Global training at Aviagen veterinary laboratory in Scotland

Aviagen recently welcomed a group of customers from Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa to its cutting-edge Scottish laboratory facility, to share its knowledge of quality control systems (QCS), introducing the newest laboratory techniques and troubleshooting. The five-day course, held twice annually, was hosted by Aviagen Regional Veterinarian Dr. Pavel Shkarlat, Aviagen Veterinarian Dr. Zoltán Marton, Aviagen Biotechnology Project Manager Scott McLeod and Aviagen Microbiologist Fraser Gormley. The training was led by Dr. Kara Friel, laboratory manager, and her team that spent time with the visitors going over best practices and new skills in the lab.
The training was aimed at explaining the importance of correct quality control measures and the importance of validation in results. Guests took part in different programs for each day and were given the opportunity to participate in individual one-to-one meetings with the department supervisors, where they could ask any question they liked.
The attendees were given insight into different laboratory techniques taking place within Aviagen, including bacteriology, serology, veterinary diagnostics, and the molecular departments.
“During our training schools we aim to tailor the topics to each candidate’s interests as much as possible,” said Friel. “The training gives the candidates a good overview in each department and helps them with the practicalities of running each test, reading the results and troubleshooting. This year we wanted to focus on the importance of correct quality control measures for every test and the importance of validations to ensure the test is fit for purpose.”
Attendees included production managers, virologists and lab technicians from Libya, Belarus, Russia, Saudi Arabia and India.
The training schedule was deliberately flexible with the schedule changed by request to look at the best way to take sterile swabs for testing.
Vijayalakshimi Ganesan, serology lab technician from Aviagen India commented: “The training was excellent and it was a very tiring week with a lot of useful information. Having a flexible schedule made a positive difference.”
The Aviagen laboratory in Scotland is widely regarded as one of the most advanced in the world and its laboratory training program has been running for more than 15 years.