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Procedures for Submitting Equine Serum Samples to the United States for PreImportation Testing 

1. Purpose and Background 

This document outlines the procedures necessary for pre-import testing to facilitate 

importation of horse serum into the United States. These procedures give potential 

importers test results to aid them in their decisions to importserum from a particular horse 

into the United States. Tests are for informational purposes only and do not confer the 

horse or serum’s eligibility to enter the United States. 

2. Document Status 

 

A. Review date: 08/15/2023.

B. This document replaces Veterinary Services Memorandum 591.57. 

 

3. Reason for Reissuance 

VS is reissuing this guidance to reflect changes in procedure and structure.

4. Authority and References 

 

A. Authorities (Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)):

7 CFR 371.4

9 CFR part 93

9 CFR part 122

9 CFR part 130

5. Audience 

VS employees, other State and Federal agencies, and members of the public. 

6. Procedures 

A. Permits 

1) A permit will be issued to the importer or broker to cover importation of equine 

serum samples for up to one (1) year. A copy of the permit must accompany each 

shipment of serum samples.

2) To obtain a permit, the importer must submit a Veterinary Services (VS) Form 16-

3, “Application for Permit to Import Controlled Material, Import or Transport 

Organisms or Vectors. Instructions on filling out the form online can be found here. 
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Please visit the Animal Health Permit website for instructions on how to apply for 

a new permit or a permit renewal, or to amend a permit. 

3) VS Form 16-3 may be submitted by email to APIE@usda.gov and by mail to:

USDA APHIS VS Strategy and Policy

Animal Product Import and Export

4700 River Road, Unit 40

Riverdale, MD, 20737

Fax 301-851-2239

Fillable or scanned copies may also be emailed. Illegible applications cannot be 

processed and will result in significant delays.

4) The cost to process each application for a permit is $150; payment must 

accompany the request. Payment may be submitted by check, money order, or 

credit card (MasterCard, Visa, or American Express) in U.S. currency unless the 

importer or broker has established a user fee account. Please do not send cash.

5) Requests for renewal or amendment of permits may be submitted electronically 

through the Import Authorization System as well as by mail or email. Mailed 

requests should be submitted to the address above. Renewal requests should note 

any changes from the original application and permit issued. The charge for a 

renewal is $97 and the charge for amending an existing permit is $75.

B. Sample Submission 

1) Each shipment of serum samples must be accompanied by a VS Form 10-4, 

Specimen Submission. If all samples are not to receive the same tests, please list 

each sample identification separately in space 21 (additional data). The hyperlinked 

form includes detailed instructions for completing it.

2) Instructions for processing and submitting serum samples follow:

a. Blood samples: Draw blood and allow to clot. Remove serum and transfer at 

least 5 ml of the serum into a second tube. The serum should be the color of 

straw with little to no red tinge (no hemolysis). Serum with aggregates of clot 

or evidence of contamination or hemolysis will be discarded immediately. Serum 

submitted in clot tubes, serum separation tubes, or in glass tubes is 

unacceptable. Tubes must be leak proof, round-bottomed, made of 

polypropylene or polystyrene, and approximately 12 by 75 mm in size. A second 

serum sample must be submitted for all horses if the equine infectious anemia 

test has been requested.
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b. Serum samples

1. Tubes containing the serum must be individually identified with the tube 

number, the animal’s name, and a tattoo or registration number, if 

available. Information must be recorded either directly on the tubes or on 

a label applied individually to each tube.

2. Refrigerate samples before shipment and during shipment. Do not add 

preservatives of any kind to the sample. Send clear undiluted serum only.

3. Include a copy of the import permit with the shipping documentation on 

the outside of the package.

4. Send samples, preferably by air mail, to:

National Veterinary Services Laboratories

1920 Dayton Ave.

Ames, IA 50010

5. The importer must arrange for the pickup of the containers from the airline 

freight terminals and delivery to NVSL (if necessary). NVSL prefers that 

samples be shipped to it directly. Samples will be accepted when “handcarried” ONLY if placed in a container that has been sealed with an official 

seal of the national government of the country where the samples 

originated. All samples must be declared to U.S. Customs and Border 

Protection (CPB) on arrival. Shipping containers will not be opened until 

delivered to the laboratory (except in cases when CPB or Agriculture port 

inspectors believe a port of arrival inspection is necessary). In these 

instances, the containers will be resealed, signed, and dated by the 

inspector. Containers showing evidence of being opened without

signatures and date will not be processed by the laboratory.

6. NVSL will furnish results by mail, fax, email, or phone call to the person 

indicated as the submitter on the VS Form 10-4. Do not call NVSL for 

laboratory results.

7. NVSL will not authorize overtime to run these tests.

8. The cost of the laboratory tests is established by user fees and must be paid 

at the time the samples are submitted to the laboratory. The samples must 

be accompanied with payment by check, money order, or credit card 

(MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express) in U.S. currency, unless 

the importer or broker has established a user fee account.

9. Contact the User Fee Help Line ((515) 337-6200) to establish an account or 

to obtain a current price list for tests.
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7. Inquiries 

Please contact the User Fee Help Line at (515) 337-6200 for further inquiries.