The changing roles of veterinary laboratories in Australia

Abstract

Over the past 30 years there has been a major restructure of government veterinary laboratory services in Australia coinciding with, but not directly related to, the proliferation of private veterinary laboratories. State and territory government services have been increasingly centralised with greater focus on surveillance for exotic and emerging animal diseases and a shift away from animal health research. Private pathology services have flourished as veterinary practitioners increasingly value laboratory support for their clinical assessments and animal owners are prepared to spend more for the care of their pets. Future challenges and opportunities exist for governments to maximise return on investment in laboratories through minimising duplication of services, leveraging the academic and infrastructure resources of university veterinary schools and better utilising the efficiencies of the private sector.