UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory Receives Highest Level of Accreditation

By: Rob Warren

The UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) recently achieved the ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation by the American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board (ANAB), the highest level of accreditation available to testing laboratories. According to their website, ANAB is the largest multi-disciplinary accreditation body in the western hemisphere, with more than 2,500 organizations accredited in approximately 80 countries.

“Earning this accreditation is the result of a dedicated effort by everyone at the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory and is confirmation by an external body that the operations of VGL meet the highest quality standards,” said Christina Lindquist, MS, associate director of forensics and quality manager, who led the laboratories accreditation endeavors. “As part of the accreditation process, ANAB accessors evaluated our procedures and our ability to perform precise and accurate testing, and accreditation means we have met the highest of standards in the industry.”

ISO/IEC 17025 is the specific international standard for which VGL is now accredited and specifies the requirements for competency to carry out its high-quality, accurate laboratory testing. The accreditation sets the standard for the laboratory’s general operational management and quality control relating to genetic testing.

“The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory has long been recognized as a leader in genetics testing,” stated Dr. Rebecca Bellone, VGL director. “However, being accredited through ANAB and to ISO/IEC 17025 reaffirms that VGL operates under the highest standard. We will be regularly accessed by this accrediting board, so our clients can be confident in the genetic testing services we provide. I am proud of our team for reaching this milestone and for the work they do every day to ensure we are providing exceptional animal genetics testing services that are helping to advance the health of animals.”

With more than 60 employees—exceptional in their knowledge of the genetics of a variety of species—VGL is dedicated to delivering accurate, reliable, and timely results with the backing of high-level research and decades of experience.