Coverage and scope of laboratories
- The guideline covers the operation of the BFAR Fish Health Laboratories and its affiliate laboratories under Section 1.
- The fish health laboratories perform functions that support fish health diagnostics, disease surveillance, and technical assistance for related aquaculture and regulatory services under Section 2.
Core laboratory functions
- The fish health laboratories conduct fish disease diagnoses under Section 2(a).
- The laboratories conduct water quality analysis related to disease diagnosis, fish health problems and fish killa under Section 2(b).
- The laboratories provide technical advice on fish health management under Section 2(c).
- The laboratories conduct fish disease surveillance and reporting system under Section 2(d).
- The laboratories provide technical support to the fish inspection and quarantine services under Section 2(e).
- The laboratories conduct on site visits to fish farms and places where there are fish health problems under Section 2(f).
- The laboratories conduct fish kill investigations under Section 2(g).
- The laboratories provide technical support on quality control of animal feeds, veterinary drugs, and chemicals in aquaculture under Section 2(h).
Laboratory layout and safety requirements
- Laboratories must be housed in a permanent building of concrete, semi-concrete material and must comply with the building code in force in the locality under Section 3(a).
- Laboratories must have adequate space for equipment and working area under Section 3(b).
- Laboratories must have adequate running water and regular electric supply under Section 3(c).
- Laboratories must have appropriate drainage, lighting and ventilation under Section 3(d).
- Laboratories must have effective separation between:
- chemical analysis,
- biological analysis,
- microbiological analysis, and
- glassware cleaning and sterilizing area under Section 3(e).
- Laboratories must have effective safety provisions including:
- heat and smoke detectors (early fire warning devices),
- emergency lighting,
- emergency exists,
- shower and eyewash,
- fire extinguishers,
- first aid kits,
- fume hoods, and
- protective personnel equipment under Section 3(f).
Laboratory management and supervision
- The Chief of the Fish Health Section supervises the operation of the Central Laboratory under Section 4(a).
- The designated regional health officer is placed under the technical supervision of the Central Fish Health Laboratory under Section 4(b).
Technical personnel and qualifications
- Satellite laboratories must have the minimum personnel stated in Section 5(a):
- Supervising Fish Health Officer — 1
- Licensed veterinarian — 1
- Registered chemist — 1
- Laboratory technician — 1
- Laboratory aide — 1
- Laboratory staff must have a qualified degree in biology or any equivalent course in the natural sciences and must have adequate training on fish health analysis and water quality analysis under Section 5(b).
Laboratory protocols and recordkeeping
- Fish health laboratories must follow one set of laboratory protocol for their operation under Section 6(a).
- The Central Fish Health Laboratory must prepare laboratory management and technical protocols based on established international guidelines under Section 6(b).
- The management protocol must include procedures to ensure good laboratory practice and safety under Section 6(c).
- The laboratory must adopt a system for keeping diagnostic records and specimen samples for future reference under Section 7(a).
- The records and data system must ensure security, integrity and retrievability for a specified period of time under Section 7(b).
Monitoring, evaluation, and results issuance
- The performance of regional laboratories must be monitored and evaluated regularly by the Central Laboratory under Section 8(a).
- The performance of the Central Laboratory must be monitored and evaluated by:
- National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at U.P. Los Baños, Laguna, and
- U.P. Research and Analytical Services Laboratory of U.P. Natural Science Research Institute at Diliman, Quezon City under Section 8(b).
- Laboratory results must be issued by all authorized heads of each laboratory under Section 9(a).
- Chemical analyses must be signed by a registered chemist under Section 9(b).
Accreditation of affiliate laboratories
- Regional fish health laboratories must undergo inspection and assessment conducted by the Central and Reference laboratories under Section 10(a).
- After evaluation, each laboratory must receive a summary of evaluation, suggestions and recommendations, must implement laboratory improvement procedures, and must address non-compliances under Section 10(b).
- Each laboratory must participate in interlaboratory testing programs and other proficiency tests to evaluate analytical capabilities under Section 10(c).
- Proficiency test results must be discussed with regional laboratories, and suggestions and recommendations must be formulated and adopted by them under Section 10(d).
- The Certificate of Accreditation must be issued to qualified regional laboratories under Section 10(e).
Fees and charges for administrative services
The fees and charges to be collected are fixed under Section 11(a) as follows:
I. Administrative
- Issuance of health certificate — P50.00
II. Laboratory examination
- A. Biological/Bacterial/Histopathology/Molecular
- 1. Parasite examination — P75.00
- 2. Bacterial identification (per sample) — 200.00
- 3. Prawn fry quality assessment
- a. Gross/microscopic examination — 100.00
- b. Bacterial count
- i. water sample (per sample) — 100.00
- ii. larval/postlarval prawn (10 pcs.) — 100.00
- iii. MBV detection — 130.00
- 4. Molecular diagnosis — 600.00
- 5. Fungal isolation/identification — 200.00
- 6. Histopathological examination — 500.00
- B. Physico-chemical analyses
- 1. Water (Standard Method)
- a. pH — P30.00
- b. Acidity/Alkalinity — 100.00
- c. Carbon dioxide — 100.00
- d. Dissolved oxygen — 150.00
- e. Amonia — 180.00
- f. Nitrite/nitrate — 180.00
- g. Phosphate — 300.00
- h. Total hardness — 300.00
- i. Chemical oxygen demand — 750.00
- j. Biological oxygen demand — 900.00
- k. Total suspended solids — 200.00
- l. Salinity — 30.00
- Other analyses that may be required must be added under the fee structure system described in Section 11(a).
- 1. Water (Standard Method)
- A. Biological/Bacterial/Histopathology/Molecular
Repeal and effectivity rules
- FAO No. 187 and other orders, rules, regulations, or parts thereof are repealed or modified accordingly to the extent they are inconsistent with Fisheries Administrative Order No. 220, s. 2001 under Section 12(a).
- The order takes effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette and/or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation and fifteen (15) days after its registration with the Office of the National Administrative Register under Section 13(a).