This standard specifies the general requirements for the competence, impartiality and consistent operation of laboratories across the globe, signifying that a facility produces valid and reliable results that can be trusted across countries.

The new edition of the standard was released in November 2017 to encompass the activities of modern laboratories and new ways of working at them, including technical, terminology and scope changes. Cobb Europe set a goal to achieve this standard by November 2020, but the team, led by Cobb Europe quality control centre manager Gemma Walker, achieved it one and a half years early.

“Being accredited to this new standard reflects the hard work, focus and passion we see in our team,” said John Vincent, director of quality assurance. “We are very proud of being the leader in technology, investing in our future and the standards we work to.” To achieve this standard by their target date, Walker and her team reviewed all internal policies and processes to look for optimisations. The United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) audited the facility against the standard in September 2018.

The Cobb Europe lab team in Norfolk County, England, poses for a photo. From left: Isabel Coelho, laboratory technician; Amanda Lappin, associate of quality assurance; Gemma Walker, quality control centre manager; Donna Moxey, laboratory technician; and Amy Williamson, laboratory technician.

“It was truly a team effort, and I’m so pleased that we are one of the first labs in the nation to meet this updated standard,” said Walker. “This accreditation is critical in our line of work because we must meet the appropriate UKAS standards for specific tests so our results can be used to prove birds’ health status in both national control programmes and for Export Health Certificates.”

The Norfolk County facility conducts all routine health screenings of company stock in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, where permitted by national requirements. The lab is currently an accredited testing centre for mycoplasma, salmonella, infectious laryngotracheitis and avian influenza. The team is also responsible for all internal serological screenings, hygiene monitoring and antimicrobial resistance control programmes, and has cell culture technology.

ABOUT COBB-VANTRESS, INC.

Cobb-Vantress, Inc. makes quality protein accessible, healthy and affordable worldwide. Our research and technology innovates the global poultry industry. With headquarters in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, we are the world’s oldest pedigree broiler breeding company. We distribute poultry to more than 120 countries. Find more at cobb-vantress.com.