Diagnostics

“Diagnosis” is “...the determination of the nature of a disease” (OIE 2007), and an accurate diagnosis is often essential for preventing disease losses in aquaculture. Reliable, standardized diagnostics testing supports many key aquatic animal health activities including:

• issuance of international health certificates;
• disease surveillance, monitoring and reporting;
• quarantine;
• disease zoning;
• contingency planning;
• risk analysis; and
• safe and responsible use of appropriate chemicals and drugs for disease treatment and eradication at the production (farm, hatchery, etc.) level. 

   Further information on disease diagnostics can be found in the Manual of Diagnostic Tests for Aquatic Animals (OIE 2006) and the Asia Diagnostics Guide to Aquatic Animal Diseases (Bondad-Reantaso et al. 2001)

   It should be noted that new diseases and pathogens that have the potential to cause serious economic impacts on aquaculture frequently appear, and thus regional and national aquatic animal health programmes need to include provision for advanced diagnostics expertise and supporting research capacity so that these new diseases can be characterized and rapid action taken to stop their spread into new geographical areas.