CAPACITY OF ACCREDITED DIAGNOSTIC TESTING VETERINARY LABORATORIES IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA IN 2017, FROM THE STANDPOINT OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTS IN VETERINARY MEDICINE, IN RELATION TO FIELDS OF ACCREDITATION

Accreditation refers to the formal recognition that a confirmity assessment body (laboratory) is competent to conduct confirmity assessment activities according to internationally accepted rules. The accreditation of conformity assessment bodies in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is implemented by the Institute for Accreditation of B&H (BATA). Accreditation provides confidence in the laboratory test results. Veterinary laboratories for diagnostic testing refer to laboratories for testing materials of animal origin. The aim of the study is to determine the capacity of accredited diagnostic veterinary laboratories for diagnotic testing in B&H in relation to the field of examination or the scope of accreditation. This enables a clear insight into the capacity of diagnostic veterinary laboratories to respond to animal health control requirements in order to protect animal and human health. During 2017, six diagnostic veterinary laboratories were accredited in Bosnia and Herzegovina, three in Republika Srpska and three in the Federation of B&H. Of the seven accredited fields of testing in B&H, laboratories in Rebublika Srpska accredited all seven fields (100%), while laboratories in the Federation of B&H accredited six fields (85.70%). The veterinary laboratories for diagnostic testing in B&H accredited a total of 42 different test methods. In the RS 30 test methods were accredited (71.40%), while in the Federation of B&H there are 31 accredited test methods (81.60%). When it comes to various fields of veterinary diagnostic tests, B&H has the capacity concerning accredited laboratories to respond to the reqirements , capacities of particular significance are those for serological (100% accredited laboratories), bacteriological (66.70% of accredited laboratories) and parasitological tests (50% of accredited laboratories). In relation to the total number of test methods regarding type of animals, the most test method are accredited for diagnosis of cattle diseases (in the RS 36.70%, in the FB&H 38.70%, and at the B&H level 33.30%), they are followed by the methods for diagnosis of sheep and goat diseases and bird diseases.