News Alerts & Announcements

10/30/2024: The PADLS laboratories recently held their annual Veterinarian Conference for practitioners in the state. The conference was attended by 68 Veterinarians, students and Animal Health officials from around the state where they heard presentations on issues effecting PA Animal Agriculture and the PADLS laboratory system.
12/15/2023: The Pennsylvania Animal Diagnostic Laboratory System (PADLS) was recently awarded renewal of its full accreditation status by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD). Accreditation attests that a laboratory adheres to documented processes and established quality control practices in conformance with internationally recognized standards. The five-year renewal is valid through December 2028.
12/11/2023: The PADLS laboratories held their annual Veterinarian Conference for practitioners in the state. 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.
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.
09/15/2015: The Penn State Extension provides information about the Avian Influenza and guidance in biosecurity measures.

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

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

More Info
Weekend Lab Schedule - HPAI testing
Effective April 18, 2025, weekend testing is no longer available except for approved emergency sick bird calls. The PADLS emergency testing for sick birds must be authorized by BAHDS (call 717-772-2852, option 1). Please do not bring samples for HPAI testing to any PADLS lab on a weekend or holiday without prior authorization and instructions.
Sick or dead wild birds should be reported to the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 833-PGC-HUNT or pgc-wildlifehealth@pa.gov
Manheim Field Office Re-Open
The Manheim lab will reopen on 4/21/25 and will remain open in the absence of a HPAI control area.
PVL Necropsy Availability
Due to renovations to our main autopsy facility at Pennsylvania Veterinary Laboratory in Harrisburg, there are likely to be some interruptions to our autopsy services beginning Monday, April 14.
There will be no after-hours drop offs into the walk-in cooler starting Thursday, April 24, at 4 pm until Monday, May 5th 2025, when we expect the cooler renovation part of project will be complete. We are expecting minimal impact during this project, but some services still will be impacted. As always, please call ahead by reaching us at 717-787-8808 during our business hours to discuss your specific needs.
HPAI Testing for Companion Animals
Testing of cats for HPAI is available at the PADLS laboratories under certain circumstances. More information, including sample guidance, submission forms, and shipping information, is available on the PADLS website, and on the AVMA’s resource page (Avian influenza A (H5N1) in cats | American Veterinary Medical Association). Veterinarians may request testing of cats exhibiting clinical signs of H5N1 in the following circumstances if any of these criteria apply:
  1. Cat resides on a dairy farm or otherwise exposed to raw milk
  2. Cat has outdoor access and potential for contact with wild birds
  3. Cat is fed a raw diet
Options for testing include:
  1. Antemortem testing: Veterinarians may submit a deep nasal or oropharyngeal swab with a request for HPAI testing.
  2. Postmortem testing: Veterinarians may request testing for HPAI on cats submitted for rabies testing. HPAI testing will not be performed until rabies testing is complete.
Veterinarians are reminded to report domestic animals suspected of having rabies to the Department. If none of the above apply, HPAI testing in companion animals requires approval from the Department. Test requests directly from owners without a referring veterinarian will not be accepted. Veterinarians should contact PADLS prior to sample submission. Backyard poultry should not be submitted to PADLS without prearrangement if HPAI is suspected. In many cases the bird can be swabbed and the swab can be submitted for testing instead of the deceased animal.
Theileria orientalis survey
PADLS PVL has launched a Theileria orientalis survey. To participate, complete the survey here.
Out-of-State Mammalian Necropsy submission pre-approval
Out-of-State mammalaian necropsy submissions require pre-approval by the receiving laboratory. After hours submissions may not be possible. Carcasses cannot be released from the laboratory once submitted, so after hours submissions which have not been pre-approved will be subject to disposal at the owner's expense.
Response to reported HPAI affecting dairy cattle
For the latest updates regarding HPAI affecting dairy cattle, please see the HPAI in Dairy Cattle option under the Disease Information menu.
Animal Diagnostic Lab (PSU) Mammalian Necropsy Services
We’re excited to announce that effective immediately, the Animal Diagnostic Lab (PSU) is accepting mammalian necropsy cases. Our new mammalian pathologist, Dane Rahoi, DVM, Dipl. ACVP, is eager to work with you to solve disease situations you and your clients are facing.

We’re still working on hiring a second pathologist to work alongside Dr. Rahoi, so there may be an occasional time when our response time might be slightly delayed. Please feel free to call with any questions or concerns! ADL Main office - (814) 863-0837; Dr. Rahoi - (814) 865-3728; Dr. Hovingh - (814) 863-3745

There is no longer a need to call ahead to submit a case to the lab. Outside of regular hours and on weekends, carcasses may once again be left in the necropsy cooler. Please make sure the appropriate paperwork is completed. And just a reminder that on “home game” weekends it can be a significant challenge, if not impossible, to get to the ADL, so plan accordingly if your clients need to drop off a carcass those weekends.

New Bolton Center Lab (PADLS-NBC) Mammalian Pathology Services

The PADLS-NBC Mammalian Pathology Autopsy Service routinely accepts cases for biopsy/immunohistochemistry (fixed tissue), autopsy/necropsy, and rabies testing. Our laboratory is open for submissions Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:30 pm.


All mammalian autopsy submissions and samples for rabies testing require a call-ahead prior to arrival at NBC. Priority may be given to large animal/food animal submissions and cases with infectious disease/herd health concerns.

  • During normal business hours, please call (610) 925-6232
  • Outside of business hours, please call (610) 444-5800 and ask for the on-call pathologist
  • After-hours drop-off of autopsy or rabies submissions is not available at our lab. Drop off hours are:
    • Monday through Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm
    • Weekends and holidays, 6am-1pm
  • Forensic/Legal type cases must be pre-arranged, please call for availability
  • Out-of-state submissions may be deferred to their in-state diagnostic laboratories
  • Small/companion animal submissions may be referred to the Penn Vet Diagnostic Laboratories (Philadelphia campus)

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.

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

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:

More Info