Sydney Laboratory (Camperdown)
Anatomical pathology
Detailed histopathology reporting and interpretation
At VPDS, all histopathology specimens are routinely reviewed by at least two pathologists, ensuring a high standard of reporting and quality control. We are also happy to provide second opinions when needed. We value interactions with clinicians about cases. We routinely report margins, perform additional stains and sectioning, and suggest complementary tests where appropriate. Discussion with clinicians can add greatly to the interpretation of difficult cases. If you require further information or would like to discuss a case, just contact the reporting pathologist by telephone.
Our 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 clinicians and 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.
Full post mortem service
VPDS is one of the few veterinary pathology laboratories to offer a necropsy service. 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 service that entails a strong review process, with all specimens being reviewed by multiple pathologists, and a personalized interaction with the veterinarian. Post mortem submissions to our service are used extensively in training of clinicians and trainee pathologists alike.
Clinical pathology
The Clinical Pathology Lab is equipped to carry out diagnostic haematology, biochemistry, microbiology and cytology. The lab predominantly services the UVTH-Sydney, running routine diagnostic tests on companion animals.
Clinical Pathology is also in a position 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.
Infectious diseases
Our clinical microbiologist, Fernanda Castro de Medeiros has a DVM and subsequent postgraduate specialization in clinical microbiology from Universidade Estadual de São Paulo and the Brazilian Microbiology Society and has worked in high quality diagnostic pathology and microbiology labs for 15 years. As always, our microbiology section is backed by the expertise of Prof Jacqui Norris (Veterinary Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) and Dr Gary Muscatello (Applied Animal Microbiology), and our molecular diagnostics section provides additional avenues to follow up on unusual cases. We have now transitioned to state-of-the-art proteomic fingerprinting using high-throughput MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry as our mainstay of bacterial identification. MALDI Biotyper systems provide high-speed, high-confidence identification and taxonomical classification of bacteria, yeasts, and fungi. We continue to offer further investigation of unusual cases through classical and DNA-based techniques.
We have introduced a “traffic light” system to our microbiology reports to support your clinical decisions for responsible antimicrobial stewardship (ASTAG Importance ratings of antibacterial uses in human and animal health; AMR Website). All material you send to VPDS contributes to veterinary training and supports infrastructure for research into animal diseases. De-identified cases provide real-life context for student learning, and samples contribute to an archive of bacterial isolates that enables research into the development of antimicrobial resistance across decades.
The Molecular Diagnostics section performs pathogen detection using a wide range of sensitive molecular diagnostic methods, including highly sensitive and specific conventional and real-time PCRs; immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridization for fresh and formalin-fixed tissues; immunofluoresence for detection of pathogens in body fluids, cytological preparations and fecal parasites; and 16s PCR and sequencing for identification of bacteria from cultures. 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 for support of animal management or research in these specialist areas.
Research support
Service to researchers
- histopathological specimen processing
- immunohistochemistry
- laboratory animal haematology
- serum biochemistry
- processing of unusual specimens