Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratories

Tissues should be collected with the least possible contamination. Select samples of organ tissues before incising the gastrointestinal tract. Tie off 3" intestine sections for submission. Individual organs should be placed in separate containers i.e. whirlpak bags or wide-mouth, screw cap specimen containers. Tissues for bacteriology should be chilled in transit by icepacks. Formalized tissues are not acceptable for microbiological culture. For viral isolation, freeze tissue, pack in airtight container (CO2 is VIRICIDAL) and transport on dry ice.

Bring samples to the lab no later than 4 PM on the day blood is collected, unless you have separated the serum and refrigerated it. If more than one test is requested, please submit 1 ml of serum for each additional test. Blood samples held too long prior to submission may be unsuitable for testing.

Bangs tubes may be picked up at any of the Animal Health Laboratories. It is best to submit samples early in the week. Try to get at least 5 ml of blood from each animal; obtaining 10 ml is preferable. Keep samples cool; do not freeze unless you have separated the serum from the clot. Usually this is done by personnel at the laboratory. Brucellosis must be submitted with the appropriate form.

Samples should be submitted in sterile vacuum tubes or clear plastic screw cap tubes with no additives. Bring blood to the laboratory immediately. Swine blood in particular hemolyzes rapidly and hemolyzed serum is unsuitable for testing. Submit samples early in the day as we must transfer the serum to other tubes before the red cells hemolyze. Keep samples cool. Use ice packs if needed.

Silicone coated vacuum tubes are preferred. EIA tests must be submitted with the appropriate state or federal form.

Material from the site of the infection may be aspirated by syringe, capped, refrigerated, and transported as soon as possible. Tissue should be 2" cubes refrigerated and transported within 4 hours to the laboratory.

Blood samples must be collected without introducing contaminants from the skin. The blood must be inoculated immediately into a sterile blood culture bottle. Blood culture bottles which require collection by syringe and then inoculation into the bottle may be used.

Please Note: Vacuum tubes designed for hematology or serology are usually not sterile and are not suitable when collecting blood for microbiological examination (Blood culture bottles are designed to neutralize the inhibitory effects of serum immediately and allow the microbes to grow).

Hair/skin scrapings are collected by sterile forceps or scalpel and submitted in clean paper packets or envelopes. (Specimens in closed tubes retain moisture and contaminants overgrow the material.) Skin should be cleansed with alcohol before scraping. Do not refrigerate while transporting. Do not use transport swabs and media designed for bacterial isolation.

EDTA blood tubes for blood counts. Samples should be submitted to the lab as soon as possible. Blood samples held too long may not be suitable for testing.

Two thin blood smears on frosted slides for differential counts should be made prior to adding blood to anticoagulant or no later than 15 minutes after adding blood to EDTA tube and submitted with sample. Slides should have frosted end and be labeled in pencil.

Performed at the Frederick Animal Health Laboratory only. For CEM cultures, please make prior arrangements with the laboratory (301) 600-1548. Strict adherence to federal regulations is required.

Submit from 1/2 to 2 oz. of feces in a sterile, 4 oz. screw-cap container. For bacterial and viral examination, use no preservatives. Cryptosporidium requires 3-5 grams of feces in 15 ml of 10% formalin.
Transport specimen under the following conditions:

(Note: For Campylobacter isolation, specimen must be transported to the lab within 2 - 4 hours max, even when refrigerated).

Collect milk aseptically as soon as possible after mastitis is noticed and before antibiotic treatment begins. Teats must be clean and thoroughly dried.

Points to remember:

• Collect samples as aseptically and as quickly as possible.
• Hold the tube cap while collecting sample. Placing the cap down may increase the risk of contamination.
• Immediately after samples are taken, they should be cooled at refrigerator temperature (5 C; 39-41 F) and cultured within 24 hours. After this time, and/or if samples are kept at ambient temperatures, the samples are useless for diagnostic purposes.
• If it is not possible to deliver samples within 24 hours, the samples can be frozen and kept frozen until delivery to the lab. DMSCC and WMT can not be performed on frozen milk.

(up to 3 isolates) per tissue or swab; antibiotic sensitivity will be run at no extra cost if indicated.

(Listeria, anaerobic, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Candida, etc.) charges per bacterial species requested, per tissue or swab.

 (bacteriologic plates submitted with growth, for identification). Fee is per plate (up to 3 isolates). Animal species of origin must be indicated at the time of submission.

If submitted separately as a bacterial plate fee is assessed per isolate.

Avian Serum: For avian serum to separate well, the tubes should be filled about 1/4 full of blood and immediately placed in a slanted position until the clot is set. Lay the tube on its side with the top edge propped up just enough to keep the blood from running out. Get as much surface area as possible. Leave undisturbed for about 30 minutes. The tube may then be placed in an upright position and serum will continue to separate. Avian serum separates best when kept relatively warm. Wait a few hours before refrigerating unless the day is extremely hot. Never freeze any serum which is to be tested for mycoplasma antibodies.

We can test for Pullorum-typhoid, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Mycoplasma synoviae, and Avian Influenza on serum.

Avian Tissues/Swabs: Samples from tissues and culturette swabs can be tested for common poultry viruses and bacteria at the Salisbury Laboratory . They should be transported overnight in properly chilled conditions. Call the Salisbury lab for sampling and shipping guidelines. Phone: (410) 543-6610.

Training of NPIP Testing Agents: The Animal Health Program offers training of testing agents to perform blood testing of poultry to qualify flocks as National Poultry Improvement Plan participants or for exhibition. For information call NPIP Coordinator at the MDA Animal Health Program Headquarters, (410) 841-5810. 

Testing of Poultry for Pullorum/Fowl Typhoid, and certain other diseases is offered for a fee (see fee schedule) in areas or situations when private testing agents are unavailable. Avian Influenza testing for shows, interstate movement, is offered for free. Call the Duty Veterinarian at the MDA Animal Health Program Headquarters, (410) 841-5810. 

Owners may submit birds for necropsy to the nearest MDA lab. It is recommended that owners call the lab first prior to submitting samples. Salisbury Laboratory, (410) 543-6610 or Frederick Laboratory, (301) 600-1548.

Referrals: The Animal Health laboratories will automatically refer any sample for tests requested but not performed by our laboratories to another laboratories for testing. The destination will vary according to factors such as availability, reliability, cost and turn-around time for results. There will be a packaging and shipping fee. 

We offer complete Clinical Chemistry and Hematology analysis through the MDA Laboratories in partnership with referral labs. 

Some tests are performed at the Animal Health Laboratories; some are referred to other laboratories. Samples shipped to referral labs will be assessed a packaging and shipping fee. Most routine test results are faxed to MDA Laboratory the next day. 

Available chemistry profiles:

• Superchem: Albumin, Alk Phos, ALT, Amylase, AST, BUN, Calcium, Chloride, Cholesterol, CPK, Creatinine, GGT, Globulin, Glucose, Lipase, Magnesium, Osmolality, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Total Bilirubin, Total Protein, Triglyceride.
• Vet Screen: Albumin, Alk Phos, ALT, BUN, Calcium, Chloride, Cholesterol, CPK, Creatinine, Globulin, Glucose, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium, Total Bilirubin, Total Protein.
• Pre Op Screen: albumin, Alk Phos, ALT, BUN, Creatinine, Globulin Glucose, Total Protein
• Mini Screen: ALT, BUN, Glucose, Total Protein.
• Total Body Function: Superchem CBC, T4
• Coagulation Profile 1: CBC, Platelet Count, PT, PTT, Fibrinogen, D-Dimer, Plasma Protein
• Renal Profile: Albumin, BUN, Calcium, Creatinine, Globulin, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium Total Protein, CBC, Urinalysis
• Liver Profile: Alk Phos. ALT, AST, BUN, GGT, Globulin, Glucose, Total Bilirubin, Total Protein, CBC, Pr and Post Bile Acids..
• Electrolyte Profile: Sodium, Potassium, Chloride
• Molecular Genetics: PCR samples should be submitted well refrigerated, but not frozen.
• Equine Neurologic Syndrome: We offer testing for horses exhibiting central neurologic signs in the absence of noninfection cause, or where infectious cause is suspected and cannot be ruled out. Differentals include: Rabies, EHV, WNV, EPM, and EEE. Test kits for for collection and submission of samples of Equine Neurologic Syndrome are available to Veterinarians at the MDA Laboratories and MDA Headquarters at no cost. Call the Frederick Lab (301) 600-1548 prior to collecting samples form a neurologic equine case. Collect nasal swap, red top and purple top blood tubes.
• Urinalysis: Specimens should be submitted in sterile, leak proof containers. Example: screw-cap cup or tube. Catheterization is the preferred method of collection, 10-20 ml per sample. If free catch void urine is submitted, discard initial 15-30 ml to reduce contamination.

Biopsy service: Tissue should be placed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. Ten volumes of formalin are required to adequately fix one volume of tissue. Specimen should consist of the lesion site and surrounding tissue. Do not allow fresh or fixed tissue to freeze.

Full necropsy service, including gross examination of animal carcasses, is available in our lab system. Veterinary diagnosticians and pathologists will perform the gross examination, and collect specimens for additional laboratory tests. The necropsy and disposal fee includes gross and histopathologic examination, most bacterial and viral identification procedures, parasite identification and cremation. Toxicology tests are not included in the necropsy and disposal fee; samples for toxicology are sent to reference labs. Additional fees will be incurred for toxicology tests.

Carcasses intended for necropsy should be kept refrigerated, but not frozen, as freeze/thaw artifacts obscure gross and microscopic lesions. Because of public health concerns, we are not able to return carcasses or parts. Ashes or cremains may not be returned unless approved by the State Veterinarian. If approved, ashes or cremains will be returned for an additional charge. Requests for ashes or cremains must be made in writing on the submission form for approval, and approval may not be granted.​ We do not perform cosmetic necropsies. Please contact our labs for alternate sites that provide disposal only services.

Necropsies of food animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs), horses, llamas, and backyard poultry are done at the Frederick laboratory. Commercial and backyard poultry necropsies are done at Salisbury laboratory; necropsy for other species is limited to specific cases as determined by the laboratory director or State Veterinarian.Animal carcasses, ashes & cremains

Animal carcasses cannot be returned, and ashes or cremains may not be returned unless approved by the State Veterinarian. If approved, ashes or cremains will be returned for an additional charge. Please see the Necropsy Disposal Services Section.

For analysis of fecal samples, please submit fresh, chilled feces (unless otherwise noted) to decrease deterioration and bacterial overgrowth. Samples held for more than 2 day between collection and submission to the lab may be unsuitable for testing.

• Fecal floatation/Ova & Parasite (Quantitative and Qualitative) 
• F.A. exam/Cryptosporidium/Giardia
• Skin Scrapings
• Parasite ID

No charge if only head is submitted for domestic/farm animals. (DO NOT REMOVE HEAD FROM WILD ANIMALS – submit entire carcass). If entire animal is submitted, the disposal fee is based on weight, except for wild animals. If rabies exam is performed as part of a necropsy, the necropsy fee will apply, with no extra charge for rabies testing.

Every rabies sample must be identified with the following information:

• Human exposure: yes or no.
• Name, address and phone number of any person(s) exposed.
• Name, address and phone number of submitter/owner of animal.
• Name, address and phone number of any veterinarian or physician involved, if different from submitter.
• History, vaccination status and clinical signs noted.

All toxicological tests are sent to reference laboratories, which involves additional charges. Please check with the laboratory regarding changes for testing and packaging/shipping fee. Purity of sample is of extreme importance in toxicology.