Designation as the World Reference Laboratory was an honour that was gladly accepted. But the service does not end there. The WRL is an important centre for training. Scientists from around the world come to Pirbright to learn the latest diagnostic techniques. Training courses are also held abroad on a regular basis.
Advice is another service offered, which can often involve on-site visits to affected areas.
Testing methods cannot stand still. There is always room for improvement, driven by the wish for ever faster, more accurate methods. The WRL has been active in this area, refining the technology over the years such that results for the presence or absence of infection can now be available in four hours. This allows better identification of the likely source of the current outbreak under investigation. As a result more effective control measures can be put into place in order to reduce the risks to the susceptible populations in the area.