New Online Rabies Submission Form – Launching Today!

We are excited to announce the launch of our new online rabies submission form, created to make the testing process faster, easier and more convenient for both customers and veterinary professionals. Our online form streamlines the way you submit rabies samples, allowing you to complete all required information quickly from any device while reducing the chance of missing or unclear details.

All data entered into the form is automatically imported into our Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS), eliminating the need for manual transcription and significantly reducing the risk of errors. Reports generated from these submissions will also feature secure QR codes, making it easier for importing authorities to verify the authenticity of your certification.

As soon as your test results are ready, an electronic report will be emailed directly to you. Depending on the requirements of the country you are travelling to, this digital version may be accepted by import authorities, and the hard copy certificate will also be sent in the usual manner.

Find it on our website at www.biobest.co.uk/rabies_submission_form_page 

Update 29th October 2025

We are pleased to announce that our rabies laboratory is now operational and testing has resumed. We are currently working through the backlog of samples and the first set of results should be available on Friday, 31st October. Once again we would like to apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused by the extended shutdown which was necessary to update essential equipment.

Update 21  October 2025

I am very sorry to report that during the final stages of commissioning of the Rabies Testing Laboratory at the end of last week we have discovered some significant issues with the new Air Handling system which require further work. We are discussing urgently with our consulting engineers and contractors but at the present time it does not look likely that we will be able to get back inside the rabies testing laboratory this week.

We do understand that this impinges on travel plans and it is deeply frustrating for us and a major inconvenience for you, our customers. Please be assured we are doing everything we can to re-open and as soon as we have more information we will let you know.

We will be performing upcoming routine maintenance in our rabies testing facility in September. This is required to ensure that safety critical equipment within the facility is operating to the highest possible standards.

This maintenance will take place with a timetable as follows:

03Sep25 – Final tests will be set up. We will ensure that all samples received by this date will be tested.

05Sep25 – Tests from 03Sep25 will be read and reported.

04Sep25 to 10Oct25 – NO TESTING AVAILABLE

10Oct25 – Expected date for normal testing to resume. However this may change due to circumstances outwith our control.

13Oct25 – First results expected to be reported

This means that no rabies testing (including express) will be available for a period of approximately 17 working days. We will ensure the works are completed as quickly as possible to minimise the downtime and service disruptions to our customers. During this period we will post regular updates on our website & social media channels to confirm exact re-start dates.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our dedicated rabies team at 0131 440 2628 or via email at enquiry@biobest.co.uk.

Thank you for your understanding and support during this maintenance period.

Check out our recent newsletter below for info on CHECS changes, Bluetongue updates, recent sales and events and more!

Summer Newsletter 2025

We were informed late on Friday that the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) is currently not accepting rabies certificates issued by Biobest for entry into Japan. This decision follows recent discussions between MAFF and the Scottish Government and relates to the period of our extended shutdown, during which we operated in collaboration with other high-containment facilities.

As soon as we became aware of the situation, we engaged with the Scottish Government, who are now in direct communication with MAFF to address their concerns and seek the reinstatement of our rabies testing recognition for Japan.

We are doing everything possible to resolve this issue promptly. If you have an urgent case, please contact us directly. In certain circumstances, we may be able to provide MAFF with additional information or perform supplementary testing to support entry — however, this will need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

We understand the inconvenience this may cause and sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding. We will provide further updates as soon as more information becomes available.

Attention April/May lambing flocks!

Biobest is offering a reduced cost for pre-lambing ewe profiles until end of April 2025.

Now £7.50/ewe where more than 5 samples are submitted.

This profile includes: Albumin, Urea and Beta Hydroxybutyrate, which are used to check that ewes energy and protein requirements are being met in the run up to lambing.

Ewes should be sampled 3-4 weeks prior to lambing to allow sufficient time to make any necessary changes to the diet.

Please contact us if you would like more information: enquiry@biobest.co.uk or +44 (0)131 440 2628

UPDATE 10Oct24:

Our rabies laboratory routine maintenance and equipment upgrade is now complete and we have resumed testing. We will process results as quickly as we can, please contact enquiry@biobest.co.uk with any queries.

UPDATE 07Oct24:

Our rabies laboratory routine maintenance and equipment upgrade is nearing completion. We expect to start reporting results from Monday 14th October 2024 all being well. Please contact enquiry@biobest.co.uk for further information.

UPDATE 27Sep24:

We are nearing the end of our current maintenance and equipment upgrade and we are currently on track to resume testing in the week commencing 7^th October 2024 all being well.

Samples received during this time will be tested in order of receipt date and results are expected to be reported within 2 weeks of reopening.

Express samples will be tested first with results within 2-3 working days. This test is available to any customers who require it for an additional fee.

Please email enquiry@biobest.co.uk for further information

Important Information – Rabies Testing Unit Routine Maintenance

There will be routine maintenance performed in our rabies laboratory starting in August 2024. This is required to ensure that safety critical equipment within the facility is operating to the highest possible standards.

This maintenance will take place with a timetable as follows:

• 21 Aug 2024 (Wed) Last tests will be set up.

• 23 Aug 2024 (Fri) Tests from 21 Aug 2024 will be read and reported.

• 22 Aug 2024 – early October 2024 – NO TESTING AVAILABLE

• Expected date for normal testing to resume will be early October 2024 however this may be subject to change due to circumstances outwith our control.

No rabies testing (including express) will be available during the maintenance period. We will ensure the works are completed as quickly as possible to minimise the downtime and service disruptions to our customers. During the shutdown we will post updates on our website & social media channels to confirm exact re-start dates.

As with previous shutdowns we will clear the testing backlog as quickly as possible to return to normal published timescales. Once the facility returns to normal operations our express service will be available for any urgent samples and all other samples will be processed in order of receipt date.

Please continue to send samples for testing, we will prepare and store them appropriately.

If you are aware of any clients that may require certificates before the end of August/September, we would encourage you to send in samples as soon as possible to avoid any disappointment.

All other areas of our business will operate as normal during this period. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at enquiry@biobest.co.uk