• Animal Health
 /  
• Laboratory Information and Services

Contact the NVSL/Hours of Operation

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 a particular type of testing, click here for a list of contact numbers sorted by test performed. This list is not exhaustive; for testing not listed, see the NVSL Diagnostic catalog and call the main number for the responsible laboratory, as listed above.

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@usda.gov.

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

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.