Our secure rabies testing laboratory will be closed temporarily to ensure the laboratory and
equipment are maintained to the highest standard. The temporary closure will enable our
engineers to gain access for servicing. All other areas of our business will remain open during
this period.

This will be done in January 2022, with a timetable as follows:

17 Jan 22 (Mon) Last tests will be set up
19 Jan 22 (Wed) Tests from 17 Jan 22 will be read and reported.
21 Jan 22 (Fri) No testing
01 Feb 22 (Tues) Normal testing resumes (Subject to engineer service sign off).
03 Feb 22 (Thurs) First results will be reported.

This means that for the approximate period of twelve days, no rabies results will be available.

As with previous shutdowns we will clear the backlog as quickly as possible to enable your
results to get back to you within our usual normal published timescales.
Express Testing will not be available between 19 Jan 22 and 31 Jan 22 as the unit is closed and
no tests can be set up, regardless of their urgency. As mentioned above normal testing will
resume on Tues 01 Feb 22 subject to engineer service sign off.
If you are aware that any clients require certificates before 21 Jan 22 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.

Biobest will be open over Christmas as normal but please note that the testing days for Respiratory PCR will be different. Double check the table below before sending samples and please note the following instructions.

• Samples should be sent using a specified service on the highlighted days so that they are received at the laboratory within a specified time.
• If samples have been taken and the recommendation is not to post then samples should be frozen and sent to us on the next highlighted posting day preferably with freezer packs/blocks to ensure they remain frozen.
• If samples are sent out-with the recommended dates they will not be able to be stored correctly once they are in transit/arrive at the laboratory.

Please refer to the Respiratory PCR section on Biobest website for guidance on suitable sample types https://biobest.co.uk/sending-samples/

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.

The CHECS board have announced changes to the CHECS Johne’s programme that are due to come into effect from 1^st July 2021. The changes mean that follow up testing using dung samples will no longer be allowed if more than 2% of animals test positive on blood samples at the annual herd test. This is a change from the current rules, which allow follow up dung testing regardless of the number of blood positives. Dung testing shows whether an animal is shedding MAP, the agent that causes Johne’s disease; it does not confirm if the animal is infected or not. Animals which test blood positive and dung negative are likely to be incubating disease, which is why the current CHECS rules stipulate that these cannot be sold as breeding animals. The new rules will extend this stipulation to include the calves of blood positive animals. Follow up blood testing of blood positive animals will still be permitted to help to identify false positive results.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and bTB testing and exposure to other mycobacteria can cause cross-reactivity with the Johne’s blood test. The dung test is specific for the Johne’s organism; there is no cross-reactivity with the dung test. The CHECS board have yet to clarify whether there will be any exemption from the new 2% rule for herds that have recently had a bTB test. With the introduction of the new rule, it is anticipated that some herds may fall from having risk level 1 or 2 status and others may not be able to progress beyond level 3 or 4 due to the issue of cross reactivity and the removal of the ability to follow up with dung testing. A revision of the technical document detailing these changes has not yet been produced although CHECS have given assurance that this will be available after 01 June 2021.

We want bird owners to know we have a new, more efficient means of paying for avian testing.

When samples arrive with us, we will send an email to the address provided on the submission form containing a secure payment link for the customer to make a card payment.  This method eliminates the risk of financial loss should your sample be lost in the post and ensures that correct amount is paid every time.

To use this method, simply tick the ‘Card Payment E-Mail Link’ option on the Avian Submission Form (Owners) and you will receive an e-mail link on the day your sample arrives.  Both the customer and BIobest get a notification when payment is received.

We are still able to receive payment by cash and cheque, however it essential to customers check the prices page of our website to ensure they send the correct amount – no change will be given in case of overpayment and no testing will proceed in case of underpayment.

Unfortunately, we are not able to accept samples from abortions or stillbirths for testing, with the exception of maternal serology.

The reasons for this are:

1. our routine sampling handling facilities are not suitable for samples likely containing the zoonotic pathogens associated with abortion
2. we cannot offer the full range of tests in-house

Both APHA and SRUC offer abortion investigation packages and these are subsidised by government as part of GB scanning surveillance. If we receive samples from abortions or stillbirths, we will contact you to get the correct paperwork completed and then forward directly to SRUC for testing.

Although we cannot accept samples from abortions or stillbirths, we are happy to discuss cases, sample selection and offer advice based on laboratory findings. We are also happy to receive samples from on farm post mortem examinations for diagnostic testing. All samples must be appropriately packaged to prevent leakage in transit.

To ensure our secure laboratory and equipment are maintained to the highest standard we will be closing to enable our engineers to gain access for servicing.

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

03 Feb 21 (Wed) Last tests will be set up
05 Feb 21 (Fri) Tests from 03 Feb 21 will be read and reported.

05 Feb 21 (Fri) No testing

12 Feb 21 (Fri) Normal testing resumes (Subject to engineer service sign off).
15 Feb 21 (Mon) First results will be reported.

This means that for the approximate period of seven days, no rabies results will be available. As with previous shutdowns we will clear the backlog as quickly as possible to enable your results to get back to you within our usual normal published time-scales.

Express Testing will not be available between 05 Feb 21 and 11 Feb 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 Fri 12 Feb 21 subject to engineer service sign off.

If you are aware that any clients require certificates before 05 Feb 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.