One or more of the following: 0.50 mL EDTA whole blood or heparinized blood, 5 g fresh liver, 50 mg fresh liver biopsy (at least 3 Tru-Cut samples, no fluid added), 500 g feed, 5 mL water.
For birds, 0.30 mL EDTA whole blood is adequate.
If both zinc and lead are requested, the minimum sample is 0.60 mL EDTA whole blood or heparinized blood.
For bovine, 5 g kidney is required.
Turnaround time is 1-3 days for serum/blood samples; 2-5 days for tissue or feed samples.
Sampling Requirements
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.
Collection Container
Tissue or feed: sealed, leak-proof plastic bag or container. A $10 sample preparation fee will be added to tissue and feed specimens.
Blood: EDTA (purple top) or heparinized (green top) tube. If zinc toxicity is suspected, use a plastic tube or royal blue top trace mineral tubes. If vitamin testing is also desired, wrap tubes in foil or other light-protective material.
Water: glass or plastic tube.
Packing Instructions
Label all samples. Ship overnight on cold packs.
Special Instructions
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 3 days. Tissue and feed samples are tested on Mondays and Thursdays with a turnaround time of 5 days.
