Laboratory Services

GENERAL INFORMATION

Thank you for choosing AVA as your full service veterinary laboratory. AVA offers a wide range of clinical testing procedures that have proven invaluable to Veterinarians in the diagnosis and treatment of disease in animals. The majority of our testing procedures are performed on the premises by licensed and/or certified technologists. Rigid quality control standards (Internal & External) have been developed by our laboratory testing. Consultations with our board certified veterinary pathologists are always available upon request.

COURIER SERVICE

AVA provides courier services to veterinarians in most areas of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange and Ventura counties at minimal or no charge. Prepaid mailers for veterinarians outside our service areas are available upon request. Specimen pick-up time(s) and location are individually arranged to meet your needs and two daily pick-ups. Stats should be called in no later than 11:00AM on the morning of the desired pick-up and evening pick- ups (routine) should be called in no later than 6:00PM on the day of the pick-up.

SUPPLIES

All supplies required for tests and panels will be provided by the laboratory at no charge. Other supplies may be available at “cost.” Please refer to our supply list. All supplies will be delivered by our couriers within a 24 hour time period after the request has been placed and processed or on the next schedule pick up.

ADDITIONAL TESTING

Most abnormal results are verified through repeated testing procedures. Repeat testing can usually be provided at no charge whenever additional specimens are not required. Follow-up testing is not considered repeat testing and as such will be billed accordingly. Additional tests can be requested by the veterinarian or designated office staff and will be performed immediately if an adequate amount of viable sample is available.

COURIER SERVICE PROTOCOL

  • AVA offers two pickups a day Monday-Friday, and one pick up on Saturday evening .

  • Weekdays AVA Couriers start their route at 9AM. For the morning pick up the lab results will be reported before 5:00PM. “On Call” clients must call NO later than 11:45AM to schedule an AM pickup.

  • Evening Couriers start at 4:30PM, “On Call” clients must call before 7PM for and evening pickup. Results are reported the following morning between 5-8AM.

  • On Saturday, only one pickup is provided, couriers start their routes at 3PM. “On Call” clients must call before 4PM to schedule a pick up for that day. Results are reported next day before 7AM.

  • AVA also offers a special pickup service Monday through Friday 9AM- 2PM. This service is available in case of emergencies. There is a fee of $35 for the special pickup service. A private courier is contacted and goes directly to your clinic and back to the lab, in most cases once the specimens arrive at the lab, results are reported within 60 to 90 minutes.

SPECIMEN SUBMISSION

Laboratory specimens should be submitted in our zip-lock (bio- hazardous) bags. Please fill out the request forms completely and submit one order per bag. Pet name, ID and collection date should be written on all tubes or containers being submitted to the laboratory; please make sure to write diagnosis on box labeled IMPORTANT on request form. Whenever possible, separated serum is the preferred sample for all routine chemistry and serology testing when a red top tube is required. Ideally, SST’s should be allowed to “stand” for one hour and then spun down for 10-15 minutes. The serum should then be transferred to a clean red-top tube or capped plastic vial for laboratory submission. Gray top tubes are the preferred tube type for glucose determinations. All histopathology specimens should be submitted in the appropriate container with an adequate amount of fixative (10% formalin). Please make sure that all containers are properly sealed and adequate clinical history is provided.

SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT KEY

S = Serum or Red Top

L, SL = Lavender & Slide 2S = 2 Serum Tops

WT = White Top (URINE)

GY = Gray Top

CSF = Cerebral Fluid

LV = Lavender Vial

HCT = Hematocrit

LF = Lavender Fluid

GV = Green Vial (gel)

L/LT = Lavender Top

B/BT = Blue Top

3S = 3 Serum Tops

FC = Feces Container

GT = Green Top

NS = Nasal Swab

RB = Royal Blue

BX = Biopsy

RF = Red Fluid

NG=NoGel