Diagnostic Laboratory Testing

In-house tests

A wide variety of samples can be examined using laboratory tests. Some tests can be performed 'in house' in our on-site laboratories whilst others require highly specialised equipment or techniques, samples being sent to dedicated diagnostic laboratories.

Routine pre-anaesthetic screening blood tests are recommended for all late middle age and older patients plus younger animals with medical problems. The results of these tests (principally haematology and serum chemistry tests) may indicate the need for alternative anaesthetic techniques and the tests occasionally find unexpected problems requiring further investigation.

Microscopic examinations such as cytology and examination of blood smears are also performed by AMCRS staff prior to submitting samples to outside labs as we can often get at least part way to a diagnosis this way, permitting an earlier start to treatment.

External laboratories

AMCRS uses a range of diagnostic laboratory services. These offer the most accurate and broad ranging types of blood tests and by using courrier delivery the results are often available the next day. More complex tests take longer and some are only available at a limited number of labs in other countries. In such cases there may be a significant wait for results.

A corneal tumour before biopsy and the microscopic image

Histology of biopsy specimens requires fixing, processing, cutting, mounting and staining of specimens before thay can be examined microscopically by a pathologist. Examination is performed at low, medium and high magnification. The images on the left show low and high power microscopic views of dental tissues.

Whilst straightforward cases can give results in a week or so, initial examination of the specimen often indicated the need for special stains to get the most accurate results, adding to the time required. When calcifird specimens (those containing bones and teeth) are submitted, these also require decalcification prior to processing and this may take several weeks.

Culture of bacteria and fungi requires special safety equipment so all such tests are sent to appropriate outside labe. Growth of organisms requires time so results of standard bacterial culture and antibiotic sensitivity tests take 3 to 10 days whilst fungal and special bacterial cultures sometimes require months.