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PHARMAQ Analytiq & FishVet Group double histopathology capacity

The acquisition of FishVet Group is a major commitment that makes PHARMAQ Analytiq one of the world’s leading players in the field of fish diagnostics, most notably in histopathology. PHARMAQ Analytiq is unique in Norway in being able to offer the industry twelve highly qualified and experienced veterinary pathologists, five skilled laboratory engineers and a state-of-the-art histology laboratory at Skøyen in Oslo. We also have seven veterinary pathologists working in the UK, Ireland, Spain and Chile.

"Together with other products such as PCR, microbiology and SmoltVision, histopathology has emerged as being key to the holistic monitoring of fish health status in the net pens", says Marie Egenberg, who is Sales Manager for Norway and Scandinavia at PHARMAQ Analytiq.
"The acquisition of FishVet Group in 2020 represented a key strategic step that has more than doubled the company's capacity, which is exactly what we need in an expanding global market", she says.

As well as the largest, PHARMAQ Analytiq also has the most skilled team of veterinary pathologists in the aquaculture sector, after having hand-picked its specialists over many years from among the most highly qualified and experienced in the sector. The team includes veterinary pathologists with more than 20 years' experience, three of whom are specialists in veterinary pathology from the European College of Veterinary Pathologists (ECVP). Eight of the team have PhDs and two are currently PhD students.

"Since histopathology is a field that demands high levels of expertise, we've made great efforts to recruit the right people to our team", says Marianne Kraugerud, who is Head of Histopathology Services in Norway. "We also focus on in-house training and standardisation procedures that ensure that both newly-qualified and experienced scientists all undergo a suitably adapted training programme when they start with us", she says.
"Our digital pathology platform enables us to work just as effectively from home, which is ideal during the current Covid-19 situation", she adds.

PHARMAQ Analytiq also operates a state-of-the-art histology laboratory at Skøyen in Oslo. "Having our own laboratory, staffed with bioengineers who are highly skilled in histology processing, means that we can ensure high levels of sample quality and traceability. It also makes us ideally equipped to deliver excellent analytical results with the fastest turnaround times in the business", says Kraugerud.