NAHLN Sample Chart for Regulatory Submitters

Please always contact the lab prior to submitting samples. Associated reference: NVSL-WI-0729.1 December 08, 2023

NAHLN laboratories are not all approved to perform each available test. It is 

important that the submitter verify the NAHLN laboratory is approved to test for the 

suspected foreign or regulatory disease and what samples are approved for testing. 

The NAHLN laboratory should always be contacted prior to sample submission to 

inform them of the incoming submission and verify this information.

Disease Species NAHLN Approved Sample Type

Foot and Mouth 

Disease (FMD)

Cattle, Sheep, 

Goats, Pigs

(domestic 

species)*

Vesicular tissue or swabs in TBTB media (oral or lesion)

African Swine 

Fever (ASF)

Pigs Live sick animal**: whole blood, whole blood swab

Dead animal**: tonsil, spleen, lymph node (gastrohepatic and renal), whole 

blood swab^, spleen pulp swab^

Following confirmation of ASF in the U.S., blood cards may be used for 

outbreak response/surveillance testing**

Classical Swine 

Fever (CSF)

Pigs Live sick animal: whole blood**, whole blood swab**, tonsil scraping in TBTB 

media 

Dead animal**: tonsil, spleen; lymph node (mesenteric, submandibular, 

retropharyngeal), whole blood swab^, spleen pulp swab^

Pseudorabies

(PRV)

Pigs Serum

Swine Influenza 

Virus (IAV-S)

Pigs Nasal Swabs in VTM (no pooling), Nasal wipes

Lung Tissue

(Environmental samples are not an acceptable sample)

Vesicular 

Stomatitis Virus 

(VSV)

Horses Serum, Vesicular fluid, epithelial flap, swab in TBTB media of lesion

(Samples from horses may be tested in the NAHLN lab once the lab is 

activated based on a sample from that state being confirmed positive at 

NVSL. Only clinical horses in the same state as the activated NAHLN lab may 

be tested at that lab.)

Infectious 

Salmon Anemia 

(ISA)

Salmonid Surveillance/movement: Heart, kidney, and gill preserved in RNA laterTM

Diagnosis: blood, kidney, heart, liver, spleen, and gill fresh tissue and/or 

tissue preserved in RNA laterTM (random selection, slow swimmers, moribund 

avoid postmortem samples)

* Any species not listed contact the laboratory prior to shipping.

** Labs may pool up to 5 equal amounts of whole blood, tonsil, spleen, whole blood swabs, spleen pulp swabs,

or blood cards. One sample type per pool. Samples should be pooled by the smallest epidemiological unit 

(pen>room>barn>premise). Samples can only be pooled from one premises. Lymph nodes cannot be pooled. 

Samples pooled by submitters cannot be further pooled. Regulatory slaughter samples cannot be pooled.

^ These sample types are approved for FAD investigations, active surveillance testing, and slaughter testing. Swabs 

may be collected by the laboratory if whole blood/spleen tissue is submitted by the collector if original sample 

material is retained. 
NAHLN Sample Chart for Regulatory Submitters

Please always contact the lab prior to submitting samples. Associated reference: NVSL-WI-0729.1 December 08, 2023

Spring Viremia 

of Carp (SVC)

Cyprinid Whole fish, viscera, tissue samples, ovarian fluids (random selection, slow 

swimmers, moribund avoid postmortem samples) 

Viral 

Hemorrhagic 

Septicemia 

(VHS) 

Fin fishes Whole fish, viscera, tissue samples, ovarian fluids (random selection, slow 

swimmers, moribund avoid postmortem samples)

Avian Influenza 

(IAV-A) / 

Newcastle 

disease (AMPV1)

General 

Collection 

Guidance

CONTACT DVL-AV if questions NVSL.AI.ND@USDA.GOV 

Refer to NVSL-WI-0023 for sample collection: 

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/lab_info_services/downloads/WI

AV0020.pdf 

Avian Influenza 

(IAV-A) / 

Newcastle 

disease (AMPV1)

Gallinaceous 

Poultry 

(e.g. chickens, 

turkeys, 

pheasant, 

quail)

Oropharyngeal (OP) Swabs preferred

Tracheal (TR) swab acceptable on mortality

Cloacal (CL) Swabs may be useful; e.g. detection of swine lineage viruses in 

turkeys

OP or TR Swab Pooling: up to 5 swabs in 3 ml, or up to 11 swabs in 5.5 ml

CL or OP Swab Pooling: up to 5 CL swabs in 3 or 5.5 ml

Avian Influenza 

(IAV-A) / 

Newcastle 

disease (AMPV1)

Domestic 

Waterfowl

Primarily CL Swabs

Oropharyngeal swabs may be useful/needed

CL or OP Swab Pooling: up to 5 CL swabs in 3 or 5.5 ml

Avian Influenza 

(IAV-A) / 

Newcastle 

disease (AMPV1)

Wild 

Waterfowl

(can be used 

for free 

roaming 

backyard 

waterfowl)

1 CL and 1 OP Swab pooled together from one bird

Pool 1 OP and 1 CL from the same bird in 3 ml VTM do not pool swabs from 

more than one bird

Avian Influenza 

(IAV-A) / 

Newcastle 

disease (AMPV1)

Other wild or 

captive pet 

bird species

Primarily CL swabs 

1 CL and 1 OP swab may be pooled together from one bird; fresh fecal 

samples may be used under specific circumstances

For sampling captive flocks in closed, common housing: pool up to 5 swabs in 

3 or 5.5 ml VTM by species group (e.g. passerines)

Avian Influenza 

(IAV-A) / 

Newcastle 

disease (AMPV1)

Any Avian 

Species

Tissue Samples

Pool tissues from the same bird by system in 3 or 5.5ml VTM (e.g. respiratory, 

enteric, reproductive, brain if neurologic); do not pool tissues from different 

birds

EXCEPTION - for import testing of closed colony passerine-type pet birds, 

lung/spleen sections from up to 5 birds may be pooled together for virus 

isolation (not for PCR)

Avian Influenza 

(IAV-A) / 

Newcastle 

disease (AMPV1)

Environmental 

Samples

BHI with antibiotics used for Post C&D testing

Refer to Post C&D Sample Collection:

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/emergency_management/downl

oads/hpai/env_sampling_proced.pdf 
NAHLN Sample Chart for Regulatory Submitters

Please always contact the lab prior to submitting samples. Associated reference: NVSL-WI-0729.1 December 08, 2023

Bovine 

spongiform 

encephalopathy

(BSE)

Bovine Fresh brainstem including obex 

Scrapie Sheep, Goats Formalin-fixed and fresh obex, retropharyngeal lymph node and tonsil

CWD Captive Cervids 

(deer, elk)

Formalin-fixed and fresh obex and retropharyngeal lymph nodes. 

(ELISA requires fresh tissue)

CWD Wild Cervid 

(deer, elk)

Wild cervids are under state jurisdiction; state will provide diagnostic 

sampling guidelines for ELISA/IHC testing. Prepare test samples as directed by 

state diagnostic guidelines