Fish Disease Measurement Programme 2013

The use of fish diseases in biological effects monitoring programmes as an integrative endpoint of historic exposure to stressors is well established. It provides an excellent indication of the overall health status at the population level, specifically in relation to contaminant exposure when utilising contaminant-related pathology such as liver cancer. Disease assessments are now becoming integrated with other types of biological effects measurements as well as analytical data from biota, sediments and water under the recommended OSPAR JAMP suite of techniques used in environmental monitoring.

A number of externally visible diseases in flatfish species are recorded in environmental monitoring programmes and provide an excellent indication of overall health. The use of liver pathology is also recorded routinely in relation to environmental contaminants; particularly the assessment of macroscopic and microscopic neoplastic lesions in flatfish (dab- Limanda limanda and flounder- Platichthys flesus).

The overall objective of the BEQUALM Fish Disease Measurement work package is to produce a formal quality assurance programme to validate the data obtained from field studies on the occurrence of liver histopathology and externally visible diseases in the context of the biological effects of contaminants.

Work programme for 2013

The Fish Disease Measurement 2013 programme broadly follows:

  • Distribution of reference materials: these will consist of training CD-ROM, images of histopathological lesions at different magnifications with explanatory text. These reference materials are distributed to first time participants only.
  • Liver histopathology ring-test: using "Virtual Slide" technology (see Aperio Technologies for more information), participants will receive a DVD of interactive histology slides to diagnose, in accordance to BEQUALM criteria (click here to see an image of a virtual liver slide in action on Aperio).
  • External fish disease ring-test: images will be distributed to participants in order to diagnose diseases in accordance to BEQUALM criteria.

Scheduled Timetable of Events

Month

Event

February-March 2013

Registration for Fish Disease Measurement assays

May 2013

Ring tests initiated

August 2013

DEADLINE FOR ALL RING TESTS*

September 2013               

Certificate of performance

February 2011

Certificate of Performance/report of the year's results

The timetable above is a guide and all participants are welcome to register for the fish disease programme at anytime throughout the year. However, it is important that all ring test deadlines are met on time.

Registration Package

On payment of the annual registration fee, participants will receive:

  • The latest training CD-ROM for fish disease measurement (first time participants only)
  • Reference materials (first time participants only)
  • Virtual slide DVD ring test to keep for their collection*
  • Statement of performance

*Please note: Failure to complete ring tests within the specified deadline will release the lead laboratory from all obligations (feedback, results, etc.) as set out in the terms and conditions.

Please read the detailed description of the functions of the Lead Laboratory and Participating Laboratories.

Registration Fees 2013 Programme

Whole Organism Component

Price per participant (GB Pounds)

Fish Disease Measurement

£600

Fees are subject to VAT, where applicable, (see below).

Registration and Payment

Cefas Technology Ltd (CTL) is a wholly owned company of Cefas, and will manage registration and payment administration of the whole organism component of the BEQUALM QA/QC programme using the on-line ordering and payment system available on the CTL website.

This is to keep administration to a minimum and costs to participants as low as possible. Payment is required in advance of the start of the Programme Year. No materials will be dispatched until payment has been received in full. A booking receipt is generated by the on-line ordering system automatically once you have placed your order.

Various payment options are available (see below).

BEQUALM WHOLE ORGANISM COMPONENT - PAYMENT OPTIONS and VAT LIABILITY

The following payment options are available:

Credit card payments are acceptable for payments in £GB

BACS payments and bank credit transfers are acceptable. Please ensure that your payment includes all bank charges incurred for transferring fees. Cefas Technology Ltd will not be liable for these charges and will aim to recover costs incurred from participants.

The liability for Value Added Tax (VAT) on the services provided is as follows:

UK & The Isle of Man: participants are liable to UK VAT

EU (not UK) participants who are not registered for VAT are liable for UK VAT. Participants who are registered for VAT and who receive the supply for business purposes are not liaible for UK VAT and should account for any tax locally. You will be asked to supply your VAT number during the on-line ordering process.

CANCELLATION No refunds are available on cancellation.

CONFIRMATION. Your order will be confirmed via the on-line ordering system.

BEQUALM WHOLE ORGANISM COMPONENT - Terms and Conditions
Laboratories participating in the scheme do so on the basis of accepting the Special Terms and Conditions for the Products and Services provided by CTL, acting through Cefas under the Whole Organism Component of the BEQUALM QA/QC programme, and should be read in conjunction with the CTL Standard Website Terms and Conditions of Sale.

In order to register for the BEQUALM whole organism component each Participating Laboratory ("Buyer") will be asked to confirm their agreement to these terms and conditions as provided by CTL ("The Seller")

To place an order to participate please register on the Cefas Technology Limited website.

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Please click to view large image of liver using Aperio Virtual Slide technology.

Fish photos reproduced with kind permission of Bernard E. Picton Ulster Museum, Belfast, UK © 2003. Remaining images © Crown Copyright 2003