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.
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.
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.
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.