The Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) laboratory in Weybridge has started testing bluetongue samples. This move is intended to support the increased testing required by the current scale of the outbreak.
APHA Weybridge is working in close collaboration with The Pirbright Institute, the National Reference Laboratory for bluetongue. This joint effort aims to accelerate the process of providing bluetongue test results.
Samples should continue to be submitted to The Pirbright Institute. To ensure efficient processing, submission forms must be securely attached to the outside of parcels. This allows samples diverted to Weybridge to be rapidly booked into the digital system without entering the high containment laboratory.
Both laboratories will continue to test for other exotic notifiable diseases. Keepers are advised to report any suspicion of such diseases to APHA.
The government is investing over £1 billion to transform the existing Weybridge laboratory facilities and construct a National Biosecurity Centre (NBC). This new centre is planned to be the UK’s primary animal biosecurity facility, offering capabilities from prevention and research to outbreak response.