News

We recently received notification from the European College of Veterinary Clinical Pathologists that CTDS has been fully accredited as a training laboratory.
In order to achieve accreditation, detailed information on the analytical systems, methods, training facilities and quality control procedures used at the lab are reviewed by an international committee who may then recommend provisional or full approval.
To be able to meet this standard within two years of opening is a great credit to the laboratory and the staff and will allow our Resident Doug Hayward to sit for the ECVCP Diplomate examination in 2009.

New Analysers

Our new DPC Immulite analyser is now installed and providing same day endocrinology results for T4, cortisol and canine TSH. With this analyser we now also run canine TLI, folate and cobalamin twice weekly, shortening the turn-around times for canine and feline intestinal profiles.
We have also completed validation of our new IL 650 biochemistry analyser which is now providing most of the profile and screen chemistry results. This analyser has exceptional analytical precision and allows an expanded test menu to be maintained. It also has the capability to generate results from smaller samples if required and is less affected by sample quality issues such as haemolysis and lipaemia.
As part of the changeover to the new analyser and reagents you may have noticed that some chemistry reference ranges have been adjusted slightly. Please ring Nick if details of these changes are required. Overall, we have been delighted with the speed, accuracy and reliability of the results from the IL and hope this is reflected in the quality of the results you receive.
Our existing pair of Alpha Wassermann analysers, affectionately known as “George” and “Mildred”, remain to run selected esoteric assays and to provide full biochemistry back up if required.

Serum Iron Status Profile

Determination of iron status requires measurement of serum iron and total iron binding capacity. This allows calculation of the unsaturated iron binding capacity, percentage saturation and on the basis of this data differentiation can be made of reduced serum iron due to deficiency as distinct from altered iron binding. The introduction of the IL 650 allows these assays to be performed in house and we can now offer a same day iron profile. This test is appropriate for dogs with hypochromic (low MCH and MCHC) anaemia and those with a hypochromic microcytic anaemia. It is also useful for animals which are candidates for or currently on erythropoietin therapy.
In iron deficiency, red cells do not develop the normal complement of iron–containing haemoglobin and the cells that form in the bone marrow are small (microcytic, low MCV) and hypochromic (low MCH and MCHC). The process of red cell maturation becomes prolonged so young red cells no longer contain large amounts of RNA and therefore do not appear polychromatic. As a result the anaemia is non- regenerative, with inappropropriately low reticulocyte counts. There is often a marked increase in variation in red cell shape (poikilocytosis) and red cell fragments (schistocytes) are often seen, as above.

Improve your herd’s udders health

Our sister laboratory EVDS has launched a new milk testing service for use in emergency and non routine monitoring of bulk milk and individual cows.
Somatic Cell Counts
Feel confident about your herd's health at any given time. On-time information lets you take action proactively, to efficiently control the performance of your herd. Daily monitoring of the somatic cell count level and trends will give you in-depth knowledge of your herd, a necessary base when planning for the future.
Antibiotic testing
The screening of antibacterial substances in milk and milk products is extremely important. We use a broad spectrum test that has become the gold standard around the world. The test has been developed for a variety of applications ranging from a single test for testing the milk of an individual cow to large scale routine analysis in milk quality payment and milk control laboratories.
Mastitis cultures
Culturing for the causative organism in mastitis allows appropriate treatment to be applied to the individual cow or group. Rapid and cost effective results are imperative which can be offered by EVDS.

Prices:
Somatic Cell Count: £3.00 individual or £2.75 > 10 samples submitted at same time

Antibiotic Screening: £6.00 per sample

Mastitis Culture: £6.00 per individual or £40.00 per batch of 10

Please contact us for full details.

Changes to postal prices – how you can help

As you are aware the post office introduced their new pricing by size as well as weight scheme from August 2006.
Our prepaid sample envelopes are still accepted and we do not intend to alter our prices. However because of the new thickness restriction on letters (i.e. <5mm) these changes do mean that our sample envelopes are now immediately classed as large letters or sometimes even packets.
Previously the average price for an incoming envelope of samples was approximately 53 pence and we anticipate that the post office changes will just over double the cost of our incoming mail. Without boring the pants off you …to help minimise our costs we would ask you to the following.

1. If you are sending multiple cases please put them in the same envelope if possible. As long as they are labelled we will not mix them up (every sample is checked against the request form on arrival).
2. Do not wrap samples in huge wads of cotton wool or tissue – the envelopes are padded and the plastic, screw top sample tubes we provide can sustain strong pressure. Many clients send them unwrapped in biobags, in envelopes without extra padding and they survive (the samples I mean..and the clients).
3. If you do like to wrap, try to wrap samples so they flat and thin and round and fat.

Thank you for your help.

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