Accurate Testing keeps Farm Animals Healthy

The health of farm animals is critical to the health of farming. Over the years we have seen the devastation that diseases like BSE, Brucellosis, TB, and bird flu can inflict not only on farm animals but on farming communities. Early diagnosis is key to controlling not only infectious diseases and parasites but many other disease syndromes. Vets can take samples for testing but need a rapid turn-round on analysis and results if they are to intervene at the earliest possible time. That is part of the ethos of FarmLab Diagnostics.

FarmLab Diagnostics in Roscommon was established in 2012 by practising veterinary surgeons and has grown into a major provider of diagnostic testing solutions to the agricultural industry. The team of experienced scientists is led by Managing Director, John Gilmore, a veterinary practitioner, since 1997. “We provide a wide variety of testing from real-time PCR pathogen testing to antibody detection and Elisa tests,” he said. “We also offer parasitology, microbiology and mineral analysis and biochemistry, with many tests accredited to ISO 17025.”

The laboratory is managed by Technical Manager, Dr Mikhail Nosov, a molecular biologist with a strong research background. As well as overseeing the technical aspects of day-to-day testing, Mikhail runs a programme of new test development and method validation which ensures that FarmLab are at the cutting edge of animal health diagnostics in Ireland. “Dealing with pathogenic organisms and parasites calls for scrupulous attention to sterilisation,” he said. “That’s not only for culture media and glassware but also for wastes. We combine autoclaves for safe, chemical free heat sterilisation with an established, fully validated quality management programme.”

The latest addition to FarmLab’s sterilisation arsenal is an AstellBio space saving Combo effluent decontamination sink and autoclave fitted with the latest Touch Screen technology to create a versatile mobile sterilisation station. The sink - designed for both touch-free hand sanitisation and liquid waste disposal - collects and processes wastewater automatically in its sterilisation tank. The autoclave is a compact fully programmable top-loading unit and both sink and autoclave are fully CL-3 (Containment Level 3) and BSL-3 (BioSafety Level 3) compliant and, like the sink, the sterilisation cycle is downloadable for validation.

John is proud to be an established provider of animal health diagnostic solutions. “Offering a fast and efficient service with accurate disease testing is helping to raise healthy animals, and to protect the future of farming communities in Ireland”, he said.