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| Diagnostic Services
Animal Health Laboratory
Water Microbiology Laboratory
Fish Health Unit
Seed Laboratory and Certification
Further Information
See also:
Devil Facial Tumour Disease
 Diagnostic Services is a group of dedicated scientists and technicians, expert in a range of disciplines, who provide a world-class service to Tasmanian animal and seed based primary industries through laboratories operated by the Department at Mt Pleasant. These are the Animal Health Laboratory (including the Fish Health Unit and Water Microbiology Laboratory) and the Seeds Laboratory.
Diagnostic Services in Plant Health are now offered separately through laboratories at New Town and Stony Rise.
Since midway through 2003, Diagnostic Services staff at the Animal Health Laboratories have taken a leading role in disease investigation as part of the Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumour Disease Project.
Most services offered by the Diagnostic Services attract a fee. Details of these are available from the relevant contacts below.
- A wide range of veterinary pathology diagnostic services, including veterinary microbiology, clinical pathology, histology, serology and parasitology services for livestock and wildlife. A list of laboratory fees can be found here.
- Post mortems on companion and performance animals are conducted but all other tests on these categories of animals are performed only in an emergency or market failure situation.
- All diagnostic testing is performed in accordance with our quality system. Our equipment is calibrated for veterinary use and internal and external quality programs ensure the accuracy of our results. We hold NATA accreditation for our routine diagnostic testing.
Contact: Animal Health LaboratoryMt Pleasant Laboratory
PO Box 46
KINGS MEADOWS TAS 7249
Phone: 03 6336 5216
Fax: 03 6336 5374
Email: specimenreception@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
Department switchboard: 1300 368 550 (local call cost)
- Microbiological testing of drinking, recreational and processing waters.
- Testing of cooling tower waters for Legionella.
- Microbiological testing of effluent for a range of faecal indicator organisms.
The Water Microbiology Laboratory is NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) accredited under ISO/IEC 17025, and has maintained accreditation since 1963. Regular audits by NATA ensure that the Laboratory meets all requirements under this International Standard, from our Quality System to our Testing Methods. This ensures our clients can have greater confidence in the Laboratory’s technical capabilities and the reliability of results provided. More information on NATA can be obtained on their website at www.nata.asn.au .
Other non-accredited testing performed in the laboratory includes - - Microbiological testing of composts.
A current list of the Fee Schedule.
Contact: Water Microbiology LaboratoryMt Pleasant Laboratory
Water Microbiology Laboratory
165 Westbury Road
PO Box 46
KINGS MEADOWS TAS 7249
Phone: 03 6336 5210
Fax: 03 6336 5374
Email: specimenreception@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
 Department switchboard: 1300 368 550 (local call cost)
Major services provided/activities performed include:
- Providing Veterinary Pathology and Fish Microbiology diagnostic services for aquaculture and wild fish, including shellfish and crustacea;
- Participating in research projects dealing with fish health issues with the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS);
- Producing MicroSys® kits for the identification of bacterial fish pathogens.
The Fish Health Unit no longer manufactures and distributes fish vaccines. All enquiries about supply of Anguillvac-C and Yersinivac-B should be made to Intervet Australia who manufactures the vaccines under licence. Contract research on fish vaccines for salmonids continues to be undertaken by the Fish Health Unit.
Contact: Fish Health UnitMt Pleasant Laboratories
Fish Health Unit
PO Box 46
KINGS MEADOWS TAS 7249
Phone: 03 6336 5216
Fax: 03 6336 5374
Email: specimenreception@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
Department switchboard: 1300 368 550 (local call cost)
- ISTA and OECD Internationally accredited Seed Testing and Certification.
- Purity and germination tests on a range of grasses, grains and small seeds; and
A current list of the Fee Schedule.
Contact: Seed Testing LaboratoryKen Cunliffe
Supervisor - Seed Analysis
PO Box 46
KINGS MEADOWS TAS 7249
Phone: (03) 6336 5248
Fax: (03) 6344 4961
Email: Ken.Cunliffe@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
Contact: CertificationRobert DeCesare
165 Westbury Road
PROSPECT TAS 7250
Phone: 03 6336 5240
Fax: 03 6344 4961
Email: Rob.DeCesare@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
Contact: Department HotlineDepartment Hotline
Statewide TAS
Phone: 1300 368 550
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