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Diagnostic testing

APHA offers diagnostic testing on a variety of different sample types for livestock, equine, avian and wildlife species.

Submit your samples using our online submission service

The Animal Disease Testing Service, ADTS is APHA's digital submission service.

Features include:

  • paper-free sample submission direct to testing laboratory
  • sample and test tracking
  • live results
  • a fully mobile service
  • free postage.

Find out more and register:

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Find out more about our services

If you have a query about our diagnostic tests, please contact your local Veterinary Investigation Centre

Guide to help with sample and test selection

APHA’s guide on sample and test selection, Livestock & Wildlife Disease Diagnosis at APHA provides you with guidance on the samples required and tests used for common disease presentations for both livestock and wildlife. 

You can also access this guide through the Animal Disease Testing Service.

If the guide does not answer your query, please contact one of our Veterinary Investigation Officers at your local Veterinary Investigation Centre

Submission samples

All diagnostic tests for one submission should be sent together to a single location, that location should be the best one for the tests you need. These are shown in the tests and locations table.

For example, if you have bloods for serology and tissue for culture work, send the submission to a bacteriology lab. Please do not send samples to locations not shown in the table as this will create delays in testing.

To help you chose the best location to send your samples to, we recommend that you use our digital Animal Disease Testing Service. This provides information on where to send samples, gives you a submission reference, and allows you to track progress and receive results.

The service also allows you to send all samples to a single location if that is your preference, will advise the best location for the tests you have selected, and generate dispatch notes and address label information.

All samples should continue to be submitted using the species specific forms. We use your data extensively for surveillance, and are always grateful for the time you spend providing it. It also ensures you receive the subsidised surveillance price list.