Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System
PADLS User Guide - Contents Tests Mammalian Serology
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9.7 Mammalian Serology

Properly performed serology requires appropriate amounts of uncontaminated serum. Sample collection technique and timely submission significantly impact the quality of the laboratory results. The following outline is provided to assist in the submission of samples for optimal results. Check individual tests under "remarks" for special handling requirements.

Aseptically collect adequate amounts of blood for the number of tests requested.
Collect blood in a clean, tightly sealed, leakproof tube or container (red top tube or marble topped serum separator tube).
Leave tubes in a horizontal position for several hours at ambient room temperature (not below freezing).
Submit samples as soon as possible. Leave the tubes in an upright position at room temperature or in a refrigerator overnight.
Pack samples securely to prevent breakage. Packages should contain ice packs if samples will be in transit more than 24 hours or during warmer months of the year. Use courier service whenever possible as the routine delays which occur in mailing can result in deterioration of sample quality.
Fill out submission forms completely and legibly and submit with samples. Be sure to indicate the tests to be performed as well as clinical history and purpose of test, (e.g. sale, diagnostic, etc.). Number all samples to match forms using consecutive numbers only.
Whenever possible, send clear serum which has been aseptically transferred to a sterile red top serum tube. We will accept clotted whole blood samples with the understanding that they may have to be reported as hemolyzed or non-testable if they arrive in poor condition.
The test schedules are flexible. In some instances setup is based on demand with a minimum and maximum time shown. Contact the serology section of the laboratory to which you are submitting samples in advance when you need a group of animals tested within certain time constraints. Allow 1-2 days extra for transport of samples between PADLS laboratory locations.
Acute serum samples will be tested within the same run as convalescent samples when submitted together.
Turn around time based on laboratory working days and on one-time test with negative results. Suspect samples will be retested requiring additional time.

Codes
AGID	Agar gel immunodiffusion	HA	Hemagglutination	RID	Radial Immunodiffusion
BAPA	Buffered acidified plate assay	HI	Hemagglutination inhibition	RSAT	Rapid slide agglutination test
Card	Rapid Card Test	LA	Latex agglutination	SN	Serum neutralization
CF	Complement fixation	MA	Micro agglutination	SPT	Std. Plate-Standard Plate Test
ELISA	Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay	RAP	Rapid automated presumptive	STT	Standard tube test

Note: Samples should be sent to arrive at least by 2:00 PM the day before the scheduled laboratory test day.

Export testing or special needs: Contact PADLS laboratory prior to sample collection to schedule all necessary tests. Large volume export testing especially requires advance notification due to limited availability of some reagents and to allow scheduling of technical time to ensure timely reporting of results.

Test/ Agent	Site	Procedure	Species	Tissue/ Specimen	Setup	Turn- Around	Remarks
Anaplasmosis	PVL	CF cELISA	Bovine	1 ml serum 1 ml serum	Th Th	1 day (if neg) 14 days (if pos)	Presumptive positive results will be sent to NVSL for confirmatory testing
Bluetongue	PVL	AGID CF cELISA	Ruminants	1 ml serum 1 ml serum 1 ml serum	W W Th	2 days 2 days 1 day 14 days (if pos)	Presumptive positive results will be sent to NVSL for confirmatory testing
Bovine Leukemia (BLV, bovine leukosis)	PVL	AGID ELISA	Bovine	1 ml serum	T, F	3 days 1 day	Please contact lab before shipping large groups (300 +) of samples to assure availability of testing.
Bovine Leukemia (BLV, bovine leukosis)	PSU	ELISA	Bovine	1 ml serum	upon request	1-5 days
Bovine Pre-purchase Panel	PSU PVL	Johne's ELISA, leukosis ELISA, p.i. BVD, Neospora	Bovine	serum - 2 tubes per animal - use p.i. BVD submission guidelines (See Mammalian Virology)	See listings under individual tests	7-12 days	Please see p.i. BVD under Mammalian Virology for additional sample handling requirements. p.i. BVD performed only at PSU
Bovine Reproductive Panel	PSU PVL	BVD SN, IBR SN, Leptospirosis, Neospora	Bovine	3 ml serum	M	7-12 days	Haemophilus is only performed on submission of paired samples due to difficult interpretation regarding reproductive problems. - IBR and BVD tests performed only at PSU. Haemophilus sent to Texas (TVMDL) for testing.
Bovine Respiratory Panel	PSU	BRSV SN, BVD SN, IBR SN, PI3 HI	Bovine	3 ml serum	M	7 days	BRSV results will be processed in 3 weeks. BVD test performed only at PSU
Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV)	PSU	SN	Bovine	1 ml serum	W	14 days	Test to be arranged only through PSU, forwarded to TVMDL for testing.
Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVD) (See Mammalian Virology for virus isolation from persistently infected animals)	PSU	SN	Bovine	1 ml serum	M	7-12 days	Test performed only at PSU Samples must be received before 2 pm on Friday.
Brucellosis (Brucella abortus)	PVL	BAPA CARD CF SPT STT RAP Rivanol Ring Test		1 ml serum 1 ml serum 1 ml serum 1 ml serum 1 ml serum 1 ml serum 1 ml serum 50 ml fresh whole milk (minimum)	M - F M - F M M - F M, T, W M - F M - F M - Th	1 day 1 day 3 days 1 day 2 days 1 day 1 day 3 days	Unless specific tests are requested, those necessary for Pennsylvania classification will be done. Herd Surveillance samples should be sent to PVL Milk samples can be submitted as: refrigerated fresh whole milk frozen fresh whole milk formaldehyde preserved fresh milk
Brucellosis (Brucella abortus)	PSU	Semen Plasma Tube Test CARD SPT		Semen 1 ml serum 1 ml serum	M - W M - F M - F	3 days 1-2 days 1-2 days
Brucellosis, Canine (Brucella canis)	PVL	RSAT	Canine	.5 ml serum	M - F	1 day
Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE)	PVL	AGID	Caprine	1 ml serum	M, T, W	3-5 days	cELISA will be performed unless AGID is specifically requested
Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE)	PVL	cELISA	Caprine	1 ml serum	M	1 day
Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD)	PVL	AGID	Ruminants	1 ml serum	Upon request	3-5 days
Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA)	NBC PVL	AGID-Coggins ELISA (both tests performed at both laboratories)	Equine	1 ml serum 1 ml serum	M - F M - F	3 days 1 day	For same day ELISA results, samples must be received by noon. Results for samples received after noon will be available the next day
Equine Rhinopneumonitis (EHV 1,4)	PSU	SN	Equine	1 ml serum	M, T, W, F	7-10 days
Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR)	PSU	SN ELISA	Bovine	1 ml serum	M On request	7 days 5-7 days	See Mammalian Virology for virus isolation
Johne's Disease (Mycobacterium paratuberculosis)	PSU PVL	AGID	Ruminants	.5 ml serum	M - W	3 days	See Bacteriology for fecal culture. AGID and ELISA performed at PVL and PSU
Johne's Disease (Mycobacterium paratuberculosis)	PSU PVL	ELISA CF (PVL only)	Ruminants	1 ml serum 1 ml serum	M - F M	1 day 1 day
Leptospirosis L. canicola L. grippotyphosa L. hardjo L.icterohaemorrhagica L. pomona L. bratislava	PVL	MA	Canine Equine Ruminants Porcine	1 ml serum	M, F Samples screened and titered the same day, if time allows.	1-5 days for neg results 3-7 days for positive results	L. bratislava test is performed routinely for caprine, ovine, canine, equine and porcine species. L. bratislava is available for cattle upon request
Mycoplasma Hyopneumoniae	PSU	ELISA	Porcine	1 ml serum	On request	5-7 days
Neospora caninum	PSU PVL	ELISA	Bovine	1 ml serum	W	7 days 1 day
Ovine Progressive Pneumonia (OPP)	PVL	AGID	Ovine	1 ml serum	M - Th	3-5 days
Parainfluenza Type 3 (PI-3)	PSU	HI	Bovine	1 ml serum	M - Th	1-5 days	Test performed Monday only at PSU See Mammalian Virology for virus isolation
Porcine Parvovirus	PSU	HI	Porcine	1 ml serum	M - F	1-5 days
Porcine Reproductive & Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS)	PSU PVL	ELISA	Porcine	1 ml serum	M - F	1-5 days
Porcine Reproductive Panel	PSU	(includes Leptospirosis, PRV, PRRSV, Parvovirus)	Porcine	3 ml serum	M, F	10 days	Leptospirosis performed only at PVL Parvovirus performed only at PSU
Pseudorabies (PRV)	PVL	ELISA - gpl differential	Porcine	1 ml serum	M - F	2 days
Swine Influenza	PSU	HI	Porcine	1 ml serum	1 day/week	1 day	Routinely test for antibodies to both H1 and H3 subtypes
Toxoplasmosis	PSU	IHA	Mammals	1 ml serum	Upon request	3 days
West Nile Virus	PVL	ELISA IgM	Equine	1 ml serum	W	3 days	Testing on equine samples only. Submission form needs to include symptoms and vaccine history on neurologic animals for no fee testing. Vaccine does not interfere with IgM test.
West Nile Virus	PVL	ELISA IgG	Equine	1 ml serum	By arrangement	By arrangement	IgG testing done by arrangement only during off season

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