Serum samples should be shipped frozen using an overnight service. One or two pounds of ice packs are generally adequate depending on the type of container, the number of samples and the ambient temperature. Optimal shipping conditions are achieved when the entire package with its lid open is frozen overnight at or below -20 C. The use of dry ice is not required. If you choose to ship on dry ice, check in advance for special hazardous materials shipping requirements and to be certain that your shipping service will accept dry ice packages.

Do not submit whole blood; hemolysis will occur during freezing or shipping and may interfere with serologic test performance. Refrain from pooling serum samples, a practice that can yield false negative results by dilution effect.

To expedite testing, and prevent leakage, we encourage clients to submit 1:5 diluted serum in RADIL serum vials (provided free of charge on request to clients who pre-dilute their samples) sequentially numbered with an indelible marker.

NOTE: A completed serology case form must be included with each submission specifying the species, serum dilution, and the serology profile or individual test(s) requested. Describe any potential biohazards associated with the samples. Please use a separate serology accession form for each different species of animal and serologic profile or group of test(s) requested.