Veterinary - Specimen Submittal and Forms

Tab/Accordion Items

General guidelines

Specimens and animals for necropsy are accepted from both veterinarians and owners.
Specimens submitted to our laboratories, including carcasses, tissues and any isolated agents, become the property of the NCVDLS.
Please consult the Lab User Guide for the specimen type that is necessary for each laboratory test.
For any client questions such as appropriate specimen selection or interpretation of test results, the NCVDLS professional veterinary and supervisory staff is available for your assistance.
Specimens must be accompanied by an appropriate submission form. A complete history should also accompany all submissions and include the address and telephone of the client, as well as the age, breed and sex of the animal. Specimens should be clearly labeled. Contaminated, decomposed, or inappropriate specimens will not be processed.
To maximize the reliability of any diagnostic test findings, the method of specimen shipment should be an overnight service, if at all possible.
The use of the United States Postal Service (USPS) to transport specimens is discouraged because, as a general rule, mail is not delivered directly to our facilities. Also, regular mail delivery can be much slower and cannot be tracked.
To combat rising prices, we offer a discounted shipping rate through Federal Express. For questions contact the Rollins Laboratory at 919.733.3986 or NCVDL@ncagr.gov.
Please note that the NCVDLS does not perform rabies testing. In North Carolina, this service is provided by the State Laboratory of Public Health. Fresh brain tissue is the required specimen. Unopened heads or fresh brain should be cooled, packed in a leak-proof insulated container with ice packs and sent to the address below for rabies testing:

State Laboratory of Public Health
4312 District Drive
Raleigh, N.C. 27611
(919) 733-7544 (7:30 am - 5:00 pm weekdays)
(919) 733-3419 (nights, weekends, holidays)

NOTE: It is against USPS regulations to send this type of specimen through the mail. If histopathology, culture or other procedures are needed in addition to rabies testing, please send the specimen to Rollins Laboratory first, and we will transfer it to the rabies laboratory.

Submission Form Guidelines
Please refer to these guidelines before submitting samples to the laboratory

Avian/Poultry Submissions
All types of avian submissions

Surgical Biopsy and Cytology Submissions
Formalin Fixed Surgical Biopsy samples
Aspirate fluids for cytology
Smear slides

Slide Referral Request
All other specimen/samples

General Submissions
All other specimen/samples
Once the forms are completed, enclose with specimens being sent to the laboratory for testing. If animals will be driven to the laboratory for examination by individuals other than the veterinarian or his staff, you may fax the forms directly to the laboratory with all needed information for a successful necropsy investigation.

Miscellaneous Forms

Bar Code Labels Order
Submission Forms Order
Veterinary Information Update
NCVDLS Release of Liability and Confidentiality Form
Brucella Test Record Form
Pseudorabies (PRV) Test Record Form

You may e-mail, mail or fax the miscellaneous forms directly to the Laboratory.