making by the veterinary and biosecurity, quality management, vali-
11
10
services. Therefore, the appropriateness of veter- dation of diagnostic assays, high throughput
12
inary health actions depends partly on the quality sequencing, bioinformatics and computational
of the laboratories’ services. Furthermore, the genomics (HTS-BCG), tests for sterility and
13
quality of the analyses depends on the quality of freedom from contamination, vaccine produc-
14
the reagents used, the procedures employed and tion and vaccine banks, is included.
15
16
the competency of the staff. Diagnostic assays Diagnostic tests are essential tools for
provide the basis for decisions with far-reaching confirming the health status of animals and
consequences and their quality and the legal identifying pathogens. They enable the early
framework within which they are performed detection, management and control of animal
must therefore be clearly defined. Chapter 3.4 of diseases including zoonosis and facilitate the
the Terrestrial Code provides standards related safe trade in animals and animal products. Part
to veterinary legislation and specifically Article 3 of the Terrestrial Manual provides internation-
3.4.7 states the legislative requirements related ally agreed diagnostic laboratory methods. For all
to laboratories, facilities and reagents. the OIE Listed Animal Diseases as well as several
The Terrestrial Manual is the reference for other diseases of importance, the Manual speci-
harmonized disease diagnosis as it describes fies and details the internationally agreed upon
the internationally agreed laboratory diagnos- diagnostic test methods. The Manual is devel-
tic techniques for OIE Listed Terrestrial Animal oped by the Biological Standards Commission
Diseases. It aims to facilitate international trade and supported by OIE reference centres.
5
in animals and animal products and to contrib-
ute to the improvement of animal health services
worldwide. The objective is to provide interna- Biological threat reduction
tionally agreed diagnostic laboratory methods Infectious disease agents and toxins found in
and requirements for the production and control animal populations and animal products are
of vaccines and other biological products. a considerable and ongoing threat to animal
The introductory chapters of the Terrestrial health, agricultural economies, food security,
Manual (Part 1) set general standards for the food safety and public health. By and large most
management of veterinary diagnostic labora- disease outbreaks and food contaminations
tories and vaccine production facilities. Part occur naturally. However, there is also a real risk
2 comprises specific recommendations and that disease may be introduced into susceptible
includes eight chapters of recommendations for human or animal populations following a delib-

Vet Lab.indb 446 26/03/2019 10:26