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Animal Health

Ordering Reagents and Proficiency Tests

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Complete VS Form 4-9 (Request for Reagents), following the instructions included with the form, and submit:

By fax:  (515) 337-7402

By mail:
National Veterinary Services Laboratories
User Fees
P.O. Box 844
Ames, IA 50010

By Email:  Email your completed VS Form 4-9 (Request for Reagents) to: NVSL_concerns@aphis.usda.gov

Note:  Orders will not be accepted by telephone.

Questions
For questions regarding the reagent ordering process, please call (515) 337-6200 or send an e-mail.

Payment       ________________________ 
When ordering reagents subject to a fee, payment must be included with the order unless an account is already established with the USDA. Click here for more details.

Shipping Details and Fees                            
Most reagents are shipped within 10 working days. Some reagents are produced at the time of order, which may extend the shipping date beyond 10 working days.
Standard shipping fees apply for all non-program reagents:

  • $10.00 for reagents shipped within the United States
  • $50.00 for reagents shipped to Canada
  • $150.00 for reagents shipped outside the United States or Canada
  • $50.00 additional for rush shipping (shipment within three days from receipt of order). Clients must call (515) 337-6200 to confirm rush orders.
  • Additional shipping fees may apply if ordering a quantity requiring more than one shipping container.
  • Additional fees may apply for certain check test panels or shipments with special requirements.

Upon receipt of reagents, check the contents of the shipment against the original order and information on the packing list. If discrepancies occur, immediately call the User Fee Help Line at (515) 337-6200.

Permits                                                          
This is intended to be a basic guideline for transport permits required for domestic (within the United States) shipment of reagents and proficiency tests.  International shipment of reagents may require additional permits, and the laboratory should be contacted at nvsl_concerns@aphis.usda.gov or (515) 337-7266 for more information.

Shipment of certain reagents, including live agents, requires VS “Permit to Import Controlled Material or Transport Organisms or Vectors or Animal Products and By-Products”. These permits can be obtained by filling out VS Form 16-3 found on the National Center for Import and Export webpage.  If you are unsure whether the reagents or proficiency tests require a permit, please contact us at nvsl_concerns@aphis.usda.gov or (515) 337-7266.  Make sure you have the name and reagent code of the reagents available.

Some live agents require additional permits:

  • Select agents are regulated by the National Select Agent Registry. Please visit their website at www.selectagents.gov for information about transfer of select agents.
  • Certain organisms, including Taylorella equigenitalis, require a VS permit that specifies the agent.

Material Safety Data Sheets                        
There are only three items shipped by the NVSL that require a material safety data sheet (MSDS) as specified in the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (Title 29, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1910.1200). Tuberculosis sampling kits distributed by the NVSL contain a 10% formalin solution (neutral buffered, pH 7) and a 6% sodium tetraborate decahydrate solution. Dry ice is sometimes used to ship biological materials.

  • MSDS for 10% formalin
  • MSDS for sodium tetraborate decahydrate
  • MSDS for dry ice

Call (515) 337-5555 if you have questions regarding a chemical hazard or about material safety data sheets for materials you receive from the NVSL.

 

 

 

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Last Modified: November 15, 2012


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