College of Veterinary Medicine

Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab

• Search WADDL
• Search Vet Med
• Contact Us

• Vet Med Home
• Diagnostic Lab
• About WADDL
• User Guide
• Sample Submission
• Abortion Diagnosis
• Aquatic Health
• Bacteriology
• Histopathology
• ImmunoDX/Serology
• Immunohistochemistry
• Molecular Diagnostics
• Mycology
• Parasitology
• Toxicology
• Virology
• Fees
• Forms
• Avian Lab-Puyallup
• Diagnostic Updates
• Maps
• Faculty &  Staff
• Diagnostic Reports
• Ag Animal Health
• Vet Med Overview
• PreVet
• Graduate Studies
• Research
• Hospital
• Service Units
• People

Toxicology

TOXICOLOGY SAMPLES SHOULD BE SUBMITTED THROUGH WADDL

General Toxicologic Consideration

Chemical analyses can establish the exposure of animals to excessive amounts of toxic substances. Many analytical procedures can be performed if the problem warrants the investment of time and the client is willing to pay for the procedure. Always request a specific analysis or consult with a clinical toxicologist as to appropriate tests. Although it is possible to screen samples for certain groups of chemicals, it is not feasible to analyze for "everything" or "check for poisons".

The following guidelines will be helpful in identifying toxic substances:

1. Give an accurate history on the day-to-day conditions surrounding the illness. All details are significant and should include: morbidity and mortality, clinical signs, time the animal was last observed before death and its condition at that time, detailed necropsy findings and treatments. The presence of any poisons or potential toxins on the premises, the possibility of exposure, length of time animals have been on present feed or water and any changes in feed or water should be noted.
2. Collect samples carefully. All samples should be clean and individually packaged. Each sample should be clearly labeled.
3. Samples should be shipped refrigerated or frozen.
4. Samples with legal implications should be sealed and tagged carefully in the presence of a second person. The laboratory should be notified regarding all potential legal cases.
5. Sample selection is very important. In the list following preferred samples are under-lined in black.
6. Minimum sample size is listed per test. MORE IS BETTER
7. A toxicologist is available for consultation if necessary: (509)335-9696, (208)885-6109, or (Cell phone) (208)301-4027

Fees for clients outside WA & ID (out of area) are double the fees within WA & ID except where designated.

Other types of toxicologic analyses (soil, water, plant) may be available. Contact the Analytical Sciences Laboratory.

 Last Revision June 2006

Test Specimen(s)1		Minimum Sample Size 2	Preservation	Fees		Approximate Turnaround (working days) 3
Acetylcholinesterase
Blood (EDTA, heparin)serum, plasma		0.1-0.5 ml	Chill	$20	$40	3-5 days
Brain		Complete hemisphere	Chill	$20	$40	3-5 days
Aflatoxin (see also Mycotoxin screen)
Feed		250 g	Chill	$20	$40	5-7 days
Ammonia (Nonprotein nitrogen poisoning - urea) All samples need to be collected within 30 min of death
Blood (EDTA, heparin), serum , plasma, ocular fluid		5 ml	Freeze	$12	$24	5-7 days
Rumen/abomasal contents		10 ml	Freeze	$12	$24	5-7 days
Anticoagulant Rodenticide Screen* (brodifacoum, bromadiolone, chlorophacinone, coumachlor, coumafuryl, diphacinone, difethialone, pindone, valone, warfarin, difenacoum)
Blood (EDTA, heparin)		1-5 ml	Chill	Send out call for prices
Liver , bait, stomach contents		20 g	Chill
Arsenic
Blood (EDTA, heparin), urine : acute		1 ml	Chill	$21	$42	5-7 days
Gi contents, source		1 g	Chill/Freeze	$21	$42	5-7 days
Liver , kidney (renal cortex preferred): chronic (SEE Tissue Heavy Metal Screen)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Liver, kidney (SEE Tissue HMS ICP-MS)
Brodifacoum (SEE Anticoagulant Rodenticide Screen)
Bromadiolone (SEE Anticoagulant Rodenticide Screen)
Cadmium
Blood (EDTA, heparin), urine : acute		1 ml	Chill	$21	$42	5-7 days
Liver , kidney (renal cortex preferred): chronic (SEE Tissue Heavy Metal Screen)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue HMS ICP-MS)
Caffeine
Stomach contents , urine , serum		10 ml	Chill/Freeze	$20	$40	5-7 days
Calcium
Serum , plasma, ocular fluid/intact eye (separated from clot prior to shipping) (SEE Trace Element Screen)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Carbamate Pesticide Screen
Liver, kidney, gi contents , vomitus , lavage washings		10 g	Chill/Freeze	$75	$150	7-10 days
Chlorophacinone (SEE Anticoagulant Rodenticide Screen)
Chromium Liver, kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro) or (SEE Tissue HMS ICP-MS)
Cobalt
Blood (EDTA, heparin)		1 ml	Chill	$15	$30	5-7 days
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue HMS ICP-MS)
Copper
Serum, plasma (separated from clot prior to shipping) (SEE Trace Element Screen)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Heavy Metal Screen)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue HMS ICP-MS)
Coumachlor (SEE Anticoagulant Rodenticide Screen)
Coumafuryl (SEE Anticoagulant Rodenticide Screen)
Cyanide (qualitative only)
Feed		Representative sample (100 g)	Freeze	$10	$20	3-5 days
2,4-D
Serum, urine		10 ml	Chill/Freeze	$50	$100	5-7 days
Deoxynivalenol (Vomitoxin, DON) (SEE Mycotoxin screen)
Difenacoum (SEE Anticoagulant Rodenticide Screen)
Difethialone (SEE Anticoagulant Rodenticide Screen)
Diphacinone (SEE Anticoagulant Rodenticide Screen)
Ethylene glycol (by gas chromatography)
Serum		5 ml	Chill/Freeze	$40	$80	7-10 days
Urine		10 ml	Chill/Freeze	$40	$80	7-10 days
Source material		50 g	Chill/Freeze	$40	$80	7-10 days
Fluoride
Water		50 ml		$16	$20	7-10 days
Glutathione peroxidase (must be run within 7 days of collection)
Blood (EDTA, heparin)		0.1-0.5 ml	Chill	$20	$40	1-3 days
Gossypol*	Feed	500 g	Chill	Send out - call		7-10 days
Ionophore Screen (monensin, narasin, lasalocid, salinomycin)
Feed, Source, GI contents, bile		50 g	Chill/Freeze	$40	$80	5-7 days
Iron
Serum , plasma (separated from clot prior to shipping) (SEE Trace Element Screen)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Heavy Metal Screen)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Lasalocid (SEE Ionophore Screen)
Lead
Blood (EDTA, heparin), urine		0.050-0.5 ml (requires only 50 ul so #1 50 ul hemotocrit tubes will suffice in avians)	Chill	$25	$50	1-3 days
Liver , kidney (cortex preferred) , gi contents (SEE Tissue Heavy Metal Screen)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue HMS ICP-MS)
Magnesium
Serum , plasma, ocular fluid/intact eye , CSF (separated from clot prior to shipping) (SEE Trace Element Screen)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Manganese
Blood (EDTA, heparin)		1 ml	Chill	$21	$42	5-7 days
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Heavy Metal Screen)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue HMS ICP-MS)
Mercury
Blood (EDTA, heparin) urine		1 ml	Chill	$21.50	$43	5-7 days
Liver , kidney (cortex preferred), gi contents		1 g	Chill/Freeze	$21.50	$43	5-7 days
Metaldehyde
Stomach contents , Source		10 g	Freeze	$40	$80	5-7 days
Serum, urine (DIFFICULT)		5-10 ml	Freeze	$40	$80	5-7 days
Molybdenum
Plasma (EDTA, heparin)		1 ml	Chill	$21	$42	5-7 days
Liver , kidney, gi contents (SEE Tissue Heavy Metal Screen)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue HMS ICP-MS)
Monensin (SEE Ionophore Screen)
Mycotoxin Screen* (aflatoxin, vomitoxin, ochratoxin, zearalenone)
Feed		500 g		Send out - call
Narasin (See Ionophore Screen)
Nitrate
Serum , plasma, ocular fluid/intact eye , abomasal contents (collected within 30 min. of death)		5 ml	Freeze	$12	$15	5-7 days
Soil		30 g		$12	$15	5-7 days
Water		30 ml	Freeze	$12	$15	5-7 days
Feed		5 g		$12	$18 (add $4 for drying and grinding)	5-7 days
Ochratoxin-A (see mycotoxin screen)
Organochlorine Pesticide Screen
Liver, kidney, fat		10 g	Chill/Freeze	$75	$150	7-10 days
GI contents , Source		50 g	Chill/Freeze	$75	$150	7-10 days
Organophosphate Pesticide Screen
Liver, kidney		10 g	Chill/Freeze	$75	$150	7-10 days
GI contents , Source		50 g	Chill/Freeze	$75	$150	7-10 days
Penitrem A (SEE Tremorgenic Mycotoxins)
pH
GI contents		50 g	Freeze	$8	$16	3-5 days
Urine, serum		2 ml	Chill/Freeze	$8	$16	3-5 days
Water, Source		100 ml	Chill	$8	$16	3-5 days
Phosphorus
Serum , plasma (separated from clot prior to shipping) (SEE Trace Element Screen)		1 ml	Chill	$12	$21	5-7 days
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Pindone (SEE Anticoagulant Rodenticide Screen)
Plant identification
Entire plant			wrap in dry paper towel; place in paper bag	$7.50	$7.50	2-4 days
GI contents			Chill			5-7 days
Potassium
Serum , plasma, CSF (separated from clot prior to shipping)		1 ml	Chill	$12	$21	5-7 days
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Roquefortine (SEE Tremorgenic Mycotoxins)
Salinomycin (SEE Ionophore Screen)
Selenium
Blood (EDTA or heparin ), serum, plasma		1 ml	Chill	$13	$21	5-7 days
Liver , kidney		1 g	Chill/Freeze	$13	$21	5-7 days
Hair		1 g		$13	$21	5-7 days
Sodium
Serum , plasma, CSF (separated from clot prior to shipping)		1 ml	Chill	$12	$21	5-7 days
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Strychnine
GI contents , source		10 g	Chill/Freeze	$20	$40	1-3 days
Serum, urine		2 ml / 10 ml	Chill/Freeze	$20	$40	1-3 days
Liver		25 g	Chill/Freeze	$20	$40	3-5 days
Sulfur Liver, kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Theobromine
Stomach contents , urine		20 ml	Chill/Freeze	$20	$40	5-7 days
Tremorgenic Mycotoxins* (penitrem A, roquefortine)
Stomach contents , bile, urine, liver		20 ml	Chill/Freeze	Send out - call
Urea
Feed , Source, GI contents		50 g	Chill/Freeze	$20	$40	3-5 days
Valone (SEE Anticoagulant Rodenticide Screen)
Vitamin E
Serum , plasma (must be separated from clot prior to shipping - no hemolysis; protected from light)		1 ml	Freeze	$15	$30	3-5 days
Liver *		2 g	Chill/Freeze	Send out - call		7-10 days
Warfarin (SEE Anticoagulant Rodenticide Screen)
Zearalenone (see Mycotoxin screen)
Zinc
Serum , plasma (SEE Trace Element Screen)		1 ml (0.2 ml minimum for small psittacine patients)	Chill	$12	$21	5-7 days
Liver , kidney , pancreas (SEE Tissue Heavy Metal Screen)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue Macro/Micro)
Liver , kidney (SEE Tissue HMS ICP-MS)
Zinc phosphide
GI contents , Source (airtight container required- toxin is volatile)		50g	Freeze	$50	$100	5-7 days
Other Screens
Serum Trace Element Screen (calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc)
Serum , plasma (must be separated from clot prior to shipping) (lysis of RBCs may affect iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc levels)		1 ml	Chill	$12	$21	5-7 days
Tissue Heavy Metal Screen (copper, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, iron, lead, cadmium, arsenic)
Liver , kidney		1 g	Chill/Freeze	$15	$30	5-7 days
Tissue Macro/Micro Elemental Analysis (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, aluminum, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, barium, lead, zinc, arsenic)
Liver , kidney		1 g	Chill/Freeze	$30	$60	5-7 days
Tissue HMS by ICP-MS (vanadium, chromium, manganese, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, cadmium, barium, lead)
Liver, kidney Any single element		1 g	Chill, Freeze	$60.50 $21	$121 $42	5-7 days
GC-MS Organic Tox Screen (call lab before requesting please)
GI contents , Source, Urine , Liver, Kidney		25 g	Chill/Freeze	$50	$100	5-7 days

1 Preferred tissue underlined in black
2 The lab can accommodate smaller sample volumes. Please call. MORE IS BETTER
3 Some analyses can be run STAT. Please call in advance

 * indicates sendout

$4 fee for drying/grinding any sample


Last Edited: May 04, 2007 5:09 PM

Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Lab. PO Box 647034 , Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-7010, 509-335-9696, Contact Us  Safety Links