The Animal Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Unit (SAP) of the Health Surveillance Centre (Visavet) at the Complutense University of Madrid has recently become part of the Network of Scientific and Technical Laboratories and Infrastructures of the Community of Madrid (REDLAB). This network brings together the region’s scientific and technical laboratories that promote knowledge transfer and support the scientific, technological, and industrial communities by providing specialized services.

Directed by Antonio Rodríguez Bertos, Associate Professor in the Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery at the UCM Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, SAP has a team of highly experienced professionals and is a leader in anatomical pathology diagnosis and histological assessment. The service also promotes animal welfare by offering forensic veterinary services. In these fields, SAP participates in numerous research projects and provides services to public bodies, private companies, researchers, and individuals.

SAP currently offers a portfolio of 12 analyses, most of which can be requested and paid for online ((visavet.es/servicios/sap). Among these analyses are cytologies, biopsies, necropsies, and various histochemical techniques, as well as histological evaluations for differentiating meat product preparations. These analyses are part of the centre’s general quality system, ensuring the reliability, traceability, and technical validity of the issued results. In addition, SAP holds ENAC ILAC-MRA accreditation for the technical procedure in diagnosing bovine tuberculosis in animal tissues - “Histochemical and immunohistochemical study of bovine tuberculosis” — under the UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025 standard.

Forensic necropsy is one of the most in-demand analyses and serves as a key tool within legal veterinary medicine. Its purpose is not only to identify the cause of an animal’s death but also to provide objective evidence in judicial or administrative cases with legal implications or signs of animal abuse, such as poisoning, negligence, or abandonment, as well as in cases involving insurance or professional liability. SAP is a pioneering service in these forensic analyses, offering citizens qualified personnel, the necessary facilities and equipment, and a guarantee of quality.

Within VISAVET, SAP’s facilities and equipment include a histology laboratory (with a trimming room, processing room, immunohistochemistry room, and biosafety level 2+ room), a BSL-2 necropsy room, and a necropsy room located within the biological containment area (BSL-3). Thanks to the latter, the service can safely perform necropsies involving potential biological risk group 3 agents, responsible for very serious diseases in both animals and humans.

The Order 4553/2025 of the Regional Ministry of Education, Science and Universities of the Community of Madrid, dated October 2, officially registered SAP in the REDLAB Registry under number RLAB-84, in accordance with Article 12 of Decree 9/2024, of January 31, issued by the Regional Government Council, which establishes and regulates the operation of the REDLAB registry.

- El servicio de Veterinaria Forense de Visavet entra a formar parte de la Red de Laboratorios de la Comunidad de Madrid - diarioveterinario.com

- La Comunidad de Madrid incluye al servicio de Patología Animal y Veterinaria Forense de Visavet en su red de laboratorios - animalshealth.es