Important Information – Rabies Testing Unit Routine Maintenance
There will be routine maintenance performed in our rabies laboratory for approximately a month starting in August. This is required to ensure that safety critical equipment within the facility is operating to the highest possible standards.
This maintenance will take place in August, with a timetable as follows:
This means that no rabies testing (including express) will be available for a period of approximately 25 working days. 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 mentioned above normal testing is expected to resume on Monday 30th Sept subject to engineer service sign off.
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.
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 [email protected]
From next week (26Feb24) we will be changing our Mastitis PCR testing schedule to weekly, with tests being set up on Thursdays.
Mastitis is one of the most significant health and welfare problems in UK dairy herds and our mastitis diagnostic test, using quantitative real time PCR to identify the bacteria involved, is quicker and more accurate than other bacteriology tests available.
Please ensure samples arrive the day before the test is scheduled and those tested should have results on the same or next day.
Contact us on [email protected] for any queries.
We had a wonderful time at the Ada Lovelace Day event at Edinburgh Technopole. Over 400 school children participated in workshops held at 8 Pioneer Group locations around the UK. The workshops aimed to inspire the next generation of women science and to amplify women’s presence in STEM, following the legacy of Ada Lovelace.
Well done to our Biobest Team, Ami, Kirsty, Katie and Suzanne, on a hugely successful workshop! The students learnt about different types of cells, both inside the body and the ones we use in our laboratories, and were able to look at different cell types down microscopes. They could then make up their own cell media and loved seeing how the colour changed as different reagents were added.
We hope everyone had as much fun as we did and we can’t wait for next year!
The Animal Health and Welfare Pathway has been set up to support farmers to transition to higher welfare practices, improve biosecurity, tackle antimicrobial resistance and reduce Greenhouse gas emissions by tackling disease and improving productivity.
The difference in profitability between a well run sheep farm and one with health issues is massive and chronic sub-clinical diseases can often be ignored by farmer and professionals alike. Intervention on BVD and worm control can substantially improve farm health, welfare and profitability.
The Pathway Review is intended for farmers with more than 10 cattle, 20 sheep or 50 pigs and includes an annual funded visit from a vet of the farmer’s choosing. This visit includes carrying out diagnostic testing, reviewing biosecurity and use of medicines, and providing bespoke advice in writing.
The Review is currently for England only, however, Scotland has recently launched similar funding in support of farms.
Visit the information page on our website for more details and FAQsÂ
Our rabies laboratory is now open and testing has resumed today. Samples which have arrived during our shutdown will be tested first followed by any new samples we receive.
Our rabies express service is also available as normal.
Please contact us at [email protected] for any
Important Information – Rabies Testing Unit Temporary Shutdown – Safety Cabinet Installation
We are temporarily shutting down our high containment rabies testing laboratory in order to install
replacement Safety Cabinets. This shutdown is required to ensure our Rabies Testing Unit equipment is operating to the highest standard possible.
All other areas of our business will operate as normal during this period.
The work will start later this month, with a timetable as follows:
19 Apr 23 (Wed) Last tests will be set up.
21 Apr 23 (Fri) Tests from 19 Apr 23 will be read and reported.
Normal testing resumes week beginning 08 May 23 (Exact date subject to engineer service sign off).
This means that no rabies testing will be available for a period of approximately 10 working days. 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 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.
Express Testing will not be available during the shutdown as the unit is closed and no tests can be set up.
If you may require certificates before 21 April 23 we would encourage you to send in samples as soon as possible in order to avoid any disappointment.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information regarding the shutdown.
UPDATE – PUBLISHED 21SEP22
We are pleased to announce that all of the maintenance and upgrade works in our rabies facility are now complete and we will resume testing from today. We will work through the backlog of samples as quickly as possible but for any urgent samples our rabies express service is now available. We would like to apologise for the delay in us resuming testing, this was due to circumstances beyond our control.
UPDATE – PUBLISHED 15SEP22
This year we had an extended shutdown to perform some essential upgrade works and while most of these works have now been completed an issue has been identified with a critical piece of equipment. Due to circumstances beyond our control the repair of this equipment has not yet been completed so we have been unable to restart testing this week as originally planned. Our contractors and engineers are working tirelessly to complete the necessary repairs and we are hopeful that these will be completed on Monday morning. All being well we therefore hope to begin testing the backlog of samples on Monday afternoon.
We will be testing samples in order of receipt and all express samples will be put on the first available test. It may take us 2 – 3 weeks to catch up with testing so new samples received may not have results until mid October.
Please accept our apologies for this additional delay. We will be working to get results to our customers as quickly as possible.
Please check our website regularly for further updates or email us if you have any questions.
We will be shutting down our high containment rabies testing laboratory temporarily in order to complete our routine biannual maintenance. This shutdown is required to enable our engineers to gain access to the laboratory for routine servicing in order to ensure that the laboratory and equipment are maintained to the highest standard.
As well as our routine maintenance we will also be performing some plant upgrades to improve reliability of some of our safety critical equipment. This additional work will mean the shutdown period will be slightly longer than normal, however it will mean our rabies service will be even more reliable moving forward.
All other areas of our business will operate as normal during this period.
This work will start in August 2022 with a timetable as follows:
15 Aug 22 (Mon) Last tests will be set up
17 Aug 22 (Wed) Tests from 15 Aug 22 will be read and reported.
Week of 12 Sep 22 Normal testing resumes (Exact date subject to engineer service sign off).
19 Sep 22 (Mon) First results will be reported.
This means that for a period of approximately one month, no rabies testing will be available. We will naturally use our best endeavours to ensure the upgrade works are completed as quickly as possible in order to minimise the downtime and service disruptions to our customers. During the shutdown we will post updates on our social media channels to confirm exact re-start dates.Â
As with previous shutdowns we will clear the testing backlog as quickly as possible to ensure your results get back to you within our normal published timescales. Once the facility returns to normal operations our express service will be available for any urgent samples, all other samples will be processed in order or receipt.
Express testing will not be available during the shutdown as the unit is closed and no tests can be set up.
If you are aware of any clients that may require certificates before 19 Sep 22 we would encourage you to send in samples as soon as possible in order to avoid disappointment.
Please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] if you require any further information regarding the shutdown.
