Veterinary diagnostics analysis: achieve peak livestock performance
Whether you’re a farmer, vet, or animal health professional, Sci-Tech can support you.
We offer high quality UKAS accredited microbiological and serological testing services for porcine, poultry, cattle, and gamebird production. We work closely with those in the industry to develop innovative solutions for individual customer requirements. This helps us meet customer demand and respond to new challenges.
Get in touch for a conversation about veterinary diagnostics analysis
What services do you offer?
Our UKAS accredited services include Salmonella screening, mineral and potable water screening, PCR screening, serology, and digestate and compost testing. We also work with customers to provide data for specific projects and requirements.
Why do I need to undertake veterinary diagnostics testing?
Alongside biosecurity protocols, veterinary diagnostics testing helps to keep livestock healthy and safe, not just for the welfare of the animal, but to safeguard the food chain. Testing for diseases also helps to mitigate production losses, and ensures producers stay compliant. For example, screening Salmonella helps egg producers adhere to the Lion Code of Practice. This is required to get your red lion quality stamp, which increases consumer trust in your product, helping to maintain and improve your reputation.
Why should I use Sci-Tech for veterinary diagnostics analysis?
Sci-Tech has decades of expertise in specialist veterinary diagnostics analysis. Our UKAS accredited services are performed by highly skilled teams, helping the veterinary diagnostic sector and associated businesses throughout the livestock sector meet requirements.
What do you screen for?
We provide specialist screening services for a variety of purposes, from Salmonella and serology screening to PCR screening to determine the presence of a disease or pathogen. These services help vets and livestock farmers monitor their animals and take decisive action before any disease impacts the flock or herd.
For more information on each of these services, read our FAQs below.
Frequently asked questions
Why should I invest in veterinary diagnostics?
Investing in testing will not only help you meet requirements and protect animal health and welfare; it will help you save time and money by taking corrective action before disease spreads to the flock or herd and becomes yield limiting.
Can you tell me more about Salmonella screening?
Our highly experienced microbiology team provides flexible testing services to detect Salmonella for quality indicators. We use samples of carcass swabs, digestates, composts, faeces and more.
We have recently validated a poultry vaccine differentiation test for Salmonella Enteritidis. This allows vets and poultry farmers to distinguish between wild and vaccine strains of Salmonella Enteritidis. If no Salmonella is found, or the strain is vaccinal, then the farmer can continue to trade. If a wild strain is identified, then the farmer will have to get rid of the current batch and start over. This helps farmers save time and money whilst safeguarding public health and complying with the Lion Code.
As a DEFRA-approved laboratory, we process samples in line with DEFRA’s Salmonella National Control Programmes and Poultry Health Scheme.
Why should I undertake serology screening and what does it involve?
Serology involves taking blood samples to detect antibody levels. It’s an effective method of monitoring livestock health and, importantly, identifying infection quickly. This helps to prevent an adverse impact on a flock or herd before it’s too late and it starts affecting production and welfare.
We offer a wide range of specialist serology screening tests, including infectious bronchitis, Salmonella, influenza, PCR, PCV2 and PCV3, and MG/MS. Services include Haemagglutin Inhibition (HI), agar gel, Rapid Slide Agglutination Test (RSAT), and ELISA analysis for the poultry, porcine and gamebird sectors. We are UKAS accredited for both PCR and ELISA analysis for PRRS, as well as rapid plate testing in poultry.
What is PCR screening?
Once DNA is extracted from a sample, it is checked against a known sequence with PCR technology. This highly specific test determines the presence of a disease or pathogen and quantifies the material present. Screening in this way allows insightful decisions to be made, helping to reduce disease in livestock production.
What is digestate and compost testing?
Digestate and compost testing analyses materials to determine if they are suitable as feedstock for Energy from Waste plants, such as anaerobic digestion plants. These plants produce biogas, which can be converted into energy, giving farmers an opportunity to adopt and maintain sustainable production practices.
Our UKAS accreditation and adherence to the Biosolids Assurance Scheme allows us to test these materials to satisfy the biological requirements of PAS100 for composted materials and PAS110 for digestate.
What water testing do you offer for livestock?
We offer mineral and potable water testing for optimal animal welfare and productivity. All tests are in-line with up-to-date legislation and regulations, such as compliance with Red Tractor requirements.
Our UKAS accredited services include full mineral bacteriological screen, potable screen, livestock bacteriology, in-farm water (poultry drinker lines), livestock suitability, and full chemistry water suite analysis.