College of Veterinary Medicine

Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab

Immunodiagnostics / Serology


  
General Information And Guidelines

The Immunodiagnostics Section of WADDL tests for various infectious diseases indirectly by identifying host antibodies in blood serum or body fluids (serology), or directly by identifying infectious agent proteins (antigens) in host tissues, blood serum, or body fluids.

The table below contains a complete list of tests and information for sample submission such as specimen type, test type, turnaround time, and days of the week the tests are run.  

Bovine/Llama/Alpaca   Canine   Equine    Feline  Ovine/Caprine     Porcine     Antigen Detection

Some general tips for submitting samples

  1. In most infections, 10-14 days are required for the development of demonstrable antibodies. If a blood sample is drawn during the acute phase of a disease, a second sample should be drawn 10-14 days later. If testing for export, subclinical carriers, pre-sale, pre-breeding examination, clinically normal animals, etc, contact the laboratory for the best samples to collect.
  2. Do not submit blood samples in syringes (especially with needles attached).
  3. Collect blood samples in clean sterile tubes (Vacutainer tubes). Fill tubes 3/4 full and allow to stand at room temperature for a few hours to permit a solid clot to form and retract. Submission of blood samples in the original blood tube is preferred, unless there is the possibility of freezing. If blood may freeze in transit, the serum should be removed, placed in a separate tube, then shipped.
  4. Red-topped or red and gray serum separator tubes are recommended for serological tests. EDTA (purple top tubes) are used for PCR testing and viral isolation.
  5. Many serological procedures require using live tissue cultures. Hemolyzed, contaminated or toxic samples cannot be used. SERUM SAMPLES IN THE CONVENTIONAL BANGS TUBES ARE TOXIC. SAMPLES RECEIVED IN BANGS TUBES WILL NOT BE PROCESSED.
  6. Identify each sample individually. Identification should be on the vial and NOT on the stopper.
  7. For more than 10-20 animals, please use the Multiple Animal ID form and attach it to the Accession form (do not fill out an accession form for each animal).  Please number sample tubes to match numbers from Multiple Animal ID form.
  8. Ice packs are not required for overnight shipment in cool weather. Double bag all samples with absorbent material around tubes to contain leaks.
  9. All regulatory charts must include complete animal identification.

Antibody Detection (Serology)

Test Fees Specimen Test Type Turnaround Days  Performed Comments
Bovine/Llama/Alpaca            RTT = Red top tube, SST = Serum separator tube
Anaplasma marginale fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum cELISA  1-5 days As needed  
Bluetongue virus (BT) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum ELISA 2-7 days As needed  
Bovine Leukemia Virus (BLV)
fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum ELISA 1-8 days Wed.  
Bovine Virus Diarrhea Virus (BVD) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN 5-12 days Thurs.  
Brucella abortus
fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum Various 1-8 days Wed. Official test requires signed form
Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)
fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN 5-12 days Thurs.  
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (Johne's disease)
fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum ELISA 1-8 days Wed.  
Leptospira spp. (six serovars, see footnote)
fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum MAT 1-8 days Wed.  
Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF)
fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum cELISA 1-8 days Mon.  
Neospora caninum
fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum cELISA 1-8 days Mon.  
Parainfluenza -3 virus (PI-3)
fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN 6-14 days Thurs.  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV)
fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN 6-14 days Thurs.  
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV)
fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN 5-12 days Thurs.  
Abortion Dx Screen (IBR, BVD, Brucella, Leptospira, Neospora)
fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum Various 6-14 days VN Thurs, Lepto Wed.  
Respiratory Dx Screen (IBR, BVD, PI-3, BRSV)
fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN 6-12 days Thurs.  
Biosecurity Screen (BVD Ag, Johne's, BLV, Neospora (dairy), Anaplasma (beef)
 fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum Various See individual tests See individual tests  

Test

Fees

 Specimen Test Type

Turnaround

 Days  Performed Comments
Canine                                  RTT = Red top tube, SST = Serum separator tube
Adenovirus (CAV-1, 2) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum, 1mL CSF VN 8 working days Fri.  
Canine Distemper Virus (CDV IgM & IgG) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum, 1mL CSF  IFA 6 working days Wed. All canids
Canine Distemper Virus (CDV IgG only) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum, 1mL CSF  IFA 6 working days Wed. All canids
Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum, 1mL CSF  VN 6 working days Fri. All non-canids
Canine Coronavirus (CCV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum, 1mL CSF  IFA 6 working days Wed.  
Canine Herpesvirus (CHV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum, 1mL CSF  VN 6 working days Fri.  
Neospora caninum fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum, 1mL CSF  IFA 6 working days Wed.  
Canine Parvovirus (CPV IgM & IgG) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum, 1mL CSF  IFA 6 working days Wed.  
Canine Parvovirus (CPV IgG only) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum, 1mL CSF  IFA 6 working days Wed.  
Canine parainfluenza virus (CPI) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum, 1mL CSF  VN 8 working days Fri.  
Canine neurologic profile (CDV, Neospora, CPI, CHV, CAV, CPV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum, 1mL CSF  Various 8 working days IFA on Wed., VN on Fri.  
Canine immune assessment profile (CDV IgG, CPV IgG) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum, 1mL CSF  IFA 6 working days Wed.  
Toxoplasma gondii fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum IHA 1-5 days As needed  
Leptospira spp. (seven serovars, see footnote) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum MAT 1-8 days Wed.  
Brucella canis fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum Slide Aggl. 1 day On arrival  

Test

Fees

 Specimen Test Type

Turnaround

 Days  Performed Comments
Equine                                                       RTT = Red top tube, SST = Serum separator tube
Equine Arteritis Virus (EVA) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN 5-12 days Thurs.  
Equine Infectious Anemia Virus (EIAV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum AGID or ELISA 1-2 days On arrival Official test requires signed form
Equine Herpesvirus-1, 4 (Rhinopneumonitis) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN 5-12 days Thurs.  
Equine Herpesvirus 3 (Coital Exanthema) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN 5-12 days Thurs.  
Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) NJ & Ind. Strains. fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN 5-12 days Thurs.  
Equine Influenza Virus (EIV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum C'F 1-8 days As needed  
Leptospira spp. (six serovars, see footnote) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum MAT 1-8 days Wed.  
West Nile Virus (WNV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum IgM capture ELISA 2-6 days Mon./Thurs.  
Abortion Dx Screen (EHV-1, EVA, Leptospirosis) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum Various 5-12 days Wed./Thurs.  
Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (Pigeon Fever) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum SHI 2-7 days Wed./Thurs.  
Respiratory Dx Screen (EHV-1, EIV, EVA)
 fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum
 VN & C'F 5-12 days Thurs.  

Test

Fees

 Specimen Test Type

Turnaround

 Days  Performed Comments
Feline                                             RTT = Red top tube, SST = Serum separator tube
Feline Infectious Peritonitis/Enteric Coronavirus (FIP/FECV) fee schedule 1mL serum or thoracic fluid or peritoneal fluid or abdominal fluid IFA 6 working days Wed.  
Feline Calicivirus (FCV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN 6 working days Fri.  
Feline Herpesvirus (FHV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN 6 working days Fri.  
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum ELISA 2 working days As needed  
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum ELISA 2 working days As needed FIV & FeLV run as combo
Feline Panleukopenia Virus (FPL) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum IFA 6 working days Wed.  
Toxoplasma gondii fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum IHA 1-5 days As needed  
Feline immune assessment profile (FPL IgG, FHV, FCV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum Various 6 working days IFA on Wed., VN on Fri.  

Test

Fees

 Specimen Test Type

Turnaround

 Days  Performed Comments
Ovine/Caprine                                    RTT = Red top tube, SST = Serum separator tube
Bluetongue virus (BT) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum cELISA 2-7 days As needed  
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum AGID 2-7 days As needed  
Border Disease Virus (BD/BVD) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN 5-12 days Thurs.  
Leptospira spp. (six serovars, see footnote) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum MAT 1-8 days Wed.  
Brucella ovis fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum ELISA 1-7 days As needed  
Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (Caseous lymphadenitis) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum SHI 2-7 days Wed./Thurs.  
Ovine Progressive Pneumonia Virus (OPP) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum cELISA 1-8 days Thurs.  
Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis Virus (CAE) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum cELISA 1-8 days Thurs.  
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (Johne's disease, small ruminant) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum ELISA 1-8 days Thurs.  
Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum IHA 1-8 days As needed  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN 6-12 days Thurs.  
Toxoplasma gondii fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum IHA 1-5 days As needed  
Abortion Dx Screen (BT, Toxoplasmosis, BD/BVD, Chlamydia**, Brucellosis, Leptospirosis) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum Various 5-12 days As needed Chlamydia is sent off
Respiratory Dx Screen (RSV, IBR, BD/BVD, PI-3, OPP, CAE) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN & cELISA 5-12 days As needed  
Biosecurity Screen (CAE/OPP, Johne's, Brucella, CL) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum VN & cELISA See individual tests See individual tests  

Test

Fees

 Specimen Test Type

Turnaround

 Days  Performed Comments
Porcine                                 RTT = Red top tube, SST = Serum separator tube  
Brucella abortus* fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum Card Aggl. Test 1-8 days Wed.  
Leptospira spp. (six serovars, see footnote) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum MAT 1-8 days Wed.  
Porcine Parvovirus (PPV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum HAI 1-7 days As needed  
Pseudorabies Virus (PRV) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum Latex Aggl./ VN 1-7 days As needed  
Abortion Dx Screen (PRRS, PRV, PPV, Brucellosis, Leptospirosis) fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL serum See individual tests See individual tests See individual tests  

* Accession fee $10 per case

Contact Lab for large volume testing

Tests not routinely conducted at WADDL may be referred to another laboratory for testing. Please contact the laboratory for assistance.

Please contact the lab for tests not listed for potential sendoff to another laboratory.

Lepto serovars include L. bratislava, L. canicola, L. grippotyphosa, L. hardjo, L. icterohaemorrhagiae, and L. pomona. L. autumnalis is added for K9's.

RTT = Red top tube, SST = Serum separator tube

Antigen Detection (Infectious agent)

  

Test

Fees

 Specimen Test Type

Turnaround

 Days  Performed Comments
Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)* fee schedule Fresh brain ELISA Same day M-S Official USDA Testing Only
Bovine Virus Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) Persistent Infection (PI) test, antigen ELISA fee schedule 1 ml serum, ear notch (dry) ELISA 1-8 days Mon. Detects BVDV PI (Cattle only)
CDV antigen IFA fee schedule EDTA, 2mL Direct FA 2 working days As needed
Chlamydiophila spp. Ag. ELISA fee schedule Swab, tissue pool ELISA 6 working days Mon.
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)* fee schedule
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) Ag. ELISA fee schedule RTT or SST, or 1mL ser. ELISA 2 working days As needed
Respiratory Syncytia Virus (RSV) Ag. ELISA fee schedule Nasopharyn-geal swab, wash, or aspirate ELISA 6 working days Mon.
Rotavirus Ag. ELISA fee schedule 1 gm. Feces ELISA 6 working days Mon.

Contact Lab for large volume testing

* All BSE, CWD, and scrapie positive results are sent to federal regulatory officials, and forwarded to USDA/APHIS for confirmation

Please contact the lab for tests not listed for potential sendoff to another laboratory

Recommend 1 mL of serum for testing unless noted otherwise

ELISA = Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
VN = Virus Neutralization
HAI = Hemagglutination inhibition
MAT = Microtiter agglutination test
cELISA = Competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay
PHA = Passive hemagglutination assay
SHI = Synergistic hemolysis inhibition
IFA = Indirect fluorescent antibody
FA = Direct fluorescent antibody
CF = Complement fixation
AGID = Agar gel immunodiffusion

RTT = Red top tube, SST = Serum separator tube

Last Edited: Apr 15, 2008 10:48 AM

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