USDA - APHIS - Animal Health - Veterinary Services

Contact Information

The National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has laboratories in two locations: Ames, Iowa and the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL) at Plum Island, New York. Diagnostic test services range from a single laboratory test to comprehensive laboratory services covering many pathogens for a suspected disease outbreak. Click on each link to learn more about the NVSL laboratories.

Office of the Director – Ames, Iowa
(515) 337-7301

Diagnostic Bacteriology Laboratory (DBL) - Ames, Iowa
(515) 337-7568

Diagnostic Virology Laboratory (DVL) - Ames, Iowa
(515) 337-7551

Pathobiology Laboratory (PL) - Ames, Iowa
(515) 337-7526

Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL) - Plum Island, New York
(631) 323-3256

National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) - Ames, Iowa
(515) 337-7731

If you have questions about your diagnostic test report, please contact the NVSL Case Coordinator at (515) 337-7514.

If you have questions about your bill, reagent orders, or if you would like to set up a User Fees account at NVSL, please contact User Fees at (515) 337-6200 or nvsl_concerns@aphis.usda.gov.

The NCAH Shipping Department may be reached at
(515) 337-7530 or NVSLShipping@aphis.usda.gov.

Hours of Operation

NVSL-Ames normal business hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Central Time, Monday through Friday.
NVSL-FADDL normal business hours are 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

The laboratory occasionally closes due to inclement weather. If this is a concern, please visit the Ames ARS and APHIS Operational Status webpage for Ames operational status or call (631) 323-3256 for Plum Island.

Please visit OPM’s website for a listing of federal holidays observed at the NVSL. Periodically, our normal business hours are affected by a holiday. Please contact the laboratory to verify business hours if you plan to submit a sample around one of these holidays.

Please note: Samples received on weekends, on holidays, and after hours are refrigerated until the next business day, unless previous arrangements have been made with the laboratories.

Addresses

Ames, Iowa facilities:	Plum Island, New York facilities:
Letters: USDA-APHIS-VS-NVSL P.O. Box 844 Ames, IA 50010	Letters: USDA-APHIS-VS-NVSL-FADDL P.O. Box 848 Greenport, NY 11944-0848
Diagnostic Samples:	Diagnostic Samples:
Other Packages: USDA-APHIS-VS-NVSL 1920 Dayton Ave. Ames, IA 50010	Other Packages: USDA-APHIS-VS-NVSL-FADDL 40550 Route 25 Orient, NY 11957
E-mail: NVSL_Concerns@aphis.usda.gov nahln@aphis.usda.gov (NAHLN issues only)