United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

0

Approval of and Requirements for Laboratories to Conduct Tests for Contagious Equine 

Metritis

1. Purpose and Background

This document outlines the procedures for approval and maintenance of approval of 

laboratories to conduct tests for contagious equine metritis (CEM) and the requirements for 

those laboratories when performing CEM tests.

CEM is a highly transmissible venereal disease of horses caused by the bacterium 

Taylorella equigenitalis. CEM is considered a foreign animal disease (FAD). Although not 

currently considered a cause of CEM, Taylorella asinigenitalis, a related bacterium that may 

be found in the United States, is also covered by this document because of the importance 

of properly identifying and differentiating the two species.

This guidance document represents the Agency’s position on this topic. It does not create or 

confer any rights for or on any person and does not bind the U.S. Department of Agriculture

(USDA) or the public. The information it contains may be made available to the public. While 

this document provides guidance for users outside VS, VS employees may not deviate from 

the directions provided herein without appropriate justification and supervisory concurrence.

2. Document Status

A. Valid through 8/30/2019.

B. This document replaces VSG 15202.1, which is rescinded. 

3. Reason for Reissuance 

This document has been updated to correct errors and clarify requirements.

4. Authority and References

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

• 7 CFR 371.4

B. References:

• VS Form 10-4, Specimen Submission (AUG 2009)

5. Audience

VS employees, other Federal and State agencies, and members of the public.
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

1

6. Guidance

A. Steps for Laboratory Approval

1) State and private veterinary diagnostic laboratories may request approval to conduct 

USDA-authorized diagnostic procedures for CEM. A written request must be made to 

the appropriate VS Assistant District Director. The decision to consider the request 

for approval will be made through consensus by the State Animal Health Official, the 

Assistant District Director, and the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL). 

The following actions will be taken if the request for approval is accepted for 

consideration:

a. A Federal Veterinary Medical Officer (VMO) will review the regulatory and 

technical responsibilities and criteria for conducting and reporting official CEM 

tests with the laboratory official. The Laboratory Director or his or her designee 

will receive a copy of the inspection checklist and standards (see Attachment 1).

b. The laboratory seeking approval will send the individual or individuals designated 

to conduct CEM testing to the NVSL CEM training course.

c. A Federal Animal Health Official will inspect the physical facilities of the 

laboratory and record results on the laboratory inspection checklist (Attachment 

1).

d. The laboratory official will sign the Agreement to Conduct Contagious Equine 

Metritis (CEM) Testing (Attachment 2) to acknowledge that he or she 

understands the regulatory and technical responsibilities of the laboratory.

2) After the procedures in section 6.A.1 have been completed, the Assistant District 

Director and the State Animal Health Official may make their recommendations 

regarding approval of the laboratory. They must seek concurrence from the NVSL 

Director by forwarding (through the appropriate District Director) a jointly signed 

memorandum and the completed documents (Attachments 1 and 2) to: Director, 

NVSL, 1920 Dayton Ave, Ames, IA, 50010.

a. The NVSL Director will notify the laboratory of the decision and will send 

appropriate copies to the Director of Animal Health Programs.

b. Questions regarding the laboratory approval process should be directed to the 

NVSL Diagnostic Bacteriology Laboratory by calling (515) 337-7565 or by 

sending a faxed request to (515) 337-7569.

B. Qualifications and Training of Personnel to Conduct CEM Culture Tests

1) VS must certify laboratory personnel performing CEM culture tests. The Assistant

District Director and the State Animal Health Official must recommend personnel for 

training and NVSL approval. The minimum required training is as follows:
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

2

a. Laboratory personnel assigned to perform isolation and identification of 

Taylorella isolates must have a bachelor’s degree in microbiology or related life 

science or a minimum of two years’ experience in a veterinary bacteriology 

laboratory isolating and identifying aerobic and microaerophilic organisms,. 

These individuals must also complete a training course focused on the isolation 

and identification of Taylorella spp. at the NVSL site in Ames, IA. The requesting 

laboratory will pay all training costs.

b. If the NVSL adopts new technology for isolating and identifying Taylorella in 

specimens, additional training at the NVSL may be required if the approved 

laboratory wishes to adopt said technology.

c. Laboratory personnel assigned to conduct CEM serological procedures must 

have a minimum of 2 years’ experience conducting serological assays of the 

same format.

2) Trained personnel must take and pass periodic proficiency tests when offered by the 

NVSL to continue to conduct testing. Personnel who do not take the proficiency test 

when offered lose approval to perform testing as of the date the results of the 

proficiency test are released. Personnel may be reinstated after meeting the 

requirements listed below.

a. NVSL will supply samples for personnel to use in proficiency testing and will 

evaluate the results. Personnel who fail the NVSL proficiency test are subject to 

appropriate, corrective action as determined by the NVSL. Options include

removal, additional training, and additional proficiency testing. Personnel who fail 

the proficiency test twice in 1 year will be removed.

b. Laboratories must order proficiency tests, report proficiency test results, and 

respond to inquiries regarding the number of tests performed or other requested 

information in a timely manner. VS charges a user fee for proficiency tests.

c. Previously trained and certified personnel who have had a lapse in testing clinical 

samples of greater than 1 year will be required to retake and pass a proficiency 

test panel before resuming CEM testing.

d. Personnel who have a lapse in testing clinical samples of greater than 2 years 

must attend another NVSL training course. User fees apply.

3) Laboratories approved to conduct CEM culture tests must inform the Assistant 

District Director and NVSL when any personnel certified by the NVSL to conduct the 

tests are no longer available to conduct testing. VS will revoke the laboratory’s 

approval if qualified certified personnel are not available to conduct the tests.
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

3

C. Laboratory Standards for Performing CEM Culture Testing

1) Collection and Transport of Diagnostic Specimens:

a. Specimens of U.S. origin for testing must be collected and submitted by an 

accredited veterinarian, Federal veterinarian, or State animal health official. If the 

laboratory staff has questions about the accreditation status or any other 

information on a submission, they should contact the assistant district director or 

State animal health official for clarification.

b. Sample collection protocols may vary slightly depending on purpose (e.g. import, 

export, trace back). The Assistant District Director has the latest information on 

culture procedures. Laboratories are encouraged to distribute current information 

to their clients.

c. Current NVSL guidance on specimen collection:

1. Small diameter swabs must be used for clitoral sinus sampling. Rayon is the 

material of choice. Swabs made from calcium alginate (Calgiswabs) must not 

be used and swabs made of polyester should not be used as they tend to 

dissolve in the transport medium. If a swab has dissolved during transit the 

sample must be reported as invalid and the submitter advised to re-collect 

with a rayon swab. Undissolved calcium alginate and polyester swabs may 

be tested. However, the submitter should be advised to use a rayon swab.

2. Cervical or endometrial swabs must be collected with an appropriately sized 

guarded uterine swab. Standard sized swabs should be used for all other 

sites.

3. Specimens (swabs) submitted for culture must be placed in Amies transport 

medium with charcoal and sent to the laboratory with sufficient ice packs to 

keep the specimens cold (4° C) on arrival. Overnight shipment is the method 

of choice as specimens must be set up in the laboratory no more than 48 

hours after collection. Samples arriving after 48 hours from collection will not 

be tested and new samples should be requested.

2) Specimen Identification

a. Specimens for culture must be individually and uniquely identified and must be 

accompanied by a completed submission form (VS 10-4 or equivalent).

Information on the specimen container must match that on the submission form.

b. Specimens must include equine identification matching that on the paperwork, 

collection date and time, and anatomical sites of sample collected. Sample 

collection time may be waived if samples arrive at the laboratory the day 

following collection. For each specimen, the submission form must include:
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

4

1. Name, address, and telephone number of the submitting veterinarian.

2. Signature of the submitting veterinarian.

3. Name of the owner or person responsible for the equine. The submitter must 

be able to provide contact information for this person.

4. Location (including county) of the equine sampled.

5. Unique identification of the equine sampled, which may include a combination 

of name, age, breed, sex, color, markings, and any registration, tattoo, or 

microchip or microchip number.

6. Sample collection date and time.

7. Anatomical sites of sample collection.

3) Conditions that preclude testing of culture specimens:

a. Specimens not properly identified or in poor condition will not be tested.

b. Specimens will also not be tested if/when:

1. Received more than 48 hours after collection.

2. Received in broken containers.

3. Submitted in expired or degraded media or in any media type other than 

Amies transport medium with charcoal.

4. Not cold on arrival.

5. Contain more than one swab/site per transport medium.

6. Swabs dissolved during transit.

7. The information specified in C.2 cannot be obtained.

8. Not collected and submitted by an accredited, State, or Federal veterinarian.

c. Each submission will be assigned a unique accession or identification number to 

allow identification in the laboratory.
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

5

4) Isolation and presumptive identification of Taylorella spp.

a. Approved laboratories must follow the most current NVSL CEM testing standard 

operating procedures (SOP). NVSL will distribute updated SOPs to approved 

laboratories when available.

b. For suspect colonies:

1. All Taylorella suspect isolates as defined in the NVSL CEM testing SOP must 

be sent immediately to NVSL for confirmation. 

2. Approved labs shall not use their own confirmatory testing when deciding to 

send suspect isolates to NVSL or report final results. Taylorella confirmation 

tests performed by NVSL are described in the NVSL CEM testing SOPs. 

3. Suspect isolates should be sent to NVSL on swabs in Amies transport 

medium with charcoal and with ice packs, using the most expedient shipping 

option possible. Multiple suspect colonies should be sent when more than 

one suspect colony is present. Parafilm-sealed plates with pure culture 

should also be sent if available. Additionally, original samples from the 

suspect accession should be sent in the same shipment.

4. NVSL should be immediately notified of the suspect isolates and provided the 

shipping tracking number.

5) Reporting results of isolation and identification of Taylorella

All tests and results are official and must be reported. “Unofficial” tests may not be 

performed to determine the status of an animal. Test results must be made available 

to the NVSL on request.

a. Test results must be sent to:

1. Appropriate State or Tribal officials in the State where the equine is located.

2. Appropriate Federal officials.

3. Veterinarian submitting the sample.

b. The official test results must be reported as follows:

1. Indicate “Taylorella was not isolated” if that is the case. Similar language 

such as “not recovered” or “not detected” is also acceptable. Do not report 

results as “negative.”

2. Indicate that Taylorella was isolated/recovered/detected and the species 

isolated if that is the case. 
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

6

c. All positive and suspect isolates must be sent immediately to NVSL for 

confirmation. Approved laboratories may not send out a positive Taylorella result 

until NVSL has completed confirmation.

d. NVSL will notify the following of confirmation of a positive sample by e-mail, 

telephone, or fax within 6 business hours of test completion:

i. State or Tribal Animal Health Officials in the State or States where the 

animal and laboratory are located.

ii. Federal officials for the State or States where the animal and laboratory are 

located.

e. Upon completion of all testing, NVSL will issue a final report.

f. If no test was performed, report as “not tested” and give the reason (refer to the 

list of reasons in C.3.). Notify submitter that new samples need to be collected 

and submitted.

g. If the result is invalid due to either overgrowth or no growth, report as “invalid due 

to no growth” or “invalid due to overgrowth.” Notify submitter that new samples 

must be collected and submitted.

D. Serological Testing

1) Laboratory personnel who conduct serologic tests to detect antibodies against 

Taylorella must follow NVSL protocol. 

2) Serum samples submitted for serology testing must be clear (non-hemolyzed) and 

uncontaminated. Preferred samples are sera that have been separated from the 

blood clots and poured off into plastic snap-capped tubes. Centrifuged serum 

separator tubes are acceptable. Samples must be shipped with ice packs to help 

preserve the sera.

3) The laboratory must include known positive and negative controls with each 

Taylorella serological test.

4) All results of Taylorella serological tests are official and must be reported. The report 

must include the following information:

a. Name, address, and telephone number of the owner.

b. Location of the horse (including city, county, and State).

c. Official horse identification (see C(2)b.5 above).

d. Test result (positive, negative, suspect).
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

7

e. Serum dilution at which the test result was interpreted (Ex.: Pos at 1:16, Neg at 

1:4).

5) All positive test results must be reported to the submitter, Assistant District Director, 

and the NVSL within 6 business hours. 

6) NVSL must confirm all positive test results.

7) NVSL will offer a CEM serology proficiency test.

E. Maintaining Approval

1) The Assistant District Director and the NVSL must be informed of any change of 

address or other contact information (e.g. telephone number), or a change in 

Laboratory Director. The new Laboratory Director must sign a new copy of the 

agreement.

2) Each approved laboratory must pass periodic proficiency tests (one for each person 

approved to conduct CEM testing). Refer to Section B(1) for additional information.

3) Continued approval will require an official inspection conducted by Federal personnel 

at least every 2 years. Additional inspections may be conducted at the discretion of 

the Assistant District Director if there are performance or compliance concerns.

4) Official inspections of the laboratories are subject to user fees.

5) Inspection by VS (Federal) personnel does not absolve laboratories from other 

requirements established by local or State agencies.

6) The Federal inspecting official will verify the following:

a. Compliance with this Guidance Document.

b. Conducting tests according to the current versions of official protocols.

c. Certification of personnel conducting the tests to perform CEM testing.

d. Documentation of sample referral and test reporting for compliance with 

regulatory obligations.

e. Verification that the appropriate number of laboratory tests are being performed 

and reported annually.

7) An approved laboratory may be inspected by Federal or State Animal Health Officials 

at any time during the laboratory’s normal business hours. Laboratories with 

deficiencies in compliance or procedures are subject to corrective actions, as 
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

8

appropriate. Laboratories with severe or uncorrected deficiencies will be 

recommended for removal.

8) Each laboratory must show active involvement in serving the CEM program, 

compliance with the specifications of this Guidance Document, and successful 

completion of a proficiency panel. Laboratories that perform fewer than 100 CEM 

tests per year are subject to approval withdrawal. Exceptions to the minimum testing 

expectation must be justified to APHIS by letter from the Assistant District Director

and State Animal Health Official.

F. Removal of Laboratory Approval

1) The Deputy Administrator may remove laboratory approval when any of the criteria 

for approval have not been met. In all cases, the laboratory will receive written 

notification of removal or removal recommendation from the APHIS Administrator or 

his or her designee. 

2) Approval will be removed in any of the following situations:

a. The laboratory requests removal.

b. The laboratory no longer has personnel approved to conduct CEM testing.

c. The NVSL Director recommends removal.

d. The NVSL Director receives written recommendation for removal by concurrence 

of the Assistant District Director and the State Animal Health Official.

e. The laboratory fails to meet the proficiency testing or inspection requirements.

f. The laboratory does not meet the annual testing numbers as determined by the 

NVSL, the assistant district director, and the State Animal Health Official.

3) Laboratories may be reinstated if they provide sufficient evidence to the NVSL 

Director, Assistant District Director, and State Animal Health Official that the 

conditions leading to removal of approval have been ameliorated. Laboratories 

applying for reinstatement must go through the entire approval process. On 

reinstatement, trained and approved personnel must meet all requirements before 

testing resumes.

G. List of Approved Laboratories

The NVSL Director will maintain a current list of laboratories approved to conduct tests 

for CEM. The list will be updated regularly and will be available on the APHIS Website. 
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

9

7. Inquiries

If you need additional information about implementing this guidance document, please 

contact the National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Diagnostic Bacteriology Laboratory, 

Bacterial Identification Section or Serology Section at 1920 Dayton Ave, Ames IA, 50010. 

You may also use the NVSL general e-mail: NVSL_Concerns@aphis.usda.gov. Note 

whether your inquiry is related to CEM culture or serology. Questions may also be 

addressed to the following phone numbers:

Bacteriology: (515) 337-7565

Serology: (515) 337-7563

Attachments
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

10

ATTACHMENT 1

Laboratory Inspection for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) Testing

Laboratory Name __________________________________________________________

Telephone # _______________________Fax # __________________________________

Laboratory or Director email address __________________________________________

Laboratory address (physical address – not P.O. Box)

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________ 

Mailing address (if different from above)

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Shipping address for supplies and proficiency tests (if different from above)

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Name of laboratory staff escort for the inspector

________________________________________________________________________

Personnel currently conducting CEM tests at the laboratory and date each certified

Name Date Certified

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

Inspector _________________________________ Title ___________________________

Inspector telephone # _______________________

Laboratory number _________________________ (to be assigned by NVSL)
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

11

Laboratory Inspection for Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) Testing

CEM Laboratory Inspection

Section Item Yes No Notes

I. Laboratory Separate room or portion of room is used for testing.

Laboratory should not be accessible to the general 

public during testing.

Adequate open bench space (at least 3 to 5 feet) and

lighting is available to performtest.

Sink is available in same area with hot and cold

running water.

Laboratory and laboratory equipment is clean and

properly stored.

Appropriate disposalfacilities are available in

accordance with local rules and regulations.

Only laboratory equipment and supplies are within

the laboratory. No eating, drinking, applying

cosmetics, handling contact lenses, or storage of food

is allowed in the lab.

II. Laboratory

Equipment

The following equipment must be available and

functioning properly:

Incubator capable of maintaining a temperature of 

37 C° and a carbon dioxide level of 5-10 percent.

Tank containing carbon dioxide (technical grade, at 

least 99.5 percent pure) with a system to measure 

gas delivered. The tank must be secured to the wall.

Second incubator capable of maintaining a 

temperature of 37 C°. (Aerobic, no CO2.)

Microscope with oil immersion lens and light 

source adequate to read gram stains.

Covered metal pans or similar container to hold 

discarded specimens and test media.

Autoclave of adequate size to handle the 

discarded pans.

Refrigerator with enough shelf space to hold CEM 

specimens and media until completion of tests.

Non-defrost -20 C° or -80 C° freezer for storage of 

Taylorella control strains.
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

12

III. Laboratory 

Supplies

The following supplies must be available:

Eugon agar base (BBL) with 10 percent chocolate 

horse blood. The shelf life of Eugon agar is listed in the 

NVSL SOP.*

Eugon agar base (BBL) with 10 percent 

chocolate horse blood and selective inhibitors 

(Modified Timoney-Shin Medium): 

amphotericin B (5 μg/ml)

clindamycin (5 μg/ml)

Trimethoprim (1 μg/ml)

The shelf life of the Timoney-Shin medium is 

listed in the NVSL SOP.*

Amies transport medium with charcoal. This 

media must be stored according to 

manufacturer’s instructions until used. It 

should be discarded if it is expired, the 

charcoal is not evenly distributed, or if there 

is evidence of dehydration.*

Catalase test reagent (hydrogen peroxide, 3%).

Cytochrome oxidase test reagent.

Gram stain reagents.

Microbiological laboratory supplies such as 

inoculating loops, microscope slides, petri 

dishes, etc.

Trypticase Soy Agar with 5 percent sheep blood 

or equivalent non-selective blood agar plates. 

These plates must not support growth of 

Taylorella spp. when incubated at 37 C° without 

supplemental CO2.

The following apply to serology testing:

NVSL antigen for CEM serologic test.

NVSL control sera for CEM serologic test.

Serology laboratory supplies such as pipettors, 

test tubes, microtiter plates, etc.

* If the special media required for Taylorella culture is not available at the time of inspection, laboratory personnel should be 

able to demonstrate they know what media must be obtained and the source they will use to obtain it, or demonstrate they can 

make the required media and have the appropriate cultures for performing quality control testing on the media as described in 

the current version of the NVSL protocol.
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

13

Section Item Yes No Notes

IV. Control of

Specimensand

Reporting

Laboratory assigns a unique accession number to

each sample. The accession number is recorded on

the official reportingform.

Specimens not appropriately identified are not

tested.

Specimens are received with propersubmission

form (with name of the owner, name and address of

the submitting veterinarian, location of animal at the

time the test samplewas obtained, unique animal

identification, and signed by the submitting

veterinarian).

The specimen identity is maintained on the

worksheets and on the culture plates.

The test results for each sample are recorded on a

worksheet which should be made available for

review.

The results are recorded on the reportingform with

a copy kept in the laboratory. Results are reported

as described in the Guidance Document.

All tests are reported regardless of results. No

unofficial CEM tests are performed to determine 

the status of the animals before the “official” test

is performed. All CEM tests are official tests.

Only testing as described in the current version of 

the NVSL SOP produces official reportable results.

Official test results are reported to the States and/or

Federal animal health officials within the time

specified by these officials.

An official result of “Taylorella was isolated” is only 

issued after completing and reporting confirmatory 

testing by the NVSL.

Specimens are held refrigerated or frozen for at least

2 weeks afterresults are reported and preferably for

at least 30 days.

Taylorella spp. is listed on the laboratory’s permit 

(VS 16-16A) to receive controlled organisms.

The laboratory has viable cultures, including frozen 

parent stock, of the control strains required by the 

current version of the NVSL test protocol.

V. Test Procedure The current version of the NVSL test protocol

must be followed.
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

14

Section Item Yes No Notes

VI. Building

and Cleanliness

The building is in good repair and provides a

professional appearance inside and outside.

Adequate doors, windows, and screens are 

provided and are in good repair.

The laboratory is separated from the office,

storeroomand unused areas by partitions with doors.

Adequate lighting is available.

Restrooms are available, clean, and in good repair.

Laboratories are free of rodents, insects, and

other pests.

All refuse is placed in proper containers and removed

frequently.

Clean laboratory clothes (coats) are worn.

ADDITIONAL REMARKS

Laboratory is: Satisfactory Unsatisfactory (circle one)

Inspector’s signature Date

_______________________________________ 

Inspector’s name (printed)

 ___________________________________ ____________________________

Laboratory escort’s signature Date

Laboratory escort’s name (printed) o Copy of completed inspection form given to laboratory

o Copy of original inspection form filed at area office
 United States Department of Agriculture

 Marketing and Regulatory Programs

 Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

 Veterinary Services

 VS Guidance 15202.2

15

Attachment 2

Agreement to Conduct Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) Testing

I, , have read and understand

Veterinary Services (VS) Guidance Document 15202.2. I understand my responsibilities as outlined

in the Document and agree to abide by the guidelines therein. The guidelines and requirements

include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. The individual or individuals responsible for conducting CEM tests must have completed

training in the proper techniques. The training will be conducted at the National Veterinary

Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames,Iowa. 

2. All testing must be conducted in accordance with the current version of the official protocol

for the test as provided by the NVSL.

3. Periodic laboratory proficiency tests must be completed satisfactorily and in a timely

manner for the laboratory to maintain approval.

4. All results of CEM tests conducted must be signed appropriately and reported to the State

and/or Federal animal health officials in the State where the laboratory is located and in the

State in which the animals were sampled.

5. Laboratory officials must comply with inspections and VS animal health official

requests regarding CEM testing activities.

6. The laboratory will lose its approval if personnel trained to conduct CEM tests are no 

longer available to conduct CEM testing or any of the listed requirements are not 

followed.

Signature of Laboratory Director __________________________________________________

Laboratory Name ______________________________________________________________

Laboratory email address ________________________________________________________

Laboratory address _____________________________________________________________

Telephone _______________________ Date _____________________