Vets can now submit animal sample data and request tests online in bid to tackle disease effectively

Online testing service will help vets and APHA tackle animal disease
Online testing service will help vets and APHA tackle animal disease

Vets can now submit animal sample data and request laboratory tests online from wherever they are in the field.

Launched yesterday (15 July 2016), the Animal and Plant Health Agency’s (APHA) new Animal Disease Testing Service will ultimately replace the old, paper-based process for sending sample data to APHA and receiving results from surveillance and diagnostic tests.

It will save time and work for vets, support earlier diagnosis of diseases and improve access to sample results.

Crucially, APHA will receive vital disease surveillance information much more speedily and it will help vets support their farm clients and tackle animal disease faster.

The new service has been launched in beta, which means APHA will closely monitor user feedback and behaviour to drive ongoing enhancements and improvements.

The service has been designed and built around the needs of vets themselves, and has been tested by selected veterinary practices to ensure it is fit for purpose.

Welcoming the new service UK Chief Veterinary Officer Nigel Gibbens said: "Our new digital service will help vets detect and control disease faster by speeding up the process of sending on-farm samples to the APHA labs.

"We’ve also revamped the way APHA records and releases results back to vets, so APHA laboratories can provide a speedier, more efficient and more responsive service.

"This is a significant improvement and just one of the ways we’re working to better protect the UK from animal disease threats.