General Laboratory Policies

  • Accession Fee - All submissions except those for State/Federal Surveillance will be assessed an accession fee of $8.00.
  • STAT - Requests include additional charges and are not available for all tests.
  • Fees and test results - Laboratory services will be billed to the client submitting the samples, no third party billing. Test results are made available to the submitting client. Fees are subject to change without notice.
  • Mailed specimens - The sender is responsible for postage or courier costs for packages sent to the OVDL. Adherence to mailing and shipping regulations is the responsibility of the sender. Samples arriving to the OSU OVDL that are not properly packaged may incur an additional handling fee or may not be processed.
  • Necropsy - Animals submitted for post mortem are released to licensed cremation companies only. Arrangements should be made directly with the crematory service by the owner/submitter.
  • Referral tests - Specimens forwarded to other laboratories will be charged the current shipping fee provided by the carrier. 
  • Turn around times - These refer to business days only. Turn around times are average or minimum days required for test completion.
  • Circumstances may necessitate our use of diagnostic testing services provided by other accredited or recognized laboratories. Please call the Business Office at 541-737-3261 with questions regarding fees, tests and policies.

Diagnostic Specimen Collection Protocols

Sample submission using appropriate containers is an important component of providing accurate and reliable results to our clients, as well as assuring safe handling for you and our staff. After collection, samples are to be placed in leak proof containers (please refer to Shipping Protocols - Packing Guidelines for examples of acceptable containers). Samples submitted in syringes, latex gloves, OB sleeves, or containers without sealable lids may not be processed or tested. 

*NEW* Beginning July 1, 2019 an additional biohazard charge will be applied to any specimen requiring extra processing due to improper packaging. Please visit the available tests tab for specific sample collection protocol

Specimen Transport Media

Proper selection of specimen transport media is essential for the isolation or detection of bacteria and viruses from respiratory swabs.  While bacterial isolation using standard culturette swabs containing Amies gel as a transport media is appropriate, the Amies gel is inhibitory for PCR and virus isolation techniques.  Likewise wooden stick swabs leach inhibitory compounds into transport media rendering virus isolation and detection techniques ineffective.  The following are recommendations for submission of swabs to the Oregon State University Veterinary Diagnostic Lab.

Bacteriology:  Standard culturette swabs are appropriate for bacterial culture.

Virology and PCR:  Use a standard or flocked polyester tipped swab (flocked type are superior) with plastic stick to sample the mucus membranes. Rub membranes well in order to dislodge virus-infected cells.   Swabs should then be broken into a tube containing no more than one ml of transport medium ( e.g. BD Universal Viral Transport Media, Copan Universal Transport Media, Puritan UTM-RT).  If commercial transport media is not available, use a buffered saline solution, a bacteriological broth or a Virus Transport Media obtained from the OVDL. 

PCR only: Place swab into a dry sterile tube  (e.g. red top vacutainer-no separator gel) with a few drops of saline and ship refrigerated, overnight.  If virology might be requested following the PCR testing, please submit the sample in universal transport media rather than saline.

Examples of Universal Transport Media for Virology and Molecular testing:

Puritan  Medical Products UTM-RT Transport Systems # Puritan UT-116
Copan Universal Virus Collection  # 361C
BD™ Universal Viral Transport System (UVT)   # 220526

Shipping Information

Local Courier Service - We are pleased to provide complimentary pick up and delivery of diagnostic specimens from veterinary practices in the Corvallis-Albany-Lebanon-Philomath area.  Please call City Delivery at 1-800-759-6602 or 541-926-7300 to schedule a pickup.  For more information, please contact the lab at 541-737-3261

Packaging and shipping of clinical and diagnostic specimens is regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the International Air and Transportation Association (IATA). These regulations are changed on a regular basis and should be consulted frequently.

Shipping Protocols

Ship To Us:

Oregon Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
134 Magruder Hall
Corvallis OR 97331-4801