CAPACITY OF ACCREDITED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING VETERINARY LABORATORIES IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA IN 2017, FROM THE STANDPOINT OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE, IN RELATION TO FIELDS OF ACCREDITATION

Abstract

Accreditation refers to the formal recognition that a confirmity assessment
body (laboratory) is competent to conduct confirmity assessment activities according
to internationally accepted rules. The accreditation of conformity assessment bodies
in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is implemented by the Institute for Accreditation
of B&H (BATA). Accreditation provides confidence in the laboratory test results.
Veterinary laboratories for diagnostic testing refer to laboratories for testing
materials of animal origin.
The aim of the study is to determine the capacity of accredited diagnostic veterinary
laboratories for diagnotic testing in B&H in relation to the field of examination or
the scope of accreditation.
This enables a clear insight into the capacity of diagnostic veterinary laboratories
to respond to animal health control requirements in order to protect animal and
human health.
During 2017, six diagnostic veterinary laboratories were accredited in Bosnia and
Herzegovina, three in Republika Srpska and three in the Federation of B&H.
Of the seven accredited fields of testing in B&H, laboratories in Rebublika Srpska
accredited all seven fields (100%), while laboratories in the Federation of B&H
accredited six fields (85.70%). The veterinary laboratories for diagnostic testing in
B&H accredited a total of 42 different test methods. In the RS 30 test methods were
accredited (71.40%), while in the Federation of B&H there are 31 accredited test
methods (81.60%).
When it comes to various fields of veterinary diagnostic tests, B&H has the
capacity concerning accredited laboratories to respond to the reqirements , capacities
of particular significance are those for serological (100% accredited laboratories),
bacteriological (66.70% of accredited laboratories) and parasitological tests (50% of
accredited laboratories). In relation to the total number of test methods regarding
type of animals, the most test method are accredited for diagnosis of cattle diseases
(in the RS 36.70%, in the FB&H 38.70%, and at the B&H level 33.30%), they are
followed by the methods for diagnosis of sheep and goat diseases and bird diseases.