Departments
Lab Business Support
The Lab Business Support staff manages a variety of functions; their responsibilities are closely dependent on their qualifications. They ensure smooth operations within the organization.
Bacteriology
Bacteriology cultures and identifies bacteria from various sample types. Samples may be taken from the processing plant, farm environment, or birds. Bacteriology is important as a diagnostic and monitoring tool.
Histopathology
Tissue samples are processed by the Histopathology department. GLPN contracts with the highly qualified and board certified veterinary histopathologists at North Carolina State University to read all histopathology slides.
Necropsy
Clinical Services provide a wide range of services including postmortem examinations at the lab, farm visits, sample collection on farm, and phone consultation. The clinicians are dedicated to providing diagnosis and treatment to keep poultry healthy in Georgia.
Poultry Health Services
Epidemiology utilizes lab reports, case history, and GIS coordinates to monitor and study poultry disease outbreaks. The department works closely with an industry committee to determine plans of action during outbreaks. The department plays a major role in developing plans for a possible Avian Influenza outbreak.
The laboratory has committed to assisting industry with issues arising during operations. The Industry Operations group, customer service group, Veterinarians, and NPIP field testers are dedicated to helping industry with biosecurity programs within the NPIP auditing framework, hatchery monitoring, field investigations, and any other field related need of the industry. GPLNs field services seek to enhance industry performance through disease reduction, education, monitoring, and maintaining biosecurity within live operations.
Serology
Blood samples taken at the main lab and network labs are processed by the serology department. The department tests tens of thousands chicken blood samples monthly for antibodies to poultry viruses and bacteria. The department uses state of the art equipment to keep up with the requests. Reports are returned in less than 1 week from date of submission.
Media
The Media Preparation Department provides support for the various Georgia Poultry Laboratory departments by making all the in-house media following strict quality control standards. They also serve to decontaminate all waste products and to sterilize equipment and glassware.
Virology
Virology processes swab and tissue samples to look for the suspected virus. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) can be performed on most swab samples to identify if the antigen is present. Fresh organ tissues are used for virus isolation. Virus isolation is done on various cell cultures and grown in eggs. Special stains and cell and embryo changes are used determine the infective virus. PCR is a much less time intensive than virus isolation which can take from 1-6 weeks to identify a virus depending on how well it grows.
NPIP
The objective of the NPIP is to provide a cooperative Industry-State-Federal program through which new diagnostic technology can be effectively applied to the improvement of poultry and poultry products throughout the country.
Receiving
The GPLN Receiving Department is responsible for receiving samples shipped from field personnel or brought to the lab directly. The samples are logged into LIMS, and bar code labels are placed on all samples. The samples are placed in the appropriate bins for each department to provide a cooperative Industry-State-Federal program through which new diagnostic technology can be effectively applied to the improvement of poultry and poultry products throughout the country.
