Update from the Director

The view from the Director’s office

September is the time of year to restart planning initiatives following the summer break. Here at the AHL, we are already examining investments in equipment purchases and replacements. The latter is an ongoing process that seems to be accelerating in recent years - has anyone else been informed that the company will no longer “support the software”, requiring the purchase of new equipment although the previous version still works perfectly fine? One of our recent purchases is the BD Kiestra InoqulA sample processor which automates the processing of samples and streaking of bacteriology plates. This equipment is used in larger medical and hospital laboratories and is one of the few options available for this purpose. Our previously used plate streakers are no longer available for purchase or repair, and our only other option was a return to hand streaking of each bacteriology plate. AHL inoculates around 350 bacteriology plates every day, and hand streaking would require additional staff and increase the risk of repetitive strain injuries. InoqulA provides consistency and uniformity in sample processing and streaking and also prepares slides from the inoculum for Gram staining. Overall, this purchase appears to be a necessary and innovative investment for AHL’s microbiology laboratory.

Please refer to the article “New AHL Bacteriology transport media – ESwabs” in this newsletter for additional information on appropriate samples for bacteriology testing.

I hope you all had a wonderful summer and are prepared for the renewal that every fall seems to generate.

Maria Spinato, Director

Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON.