Where can I find an approved laboratory for fish diseases?
For official fish-health testing in France, consult the list maintained by the Ministry of Agriculture. Check that the selected laboratory is approved for the requested analysis: approvals, methods, contact details and scopes can change.
Check the current official list
The Ministry page “Laboratoires officiels et reconnus en santé animale” publishes disease-specific lists and official methods. Select the document for fish diseases and check its date or version. For official analyses, the French Rural Code defines the roles of national reference laboratories and approved laboratories within their approval scope.
A laboratory accredited for a method is not necessarily approved for every official analysis, and a laboratory providing routine diagnostics does not automatically hold each regulatory approval. State whether the request concerns an official programme, animal movement, a health suspicion or private clinical diagnosis.
Call before sampling
Contact the laboratory and veterinarian before dispatch. Confirm:
- the target agent and available method;
- accepted species and life stages;
- the required number of fish or organs;
- transport medium, temperature and deadline;
- packaging, labelling and transport rules;
- costs, paperwork and the person receiving the report.
For VHS, IHN or KHV, sampling design and method depend on the regulatory and epidemiological context. A poorly selected, preserved or delayed sample may be unusable.
Arrange dispatch with the veterinarian
Isolate the affected group and retain useful information: mortality pattern, signs, species, age, temperature, treatments, origin and recent movements. Do not spontaneously ship a live animal or biological parcel. The veterinarian and laboratory will specify who should sample and how to meet biosecurity and transport requirements.
The Ministry list is the reference for approval on the consultation date. Ask the departmental veterinary services if the official standing of a result remains unclear.