Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

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Starting April 29, the USDA requires lactating dairy cows to be tested for HPAI prior to movement.
View TVMDL’s guidelines to mitigate potential delays when submitting dairy samples for movement testing.

Best practices for submitting samples for brucellosis testing

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Each year, the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL) performs thousands of tests for brucellosis. To ensure samples are accessioned and tested quickly and accurately, TVMDL recommends the following best practices.
Submission Forms
  • Use the correct submission forms
    • Include the appropriate regulatory testing form and TVMDL Submission Form.
    • Regulatory testing forms and TVMDL Submission Forms can be downloaded from the Find a Form page on the TVMDL website.
  • Submit accurate forms
    • Forms should be double checked for accuracy and signed prior to submitting to TVMDL.
    • Ensure all requested tests are listed on the TVMDL Submission Form. For example, if a client would like to request pseudorabies testing in addition to brucellosis testing, the pseudorabies test or test code must be listed on the submission form in addition to the brucellosis test.
    • USDA forms with “cattle” in the header may be used for swine. However, clients must mark out “cattle” and write “swine” to ensure the correct taxon/breed is indicated.
Shipping Samples
  • Organize identifying information
    • Ensure the numbering convention and animal IDs are accurately listed on the submission forms.
      hand in blue glove holding blood tube

      Example of a tube labeled in black marker. There is not enough contrast between the black ink and the blood to make the text readable.

    • For large submissions, TVMDL strongly encourages clients to use a continuation page or an electronically generated ID list. This method allows TVMDL to ensure each tube listed on submission forms is tested and that results are organized.
    • When labeling tubes, use a white label. Do not write on each tube with black marker.
  • Submit quality samples
    • Do not overfill tubes or use tubes that are broken or leaking.
    • Make sure tubes are properly closed.
    • To maintain sample quality and testability, ship samples to TVMDL as soon as possible.

For more information about submitting samples for regulatory testing to TVMDL, visit tvmdl.tamu.edu or call the agency’s College Station laboratory at 1.888.646.5623.