For Veterinary Surgeons

Specialist Referral Services

Clinical Pathology

A first-class Clinical Pathology Laboratory based at Dick White Referrals serving veterinary practices throughout the UK

DWR Diagnostics is a well established laboratory service providing a comprehensive range of diagnostic testing, including:

• An efficient, professional and personal service with rapid turn-around nationwide
• Results interpreted by an internationally renowned Specialist in Clinical Pathology
• Reports are written specifically for individual cases. Coded comments are not used
• Gold standard equipment in purpose-built laboratory
• Externally validated quality assurance systems
• Unrivalled combination of quality, service and competitive pricing

DWR Diagnostics provides laboratory services to veterinary practices throughout the UK, as well as in-patients.

Our staff

The laboratory is run by Elizabeth (aka Butty) Villiers BVSc FRCPat DipRCVCP, CertSAM, Cert VR, MRCVS who has many years' experience of clinical pathology as well as a background in internal medicine and oncology. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologist, a Diplomate of the European College of Clinical Pathologist, a European Specialist in Veterinary Clinical Pathology and holds RCVS Certificates in Small Animal Medicine and Radiology. She is well known in the international veterinary clinical pathology community and is frequently an invited speaker at veterinary conferences and courses. Elizabeth is co-editor of the BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Clinical Pathology. She is a well known cytologist with a special interest in haematology, but also enjoys interpreting all laboratory data and discussing cases with veterinary surgeons.

The laboratory has a Clinical Pathology Resident, Francesco Cian DVM MRCVS, who has a great interest in cytology and has a cytology site on Face Book. Our laboratory manager is Ann Mottram BSc.

A unique feature of our laboratory is the availability of Specialist Dermatologist Rosario Cerundolo who examines all skin scrapings and trichograms and is also responsible for dermatophyte cultures. Rosario runs the Dermatology Referral Service at Dick White Referrals.

Histology is performed by our Associate Pathologists Tim Scase BSc BVM&S PhD DipACP MRCVS and Alistair Foote MA VetMB PhD FRCPath MRCVS.

Laboratory quality

The laboratory's range of sophisticated equipment includes an Advia 120 Haematology Analyser, an Olympus biochemistry analyser and an Immulite analyser for hormone assays. We pay meticulous attention to detail to ensure results are accurate. We undertake rigorous internal quality control testing as well as participating in an external quality assurance scheme. We operate according to Standardised Operating Procedures to ensure consistency in our methods and results.

What we offer

We offer all standard tests such as haematology and biochemistry profiles, hormone testing, microbiology as well as coagulation tests, cross matching, histology and cytology. We also handle specialist test requests such as PCRs, coagulation factor tests and infectious disease testing. We are happy to dispatch these to reference laboratories, including international laboratories. Thus we are able to service all of your laboratory needs.

Reports are issued by email or fax in a timely manner. Haematology/chemistry, routine endocrinology and cytology are reported the same day; histology is reported on the same day or the next day. Every report is reviewed by a veterinary pathologist before being sent and a full interpretation is given. We write a unique report for each case and do not use coded (canned) comments. There is close liaison between staff in the laboratory to ensure a good understanding of cases. This is especially important in complex cases in which multiple tests are perfomed because, in these circumstances, it is crucial that all results are evaluated together, in the context of the case.

Submitting samples

Please call contact us if you would like a price list, submission forms and mailing stickers/envelopes. Alternatively submission forms and postage labels can be downloaded as PDF documents - see the links below.

For further information about our services or to make specific requests, please contact Butty Villiers.

Laboratory Request Form
Postage Labels