We provide high quality services to the University, veterinary profession and research organisations.
We provide high quality biopsy and necropsy services to the veterinary profession, servicing the University Veterinary Hospitals and large and small private practices.
We offer a NATA accredited service that entails a strong review process, with all specimens being reviewed by multiple pathologists, and a personalised interaction with the veterinarian.
Our specialist veterinary anatomical pathologists are readily available for comment on individual cases and can help veterinarians bring their clinical research to publication standard.
In addition, we offer a high-quality reliable service to researchers in histopathological specimen processing, immunohistochemistry, and processing of unusual specimens.
Our highly skilled technical staff are available for consultation about unusual or difficult specimens.
Service to researchers:
The Clinical Pathology Lab is NATA accredited for haematology, biochemistry and urinalysis and is equipped to carry out microbiology and cytology, with two specialist veterinary clinical pathologists on staff.
The lab predominantly services the University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Sydney, running routine diagnostic tests on companion animals, but we also accept external cases and our laboratory at Camden specialises in livestock and equine cases.
Clinical pathology is also able to offer research groups, from the University and external institutions, biochemistry and haematology on its state-of-the-art analysers.
This service is available for lab animals and wildlife on request.
For enquiries regarding specimen collection contact the lab manager.
We offer a wide range of microbiology services using both classical culture-based and next generation methods based on sequence analysis and MALDI-TOF biotyping.
Our team are leaders in research and stewardship in antimicrobial resistance and we offer the latest in evidence-based advice in this area.
Our services in infectious diseases extent to serology for cryptococcal antigen, body fluid immunoflourescence for Feline Infectious Peritonitis, and Toxoplasma and Neospora serology.
Our molecular diagnostics department offers a comprehensive suite of existing tests as well as the capacity to develop bespoke qPCR assays.
The Molecular Diagnostics section performs pathogen detection using a wide range of sensitive molecular diagnostic methods, including:
Test development draws on the diverse expertise of our pathobiology research group, who not only have expertise in the laboratory setting, but have backgrounds in management of the species involved.
This ensures results are interpreted by leaders in the field, with a deep understanding of the test, the pathogen it is detecting, and its impact on animal management.
Our greatest expertise lies in detection of pathogens associated with companion animal and wildlife species, and we welcome the opportunity to discuss development of new assays to support animal management or research in these specialist areas.
Real-time PCR Panel – Avian Pathogens brochure (pdf. 365KB)
Feline Infectious Peritonitis Diagnosis IFA and IHC tests (pdf. 302KB)
Real-time PCR Panel - Small Animal Faecal Pathogens (pdf. 180KB)
| Test category | Test name |
|---|---|
| Immunofluorescence | FCoV (FIPV) (cytospin/effusion) FeLV (EDTA blood) FIV (EDTA blood) |
| Immunohistochemistry (FFPE tissue) | Chlamydia FCoV (FIPV) Feline Calicivirus Feline Herpes Virus Toxoplasma* |
| Real-time PCR (swab/tissue) | Chlamydia pecorum Chlamydia pneumoniae Chlamydia genus |
| PCR and sequencing* | Bacterial ID 16s Fungal ID 18s |
| Serology (serum) | Cryptococcus Ag LCAT Cryptococcus Ag lateral flow ELISA |
| Faecal protozoal detection* | Cryptosporidium, Giardia, T. fetus (culture and immunofluorescence) T. fetus (culture) |
| Associated profiles | Koala Chlamydia PCR (ocular and urogenital swabs, C. pecorum and C.pneumoniae) Koala screening (Koala Chlamydial PCR, Cryptococcus Ag ELISA) Koala Health Profile (FBC and biochemistry) |
Note: For tests marked * contact lab before submission.
Section Head: Professor Damien Higgins.
The Diagnostic Parasitology section is responsible for the detection and identification of external and internal parasites from diverse animal hosts, across all domestic and wild animal species.
We receive variety of materials and specimens, including faecal samples, aspirates, skin scrapings, sticky tapes as well as presumed parasites for identification.
We use traditional processing methods as well as immunological assays for increased sensitivity and specificity.
The laboratory’s responsibilities are processing and analysing of the received samples, and reporting results based on routine methods.
On demand, the laboratory develops new methods or adopts existing methods based on the client requirements. Under these circumstances we will conduct quality control to assure quality results.
Section head: Professor Jan Slapeta
On demand parasitological examinations and development usually include molecular methods such as PCR and immunodiagnostic tests.
The laboratory is equipped to adopt and develop published methods or design new based on the needs of the clients.
Using these activities the laboratory participates in field investigations leading to better understanding of parasite epidemiology.
Turnaround time of routine test is usually 24 hours of sample receipt.
Turnaround time for ‘on demand’ diagnostics varies and is usually discussed with the client to meet their needs and capability of the laboratory.
Laboratory Manager
Phone: +61 2 9351 3099 or +61 2 9351 7456 (ClinPath Lab)
Email: ignacia.meza@sydney.edu.au
Address: Veterinary Pathology Diagnostic Services Sydney School of Veterinary Science B14 - McMaster Building, Room 213-220 The University of Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
