Cobalt (ICP/MS)

One or more of the following: 

• 1 mL serum or plasma
• 5 g fresh liver
• 50 mg fresh liver biopsy (at least 3 Tru-Cut samples, no fluid added)
• 500 g feed

For birds, 0.3 mL serum or plasma is adequate.

Blood, serum, and urine samples are tested on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays with a turnaround time of 5 days. Tissue and feed samples are tested on Mondays and Thursdays with a turnaround time of 7 days.

Do not submit tissues in formalin or saline. For feedstuff, submit a representative sample of the entire ration. Do not centrifuge EDTA whole blood samples. Serum and plasma samples should be centrifuged and removed from the clot.

Tissue or feed: sealed, leak-proof plastic bag or container. A $10.75 sample preparation fee will be added to tissue and feed specimens.

Serum or plasma: glass or plastic tube with no anticoagulant additives. If zinc toxicity is suspected, use a plastic tube or royal blue top trace mineral tube. If vitamin testing is also desired, wrap tubes in foil or other light-protective material.

Label all samples. Ship overnight on cold packs.

Samples must be received in the testing lab / location by 3:30 p.m., otherwise samples will be held until the next scheduled test day. The time required to complete testing of 5 or more feed/tissue samples and 10 or more whole blood samples may take longer than the posted turnaround time. Samples will be processed as quickly as possible. Blood, serum, and urine samples are tested on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays with a turnaround time of 5 days. Tissue and feed samples are tested on Mondays and Thursdays with a turnaround time of 7 days.