Our Diagnostic laboratory offers the following testing services;
Worm Monitoring
For graziers, worm monitoring is an essential part an effective worm control program. Without monitoring, graziers are guessing and can be treating animals when it is not necessary, costing time and money.
Veterinary Health Research supplies worm monitoring kits which are utilised in performing a faecal egg count (FEC) to determine the level of infection in livestock. Kits are available from both VHR and rural merchandise stores throughout Australia. VHR also performs larval species identification to pinpoint the types of worms are infecting stock and fluke egg counts if necessary. Once the testing has been completed, recommendation for treatment and further monitoring is provided by qualified VHR staff. More detailed advice can be given on an individual property base on request.
Drench Resistance Testing
Drench resistance testing is another essential part of an effective worm control program. A non-effective drench treatment which kills less than 95% of the worms in stock is an expensive exercise in both time and money.
Faecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT)
Veterinary Health Research provides a drench effectiveness testing service, based on the Drench Test Kit. This kit is available for purchase either directly from either VHR or rural merchandise stores and provides all the necessary drenches and equipment to conduct an on-farm test.
Gross Pathology
The Laboratory has a fully equipped post mortem room and facilities available for containment of infectious diseases. These facilities allow us to offer a range of services in gross pathology, including:
- large & small animal autopsy
- carcase disposal
- disposal of other substances (excluding sharps)
Parasitology
The Laboratory offers an extensive range of parasitology services;
- single faecal egg counts, fluke counts and larval differentiation
- worm monitoring for sheep cattle and horses
- drench resistance testing (Drench Test Kit)
- lungworm counts for sheep and cattle
- parasite identification and total worm counts
Referral Services
What we cannot provide directly we will arrange by forwarding to either NSW Agriculture services or private laboratories. Examples of our referral services include:
- microbiological testing
- histopathology
- plant tissue testing, soil testing
- haematology
- DNA testing
- and any other specialty testing request