Moredun Research Institute and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) are working together to support the NHS by providing extra capacity for vital testing of samples within their laboratory facilities at Pentlands Science Park in Midlothian. Image Covid-19 testing started on 25 June 2020. The collaborative team will be using Moredun’s specialist high-containment facilities, for working with high hazard group pathogens to enable the safe handling of samples for SARS-Cov-2 testing combined with SRUC veterinary labs’ capability to deliver high throughput PCR testing.The team, who would normally be working on delivering diagnostics to support livestock health and welfare, are re-purposing laboratory space and equipment to help NHS colleagues by providing capacity for around 1000 tests a day.Our charities, owned and governed by farmers, and funded mainly by the Scottish Government, have researched many infectious diseases of livestock over the years. Together with our collaborators at SRUC, we have combined facilities and skills to extend capacity of Covid-19 during the ‘test and protect’ phase of the pandemic. We have developed an excellent working relationship with colleagues in the NHS who have worked very hard, along with our own staff to help make this happen. We are very proud of all the staff involved in stepping up to help with the national effort to tackle Covid-19.Professor Julie FitzpatrickCEO of the Moredun GroupWe are delighted to join forces with Moredun to bring our collective expertise and diagnostics capacity to support NHS Scotland. This is a ‘team Scotland’ approach and demonstrates our willingness to share facilities, innovate and adapt our working practices to deliver a public good in the national interest.Professor Wayne PowellPrincipal and Chief Executive of SRUCThe work that will be conducted by the new Moredun-SRUC node will be the test for the virus itself, the molecular (swab) test, which indicates who has active virus infection.The combined Moredun-SRUC Veterinary Services team have been working closely with colleagues at NHS Lothian over the last few weeks to ensure that the testing will be conducted to NHS diagnostic standards, fully integrated into NHS systems with training and support provided by NHS clinical staff.The Moredun-SRUC testing node is the first major veterinary centre working to support NHS labs to help with Covid-19 testing in the UK and is an excellent example of a One Health approach in action. The team have also developed working methods to ensure that their vital work to conduct diagnostic work in support of veterinary surveillance will continue.We are delighted to work with the Moredun Research Institute and SRUC in a collaborative partnership approach to Covid-19 virus PCR testing, which builds on a template that NHS Scotland has created for such novel approaches in its efforts to expand national testing capacity and ensure resilience. The partnership with Moredun and SRUC expands that approach even further, supporting both NHS Lothian’s test requirements as well as overall national test capacity.Dr Ingolfur JohannessenDirector of NHS Lothian Laboratory Medicine and Clinical Lead for the Scottish National Laboratory Medicine ProgrammeI am delighted to see this example of One Health in action. This combined effort between the world class team at Moredun and SRUC has shown how vets and medics can work together to support the NHS and combat this pandemic.Sheila VoasChief Veterinary Officer ScotlandFurther informationLee Innes, Director of Communication, Moredun Research Institute; Tel: 07818 564954; email Lee Tom Maxwell, Communications Manager, SRUC; Tel: 07834 722701; email TomRelated LinksMoredun Research InstituteSRUC Publication date 26 Jun, 2020
