APHA Veterinary Investigation Centres and surveillance pathology partners
Source: gov.uk (2025-07-24)

Services provided and contact details for Veterinary Investigation Centres (VICs) and surveillance pathology partners in England and Wales.

The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) offers services to vets in England, Wales and Scotland through a national network of:
- Veterinary Investigation Centres (VICs), which can provide diagnostic tests (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/submit-samples-from-farm-animals-for-diagnostic-testing), post-mortem examinations (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/submit-farm-animals-for-a-post-mortem-examination) and advice from their resident veterinary investigation officers
- surveillance pathology partners, independent institutions which also offer subsidised post-mortem examinations
Find the surveillance pathology centre for your area

Use the surveillance pathology centre postcode lookup (https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/siu.apha/viz/PostcodeSearch/Postcodesearch-Lookup) to:
- find the surveillance pathology centre for your area
- find out whether that postcode is eligible for free carcase collection (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/submit-farm-animals-for-a-post-mortem-examination)
Use the postcode of the farm from where the carcase is to be submitted and not the practice.

Find your nearest VIC

Use the APHA Google map of VICs and surveillance pathology partners (https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1xtR-9__omfdH8g0GERxFBDZDqDypfMU&usp=sharing) to find your nearest centre and contact details.

All VICs are open:
- Monday to Thursday: 8:30am to 5pm
- Friday: 8:30am to 4.30pm
All VICs

Bury St Edmunds

APHA Veterinary Investigation CentreRougham HillBury St EdmundsSuffolkIP33 2RXEmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

Carmarthen

APHA Veterinary Investigation CentreJob’s Well RoadJohnstownCarmarthenCarmarthenshireSA31 3EZEmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

Penrith

APHA Veterinary Investigation CentreMerrythoughtCalthwaitePenrithCumbriaCA11 9RREmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

Shrewsbury

APHA Veterinary Investigation CentreKendal RoadHarlscottShrewsburyShropshireSY1 4HDEmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

Starcross

APHA Veterinary Investigation CentreStaplake MountStarcrossExeterEX6 8PEEmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

Thirsk

APHA Veterinary Investigation CentreWest HouseStation RoadThirskNorth YorkshireYO7 1PZEmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

All surveillance pathology partners

Aberystwyth WVSC

Aberystwyth WVSCWales Veterinary Science CentreBuarth RoadAberystwythCeredigionSY23 1NDEmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

Royal Veterinary College

Farm Animal Pathology and DiagnosticsPPS (Pathobiology & Population Sciences)Royal Veterinary CollegeHawkshead LaneNorth MymmsAL9 7TAEmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Telephone: 01707 666630Mobile: xx-xxxx-xxxx

SRUC Veterinary Services

St Boswells Disease Surveillance CentreGreycrookSt BoswellsRoxburghshireTD6 0EQEmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

University of Bristol

Farm Animal Post-mortem ServicesBristol Veterinary SchoolLangford HouseLangfordBristolBS40 5DUEmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

University of Cambridge

Department of Veterinary MedicineUniversity of CambridgeMadingley RoadCambridgeCB3 0ESEmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

University of Liverpool

Farm Animal Post Mortem ServicesUniversity of LiverpoolLeahurst CampusNestonCH64 7TEEmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

University of Nottingham

Farm Animal Pathology ServiceUniversity of NottinghamCollege RoadSutton BoningtonLeicestershireLE12 5RAEmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Tel: xx-xxxx-xxxx

University of Surrey

Veterinary Pathology CentreSchool of Veterinary MedicineFrancis Crick RoadUniversity of SurreyGuildfordGU2 7AQEmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

Other APHA laboratories

Lasswade

APHA LasswadePentlands Science ParkBush LoanPenicuikMidlothianEH26 0PZEmail: xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)Telephone: xx-xxxx-xxxx

Weybridge

Animal and Plant Health AgencyWoodham LaneAddlestoneKT15 3NB

Veterinary investigation officers

Veterinary investigation officers are based at VICs and have expert knowledge and direct access to a wider network of scientific expertise. This includes new and developing tests and molecular tests which may not be accessible elsewhere.

You can contact your local officer to discuss:
- complex, unusual or difficult disease problems
- results of post mortem examinations
- laboratory testing carried out by APHA
- the findings of your own examinations
This service is open to all vets, and you do not need to have used APHA’s other services to discuss cases with the officer.

Veterinary investigation officers also carry out farm visits in specific circumstances such as the investigation of zoonotic outbreaks or new and emerging diseases.