Tim Pasma, Jennifer Zoethout

Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON.

AHL Newsletter 2025;29(4):4.

While AHL offers a wide variety of diagnostic tests (approximately 1000), there are occasions when samples are sent to other laboratories for testing. One scenario occurs when AHL is temporarily unable to conduct a test for which it is accredited. In this situation, the AHL locates a laboratory accredited by the AAVLD (American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians) for testing. The AHL obtains proof of competency from the referral lab and assumes the responsibility to our clients for tests that we subcontract.

The other scenario occurs when a client requests that a test be run at another lab; in these situations the samples are sent to the external laboratory; however, AHL does not assume responsibility for the quality control of external testing.

Sending tests to Canadian laboratories is straightforward; samples are properly packaged and sent by courier to the external laboratory.

Sending samples to laboratories located in the United States or Europe is more complicated. A permit, issued by the national veterinary authority (e.g., USDA) to the external laboratory is required to ship samples across the border. The permit specifies the species of animal and sample types that are allowed to be shipped, and a copy of the permit must accompany the package. Recently, shipping to the United States has become more challenging due to changes related to tariff policy that necessitated increased scrutiny of packages crossing the border. This has required our staff to provide more information and paperwork with each shipment.

External tests are not always listed in our fee schedule; please contact the lab if you are looking for a test that is not published in our catalog.