The ASVCP is a nonprofit scientific organization dedicated to the promotion of scientific advancement, education, and standards in veterinary laboratory medicine. Our members include veterinary clinical pathologists and trainees, medical technologists, specialty veterinarians, and diagnosticians in veterinary and medical schools, biomedical and pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic and government laboratories, and private veterinary practices throughout the United States and in over 20 countries worldwide.
The American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology (ASVCP) was established in 1965 at an organizational meeting held in conjunction with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) meeting in Portland, Oregon. For several years, veterinarians with interest and expertise in clinical pathology had informally gathered at annual AVMA meetings. These early meetings were facilitated by Dr. Harry Berrier, who was an important catalyst in the emergence of the ASVCP. Charter members of the society were Drs. Maxine J. Benjamin, Harry J. Berrier, H.A. Carper, Clarence R. Cole, Embert H. Coles, Donald E. Jasper, Horace C. Morgan, Harry C. Mussman, Victor Perman, Jay H. Sautter, Oscar W. Schalm, Margaret W. Sloss, and John B. Tasker. In 1983, the ASVCP began holding its annual meeting in conjunction with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP), a practice that continues to the present.
Membership in the ASVCP has grown from the original 13 to over 500 in 2002. Members include veterinary clinical pathologists, medical technologists, residents and graduate students in clinical pathology, and specialty veterinarians and diagnosticians in veterinary and medical schools, biomedical and pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic laboratories, government laboratories, and private practice. The society is international in scope and includes members from Australia, Austria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, England, France, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland in addition to the United States.
Veterinary clinical pathology is a rapidly expanding field, with growing career opportunities and expanded laboratory testing options for the diagnosis and monitoring of disease and drug safety testing in animals. Diagnostic testing has become an important market sector in veterinary medicine, and the ASVCP is in a vital position to provide guidelines on quality and standards and to ensure adequate training opportunities that provide qualified veterinary clinical pathologists for the future.