International and Interstate Testing of Animals for Vesicular Stomatitis 

Virus Antibodies

Please confirm with the state or country receiving the animals as to the test requirements 

for shipping into that state or country. Note that many state labs can conduct the virus 

neutralization and complement fixation tests. Please check with the lab in your state to 

confirm test capabilities prior to collecting and shipping serum samples to them.

How to submit a sample to NVSL-Ames

1. Submit clear serum on ice packs.

2. Submit a minimum of 2 mls of serum per test requested

3. Testing of samples will be delayed if samples are submitted on the clot and a 

processing charge may be applied.

Submission procedure for NVSL

1. Contact the Assistant District Director (ADD) (Federal Veterinarian for your 

state) for permission to submit samples to NVSL. The web site to find the ADD

for your state is: www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/area_offices/

2. Use VS Form 10-4 to submit samples

a. Internet location to download the VS Form 10-4 is:

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/library/forms/pdf/VS_Form10_4.pdf

b. Include your fax number.

c. Include e-mail address.

d. Include the date you need the test results.

3. Indicate specific VS test(s) requested

a. Serology tests include

i. CELISA-competitive ELISA

ii. VN-virus neutralization, SN-serum neutralization (two names for the same 

test)

iii. CF-complement fixation

b. Testing will be delayed if test requested is not listed because NVSL personnel 

will need to call the submitter. Phone calls will be made as time permits.

c. Cost 

See the current NVSL Diagnostic Testing Catalog

(http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/lab_info_services/downloads/AmesDiagnosticTestingCatalog.pdf) for 

current prices.

d. Payment for services must be made in advance unless you have an account

already established with USDA:

i. Payment may be in the form of check, money order, or bank draft in U.S. 

dollars and made payable to USDA.

ii. Visa, MasterCard, and American Express are acceptable methods of 

payment. If paying with a credit card, please include the credit card number 

and expiration date on your submission form.

iii. If you have an account, and would like the services billed to that account, 

please write your account number on the submission form. If you do not have 

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an account, and would like one, please contact the APHIS Business Services 

in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at 877-777-2128.

iv. If you have any questions regarding payment of user fees, contact the 

National Veterinary Services Laboratories’ User Fee Help Line at 

515-337-6200.

4. For interstate movement, you need to check with the State Veterinarian’s Office 

of the destination state for the test and dilution (For example, 1:5, or 1:10 for the 

CF or 1:8, 1:12 or 1:32 for the VN).

5. For international movement, you need to check the test and dilution (For example, 

1:5, or 1:10 for the CF or 1:8, 1:12 or 1:32 for the VN) of the destination country. 

Destination countries do not always accept our standard dilutions. You can check 

the requirements at the National Center for Import/Export’s website: 

www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/ Or you can contact your ADD.

Requests for results

1. The primary method for reporting results is by written report via e-mail.

2. The length of time for completion of the testing depends upon the number of tests

performed and when the sample(s) arrive. Every effort is being made to test

samples as quickly as possible. The following are general guidelines from time

of receipt of samples until results are reported. Keep in mind that testing may take 

longer if samples arrive on a Friday or just before a holiday. Foreign animal

disease investigation testing takes priority over animal movement testing.

a. CELISA: 2-3 days

b. CF: 2-3 days

c. VN: 5-7 days (generally set up on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays)

3. Results are reported as soon as completed. The results are reported only to the

submitter and to the AVIC of the submitter’s and the animal’s location state(s).

Results are not reported to the animal owner.

4. The NVSL laboratory section is very busy testing large numbers of samples and

processing results for reporting. Requests for results by telephone can not be

accommodated as this delays the testing and reporting of everyone’s results.

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