News Alerts & Announcements

12/15/2022: The PADLS laboratories held their annual Veterinarian Conference, this years focus was the health of small ruminant animals. Veterinarians from around the state participated in this event to hear about current animal health concerns and what resources are available from the PADLS laboratories.
4/16/2022: PA Department Of Agriculture Confirms First Case Of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza In Lancaster County (Pennsylvania Pressroom).

04/13/2021: Russell Redding, PA Secretary of Agriculture, recently held a Facebook Live event to discuss the efforts of the department and the PADLS laboratory system as Investments in Animal Agriculture. You can view the complete session on the Departments Facebook page, or by checking HERE.

01/12/2018: The AAVLD Committee granted the Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System full accreditation through December 31, 2022.

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09/15/2015: The Penn State Extension provides information about the Avian Influenza and guidance in biosecurity measures.

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03/27/2015: The USDA provides biosecurity recommendations to protect poultry flocks from avian influenza.

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03/27/2015: Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture provides guidance regarding avian influenza.

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HPAI Permitting: For permitting questions call (223) 666-2555. For fastest response, leave a message including your contact info, or email RA-AG-PAPERMITS@PA.GOV
We will respond promptly.


HPAI Lab Weekend Schedule: The Specimen Drop-off sites are closed on the weekend. All Samples need to be delivered directly to the appropriate lab for that day. Specimen submission cut-off time is 11:30 am for Saturday and Sunday testing. Clients, please alert the testing lab by Friday COB via email/call if needing AI testing.

  • Saturday, April 1 - Animal Diagnostic Lab at Penn State, State College
  • Sunday, April 2 - New Bolton Center, Kennett Square
  • Saturday, April 8 - PA Veterinary Lab, Harrisburg
  • Sunday, April 9 - Animal Diagnostic Lab at Penn State, State College
  • Saturday, April 15 - New Bolton Center, Kennett Square
  • Sunday, April 16 - PA Veterinary Lab, Harrisburg
  • Saturday, April 22 - Animal Diagnostic Lab at Penn State, State College
  • Sunday, April 23 - New Bolton Center, Kennett Square
  • Saturday, April 29 - PA Veterinary Lab, Harrisburg
  • Sunday, April 30 - Animal Diagnostic Lab at Penn State, State College
PDA HPAI Sampling and Submitting Instructions, drop off locations and lab weekend hours (click to download)
Download HPAI Submission Forms and directions for lab specific drop-offs

Manheim Field Office: As of Wednesday, February 1, 2023, the Manheim Field Office will be closed for sample and bird drop-off until further notice. Any questions, please contact: Sherrill Davison; 610-636-1683 (cell); sdavison@vet.upenn.edu


Attention PADLS New Bolton Center (PADLS-NBC) clients:

The PADLS-NBC Mammalian Pathology Autopsy Service will be CLOSED until further notice due to an urgent need for replacement of the postmortem room coolers. This includes all autopsy and rabies testing submissions.

Avian submissions, biopsy submissions, and field autopsy (fixed tissue) submissions will NOT be impacted. During this period, submitters should contact the two other PADLS laboratories (PADLS-PVL and PADLS-ADL) or the Penn Vet Diagnostic Laboratory (small companion animals only) to inquire about availability of services. Contact information for these alternative laboratories is below. All out-of-state (non-Pennsylvania) submitters should contact their in-state diagnostic laboratories. Field autopsy submissions to PADLS-NBC are encouraged and a pathologist is on-call to provide guidance for these submissions.

We regret this inconvenience and will send an update when we are able to return to routine operations.

Thank you for your patience during this time.


Alternative options for autopsy services include:

  • In-state diagnostic laboratories for clients in MD, NJ, NY, VA
  • PADLS-ADL (Penn State) – Please call ahead for availability
    Penn State University Animal Diagnostic Laboratory
    Wiley Lane
    University Park, PA 16802
    Phone: (814) 863-0837
    Fax: (814) 863-3907
    Email: adlhelp@psu.edu
  • PADLS-PVL (Harrisburg) - Please call ahead for availablility
    Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory
    2305 North Cameron Street
    Harrisburg, PA 17110
    Phone: (717) 787-8808
    Fax: (717) 772-3895
    Email: pvl@pa.gov
  • Penn Vet Diagnostic Laboratories (Philadelphia campus) – small/companion animals
    Please call (215) 898-8857 for more information, or visit the website: https://www.vet.upenn.edu/veterinary-hospitals/ryan-veterinary-hospital/services/diagnostic-laboratories/sample-guidelines


Adjusted Laboratory Holiday Schedules::

Our hours of operation over the coming holiday season have recently been changed. Please visit the Holiday Schedule to view our updated hours.

Holiday Schedule: (http://padls.agriculture.pa.gov/InnerPages/PVLHoliday.html)


SARS CoV-2 Sampling Protocol for PVL:

With continued evolving situation, preauthorization for SARS-CoV-2 testing of animals is no longer required but the specimen must be submitted through a veterinary clinic following our collection and shipping guidelines. Please call the lab to discuss submission @717-787-8808


Licensed veterinarian:
  • Submit a nasal swab (preferred) and oropharyngeal (or oral) swab in 1-3 mL of Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) broth or Viral Transport Medium (VTM). It is acceptable to discard approximately half of the BHI if provided with 5.5 mL tubes of BHI to obtain the proper amount of BHI broth in the tube. Rectal swab/feces can also be submitted but are not preferred specimens.
  • Use synthetic (dacron or rayon) tipped, plastic shaft swabs. Do NOT use calcium-alginate, cotton tipped or wooden shaft swabs. Swabs submitted in collection media with gel are not acceptable.
  • Package specimens as directed by IATA shipping guidelines as for any other diagnostic specimen. Ship specimens overnight on iced gel pack with a completed General PADLS submission form, available at http://padls.agriculture.pa.gov/PdfFiles/forms/GeneralSubmissionForm.pdf. Freeze specimens prior to shipping if they will not reach the lab within 48 hours of collection.
  • Testing fee at PVL is currently $50/specimen unless waived with prior authorization.

Samples may be shipped by the licensed veterinarian using whatever overnight shipment or courier service they prefer to get them to the Pennsylvania Veterinary Lab (2305 N. Cameron St. Harrisburg, PA 17110). Do not use priority mail.


With the current mail and postal issues, we are encouraging adoption of electronic submissions for EIA testing. PVL now offers a total of 4 different Coggins submission/reporting methods and 3 of them are electronic:

  1. VS Form 10-11 (dated FEB 2018 or later) - hardcopy results are currently mailed via USPS
  2. PALIMS Mobile App - along with the PADLS Online Portal, this electronic option provides faster access to results – No Feeshttp://padls.agriculture.pa.gov/PdfFiles/forms/EIAMobileAppSubmissions.pdf
  3. GlobalVetLink - web-based electronic system; fast access to results- Fee-based service https://www.globalvetlink.com/eia/
  4. VSPS - USDA's web-based electronic system; fast access to results - No Fees USDA APHIS | Veterinary Services Process Streamlining (VSPS)

With current postal delays, we are temporarily advising, especially for “urgent” or “rush” cases, that those samples where possible are either hand delivered or sent via an overnight courier service with a guaranteed sample delivery at the laboratory.


PADLS Announces Updated Mobile App

The PADLS labs have announced the release of their new updated mobile app. The mobile app can be used by USDA Level 2 accredited veterinarians to submit EIA/Coggins test requests to the PADLS lab system. The updated Mobile App meets the requirements implemented with the USDA's recently released guidance for EIA testing. For veterinarians who have previously used the USALIMS Mobile App, you will need to download the new app onto your Android or iOS device. The app can be found in your app store by searching for "PA LIMS Mobile App". For veterinarians who have not previously used the mobile app, but would like to start using it, you can visit
http://padls.agriculture.pa.gov/PdfFiles/forms/EIAMobileAppSubmissions.pdf
to view the PALIMS Mobile App User Guide which contains instructions on signing up for an account.


Amid Universities Moving Remote for COVID-19, Pennsylvania’s Animal Laboratory System Remains Open

To read the official announcement, see
https://www.media.pa.gov/Pages/Agriculture_details.aspx?newsid=897
For regular updates on any changes to PDA services, check
https://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Pages/COVID-19.aspx


Please join us for the "Emerging Animal Infectious Disease Conference" hosted by Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences from August 25-27, 2020. (Please note that the dates for this conference have changed.)

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NOTICE: The USDA has published new guidance for laboratories testing for EIA/Coggins that will go into effect on April 15, 2020. Veterinarians submitting specimens for EIA/Coggins testing must comply by the new guidance, or their specimens can not be tested. There is a new revision of the VS-10-11 submission form that must be used. For details on the new form and instructions for filling it out, please click the following link:

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