Animal Health Centre

The Animal Health Centre is the leading accredited full-service veterinary laboratory in Western Canada, offering more than 400 laboratory diagnostic tests for agents that may be found in wild and domestic birds, mammals, fish, reptiles and amphibians.

Mandate

The mandate of the Animal Health Centre is to diagnose, monitor and assist in controlling and preventing animal disease in British Columbia.

Mission

Our mission is to support the sustainability of animal agriculture while serving to protect the well-being of the people of British Columbia through the surveillance, regulatory compliance, risk assessment and development of strategies to address risk.

Diagnostic Testing and Services

A full range of fee-for-service diagnostic testing, including Bacteriology, Histopathology, Molecular Diagnostics, Necropsy, Serology and Virology are accepted from veterinarians, livestock producers, the general public and other government agencies.

While primarily concerned with food-producing animals, the Animal Health Centre also provides diagnostic services for companion animals, captive and free-ranging wildlife, zoo animals, fish, and fur-bearers and bees.

Management Team

Jane Pritchard, BA, DVM, MVetSc
Director Plant and Animal Health Branch
Chief Veterinary Officer

Ursula Viney, CPA, CGA
Manager, Business Operations

Chelsea Himsworth, DVM, MVetSc, PhD, Dipl ACVP
Leader, Veterinary Science and Diagnostics

Erin Zabek, BSc.
Veterinary Microbiologist / Biological Safety Officer / Section Head Serology & Bacteriology

Tomy Joseph, DVM, M.Sc., PhD
Veterinary Virologist / Quality Manager, Section Head, Virology & Molecular Diagnostics