Careers in veterinary laboratory medicine Ken Smith Royal Veterinary College

Veterinary laboratory medicine Why me?

What is veterinary laboratory medicine? Veterinary laboratory medicine aims to apply scientific methods to the diagnosis of disease – in academic, government and commercial diagnostic and research laboratories to understand the beneficial and harmful effects of pharmaceuticals/ agrochemicals – in the pharmaceutical industry

What is veterinary laboratory medicine? Veterinary laboratory medicine aims to apply scientific methods to the diagnosis of disease: To establish an aetiology

What is veterinary laboratory medicine? Veterinary laboratory medicine aims to apply scientific methods to the diagnosis of disease: To establish an aetiology To establish a prognosis

What is veterinary laboratory medicine? Veterinary laboratory medicine aims to apply scientific methods to the diagnosis of disease: To establish an aetiology To establish a prognosis To monitor response to therapy

What is veterinary laboratory medicine? Veterinary laboratory medicine aims to apply scientific methods to the diagnosis of disease: To establish an aetiology To establish a prognosis To monitor response to therapy In industry To detect pharmacological effects or toxicological damage

What do veterinary laboratory scientists do? Analysis of fluid samples Blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, synovial fluid, fine needle aspirates Analysis of tissue samples Biopsy or post mortem tissues

What do veterinary laboratory scientists do? Analysis of fluid samples Blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, synovial fluid, fine needle aspirates Analysis of tissue samples Biopsy or post mortem tissues Working closely with veterinary surgeons, pathologists (and toxicologists in industry)

Specialities within veterinary laboratory medicine Haematology

Specialities within veterinary laboratory medicine Haematology Clinical chemistry

Specialities within veterinary laboratory medicine Haematology Clinical chemistry Microbiology

Specialities within veterinary laboratory medicine Haematology Clinical chemistry Microbiology Virology

Specialities within veterinary laboratory medicine Haematology Clinical chemistry Microbiology Virology Bacteriology

Specialities within veterinary laboratory medicine Haematology Clinical chemistry Microbiology Virology Bacteriology Parasitology

Specialities within veterinary laboratory medicine Haematology Clinical chemistry Microbiology Virology Bacteriology Parasitology Pathology Post mortem work

Specialities within veterinary laboratory medicine Haematology Clinical chemistry Microbiology Virology Bacteriology Parasitology Pathology Post mortem work Histology

Specialities within veterinary laboratory medicine Haematology Clinical chemistry Microbiology Virology Bacteriology Parasitology Pathology Post mortem work Histology Immunohistology

What does the working day involve? Preparation and examination of blood smears and other fluid samples

What does the working day involve? Preparation and examination of blood smears and other fluid samples Cross-matching blood samples for transfusion

What does the working day involve? Preparation and examination of blood smears and other fluid samples Cross-matching blood samples for transfusion Chemical analysis of blood, urine and other fluid samples

What does the working day involve? Preparation and examination of blood smears and other fluid samples Cross-matching blood samples for transfusion Chemical analysis of blood, urine and other fluid samples Bacterial culture, virus isolation and/or PCR for infectious disease diagnosis

What does the working day involve? Preparation and examination of blood smears and other fluid samples Cross-matching blood samples for transfusion Chemical analysis of blood, urine and other fluid samples Bacterial culture, virus isolation and/or PCR for infectious disease diagnosis Examination of parasitology samples (skin scrapings, faecal samples)

What does the working day involve? Preparation and examination of blood smears and other fluid samples Cross-matching blood samples for transfusion Chemical analysis of blood, urine and other fluid samples Bacterial culture, virus isolation and/or PCR for infectious disease diagnosis Examination of parasitology samples (skin scrapings, faecal samples) Preparation of tissue sections for histology and immunohistochemistry

What does the working day involve? Preparation and examination of blood smears and other fluid samples Cross-matching blood samples for transfusion Chemical analysis of blood, urine and other fluid samples Bacterial culture, virus isolation and/or PCR for infectious disease diagnosis Examination of parasitology samples (skin scrapings, faecal samples) Preparation of tissue sections for histology and immunohistochemistry Performing necropsies in industry

What qualifications are needed? Degree in biological science On the job training or previous experience

What qualifications are needed? Degree in biological science On the job training or previous experience A BSc degree enables entry at a more senior level

How does a career in veterinary laboratory medicine develop?

Where do veterinary laboratory scientists work?

Where do veterinary laboratory scientists work? In university laboratories: e.g. RVC

Where do veterinary laboratory scientists work? In university laboratories: e.g. RVC In government laboratories: e.g. VLA

Where do veterinary laboratory scientists work? In university laboratories: e.g. RVC In government laboratories: e.g. VLA In commercial laboratories: e.g. IDEXX

Where do veterinary laboratory scientists work? In university laboratories: e.g. RVC In government laboratories: e.g. VLA In commercial laboratories: e.g. IDEXX In pharmaceutical companies and contract research organisations: e.g. GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, AZ, Covance, HLS

How do I get more information? ksmith@rvc.ac.uk cscudamore@rvc.ac.uk http://www.abpi-careers.org.uk/ http://www.ibms.org/ Work experience placements

Any questions?