To ensure our secure laboratory is maintained to the highest standard we will be closing our rabies testing unit to enable our engineers to gain access for servicing. As we have increased our lab status to CL4 this requires some additional work so maintenance will take longer than usual.

This will be done in July, with a timetable as follows:

• 14 July 21 (Wed) Last tests will be set up.
• 16 July 21 (Fri) Tests from 14th July will be read and reported.
• 15 – 27 July 21 No testing
• 28 July 21 (Wed) Expected date for normal testing to resume subject to engineer sign off..
• 30 July 21 (Fri) First results will be reported.

This means that no rabies testing will be available for the approximate period of 10 working days. As with previous shutdowns we will clear the backlog as quickly as possible to enable your results to be released to you within our usual normal published timescales.

Express testing will also not be available between 15 July 21 and 28 July 21 as the unit is closed and no tests can be set up regardless of their urgency. As mentioned above normal testing will resume on Wednesday 28 July 21 subject to engineer service sign off.

If you are aware that any clients require certificates before 16 July 21, we would encourage you to send in samples as soon as possible. This will avoid client disappointment where we cannot put the sample on test.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information regarding the shutdown.