INFORMATION ON REAGENTS

Diagnostic reagents are produced by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) as needed when a commercial source of reagent is not available or when commercial sources are not fulfilling diagnostic needs. Reagents are provided on receipt of a VS form 4-9 (Request for Reagents). To expedite ordering, the reagent request should include complete reagent code numbers that are listed in this catalog and signatures by the appropriate approving official. To ensure accuracy, orders should be sent by mail, facsimile, or electronic mail, but not by telephone.

Certain reagents for APHIS programs are not subject to charge. Payment for services must be received in advance unless an account is already established with USDA. Payment may be in the form of check or money order, bank draft in U.S. dollars made payable to USDA, or Visa/MasterCard. If paying with a credit card, please include the credit card number and expiration date on the form 4-9. If an account is available, and the services are to be billed to this account, please write the account number on the  form 4-9. When ordering reagents from NVSL, please include payment with the order. If you do not have an account and would like one, please contact APHIS Business Services in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at Area Code (612) 370-2291.

Reagent requests from outside the United States must be accompanied by an import permit or a letter from an animal health official that a permit is unnecessary.

Shipping fees apply for all nonprogram reagents shipped. The shipping fee for reagents shipped within the United States is $10.00. Shipping fee to Canada is $50.00; foreign shipment fee is $150.00. Additional shipping fees may apply if ordering a large quantity requiring more than one shipping container. Generally, reagents are shipped within ten working days after receipt of order. Some reagents need to be propagated, which will extend the shipment date beyond ten working days. The NVSL also has a rush shipping fee of $50.00, which applies to all orders which are requested in three days or less after receipt of order. Clients must call to confirm rush orders at (515) 633-7571.

For each new laboratory requesting reagents, the NVSL will assign a permanent laboratory identifying number preceded by the letter L. This number is in the upper right-hand corner of the packing list, just above the laboratory address. The packing list is sent with each shipment of reagents. Please include this number and the laboratory telephone number on the form 4-9 when placing subsequent reagent orders. If there are any questions regarding reagent ordering, please contact the Financial Assistant at Area Code (515) 663-7571.

On receipt of reagents in the laboratory, the contents of the shipment should be reconciled with the order and with the information on the packing list. If discrepancies occur, immediately call the User Fee Help Line [(515) 663-7571] so that corrections can be made.

Return completed form 4-9 to:

National Veterinary Services Laboratories
Reagents Office
P.O. Box 844
Ames, IA 50010
Fax: (515) 663-7402