An expansion of the existing laboratory, which was opened in 2003, the new extension enables Aviagen to continue diversifying its capabilities, pursuing new technological advancements in serology, virology and bacteriology.

The facilities also provide Aviagen's newly-created Molecular Department with the necessary infrastructure to push the boundaries of cutting-edge diagnostics, with extra capacity being earmarked for molecular diagnostic work in particular. Created in 2010, the Molecular Department is at the forefront of the latest emerging technologies and enables the business to select and recommend the most appropriate and best-value techniques to customers and partners around the world.

The laboratory extension also allows the team to handle the dramatic increase in workload that has been prompted as a result of the recent significant growth in Aviagen's European business.

The official opening of the new facility took place on 20 May. Attendees included members of the Scottish Executive, UK veterinary consultants, Aviagen employees and suppliers involved in the building process.

Bill Stanley, Aviagen's Veterinary Health Director for Europe, commented: "The completion of this new facility is further evidence of Aviagen's commitment to developing cutting-edge technical solutions to issues facing the poultry industry. It is a world-class laboratory and we now have the facilities to meet the complex challenges ahead of us.

"Aviagen's European customer base is supported by a wealth of veterinary expertise across the continent and our veterinary laboratory provides central support for our European operations. The expansion of the laboratory means we are well placed to meet demand for new innovation in a variety of fields."

Graeme Dear, General Manager of Aviagen Limited, added: "In recent years, Aviagen has grown its European business significantly. In the last four years we have more than doubled the number of production bases we have in Europe and the demands on our infrastructure have grown accordingly.

"Having already recruited more lab specialists, the expansion of our laboratory facilities enables the business to continue its world-class provision of technical advice and expertise to our customer base. We will process more samples, diagnose more test results, handle more complex molecular diagnostics and train more people through our laboratory than ever before."

Bill Stanley, Aviagen's Veterinary Health Director for Europe, and Andrew Voas, Veterinary Adviser at the Animal Health and Welfare Division of the Scottish Government, opening the new facility