Laboratory Service

Gloucester Laboratories

Open from Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm

Gloucester Laboratories is our dedicated small animal and farm veterinary laboratory service, and provides services to our clients and external companies.

To discuss our laboratory services with our team, please call us on 01452 543999.

  • Wood (Web) 110

A complete, professional lab service for our veterinary team and business across the UK

Gloucester Laboratories is an integral part of the Wood Veterinary Group, and is housed within our hospital in Quedgeley and run by experienced and skilled personnel.

Our laboratory team is available to discuss any tests required and help with the interpretation of results.

Over many years, our laboratory service has developed a formidable reputation for our expertise in milk microbiology. 

 

The laboratory carries out routine and investigational work on milk and water samples from practices and farms from all over the UK and Ireland; these include bulk milk analyses, cluster liner swabbing and mastitis bacteriology.

Results are generally available within 48 hours of arrival, however in some instances further identification tests may be required.

The laboratory services are often used by pharmaceutical companies in trial work for the registration or development of new animal medicines.

Gamebirds and poultry

The game bird industry is of considerable economic and social importance in Gloucestershire. 

There is an ever growing number of poultry units, as consumer choice and legislation has shifted egg production from large scale battery units to numerous free range units supplying local and niche markets.

Gloucester Laboratories has developed a sound diagnostic, treatment and advisory service over the last 40 years. 

We have a specialist post-mortem room within our hospital site,meaning that we are able to provide prompt diagnosis and health checks in relation to diseases such as coccidiosis, hexamita, gapes, rotavirus and a wide range of other potential diseases that affect gamebirds and domestic poultry.

 

A broad range of treatments are held in stock, enabling prompt treatment of birds when indicated. 

Prescriptions are available at the practice for medicated feeds, on request, for birds under our care. 

We are available for telephone advice and have the experience to visit farms to discuss management aspects of health control.

Pheasants

Please telephone the lab before submission to discuss the most appropriate samples for the investigation required. 

In most instances, especially when investigating a mortality problem, the submission of dead and live birds with several specimens of each is most useful.

In gamebirds where scouring, poor growth and weight loss are features the submission of some live birds is strongly advised. 

Prior notification of submission also enables more efficient use of veterinary manpower and direct discussion between owner and vet in some instances prior to examination.

Farm animal

See below for the lab work we do for farm animals.

Small animal

Having our laboratory at our veterinary hospital allows us to offer a quick turnaround time, from sampling to informing you of the results, giving you peace of mind.

 

This is often imperative for emergency cases seen out of hours, and allows us to move forward with specific treatment plans much sooner than we would be able to if these samples were sent to an external laboratory.

Our laboratories capabilities are listed below.

Some samples are sent externally, such as histology samples (finding what lumps and bumps are), so these results may be delivered a little later.

  • Full biochemistry.
  • Full haematology.
  • Thyroid Levels.
  • Urine samples.
  • Virus testing.
  • Bacteriology.
  • Cytology.
  • Parasitology.

Equine worm egg counts

We offer:

  • Faecal worm egg counts.
  • Explanation of results.
  • Animal Health Advisor on site.
  • Reduction test – check for resistance.

 

Advantages:

  • Cost effective – only use wormers when needed.
  • Analyse worm burden status of new arrivals.
  • Minimise drug resistance.
  • Monitor wormer efficiency.

Download our submission form.

Download our egg count explanation and resistance information form.

Human drinking water

Water quality has become an important factor in a wide range of industrial, commercial and agricultural businesses. 

Gloucester Laboratories can provide a quantitative and qualitative assessment of bacterial levels, which can involve individual samples, from small units up to larger scale enterprises.

The analysis will include a total bacteria count and checks to see if the water is safe for human consumption, testing for potentially pathogenic bacteria.

Normal tap water will not contain any of these bacteria, so if the sample submitted contains any of the following bacteria, then it is not safe to drink:

  • Coliforms.
  • E.coli.
  • Enterococci.
  • Clostridia.
  • Pseudomonas sp.

Download our water sample submission form here. Please contact us for your free sample bottle.