International and Interstate Testing of Animals for Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Antibodies

Please confirm with the state or country receiving animals as to the test requirements for shipping into that state or country. Many state labs can conduct the virus neutralization and complement fixation tests.

Please check with the laboratory in your state to confirm its test capabilities prior to collecting and shipping serum samples to that laboratory.

Submitting VS serum samples to NVSL

1. Submit clear serum on ice packs.

2. Minimum of 2 ml serum per test requested

3. Testing of samples will be delayed if samples are submitted on the clot and a processing charge may be applied.

Submission procedure for NVSL

1. Contact Area-Veterinarian-in-Charge - the Federal Veterinarian for your state - for permission to submit samples to NVSL. The web site listing AVICs for your state is at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/area_offices.htm 

2. Use VS Form 10-4 to submit samples

a. Internet location to download VS Form 10-4 is: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/nvsl/Forms/VS_Form10-4.pdf 

b. Alternatively, the VS Form 10-4 form can be faxed to you by NVSL or AVIC

c. Include your fax number so that test results can be faxed back to you.

d. Include the date you need the test results.

3. Indicate specific VS test(s) requested

a. Serology tests are:

Test	Cost	Turn-around	Comment
Competitive ELISA (C-ELISA)	$30.00	2 - 3 days	NVSL only
Virus neutralization test	$24.00	5 - 7 days	State vet labs + NVSL
Complement fixation test	$30.00	2 - 3 days	State vet labs + NVSL

• You need to specify which test you want run by NVSL - otherwise NVSL personnel will need to call the submitter. Such phone calls are made only as time permits.
   
• Payment for services must be made in advance unless you have an account already established with USDA:

i. Payment may be in the form of check, money order, or bank draft in U.S. dollars made payable to USDA.

ii. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are acceptable methods of payment. If paying with a credit card, please include the credit card number and expiration date on your submission form.

iii. If you have an account, and would like the services billed to that account, please write your account number on the submission form.

iv.  If you do not have an account, and would like one, please contact the APHIS Business Services in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at 877-777-2128.

v. If you have any questions regarding payment of user fees, contact the National Veterinary Services Laboratories’ User Fee Help Line at 515-663-7571.

4. Indicate test dilution required

a. For the CF and VN indicate the test dilution required for testing. For example, 1:5, or 1:10 for the CF or 1:8, or 1:16 for the VN.

5. For interstate movement, you need to check with the State Veterinarian’s Office of the destination state.

6. For international movement, you need to check the test and dilution of the destination country. Destination countries do not always accept our standard dilutions. You can check the requirements at the National Center for Import/Export’s website : http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/import_export.htm  Click on Export Animals Regulations. Or contact your AVIC.

Requests for results

1. The primary method for reporting results is a printed report via mail.

2. The report can be faxed to you if you provide your fax number with the submission.

3. The length of time for completion of the testing depends upon the number of tests performed and when sample(s) arrive. Every effort is being made to test samples as quickly as possible. The following are general guidelines from time of receipt of samples until results are reported. Keep in mind that testing may take longer if samples arrive on a Friday or just before a holiday. Foreign animal disease investigation testing takes priority over animal movement testing.

a. CELISA: 2-3 days

b. CF: 2-3 days

c. VN: 5-7 days (generally set up on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays)

4. Results are reported as soon as completed. The results are reported only to the submitter and to the AVIC of the submitter’s and the animal’s location state(s). Results are not reported to the animal owner.

5. The NVSL laboratory section is very busy testing large numbers of samples and processing results for reporting. Requests for results by telephone can not be accommodated as this delays the testing and reporting of everyone’s results. A helpful website for horses going to Kentucky is: http://www.kyagr.com/state_vet/ah/index.htm

April 22, 2005

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