Diagnostic Testing at the NVSL

Last Modified: April 16, 2025

The National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) has laboratories in two locations: Ames, IA, and the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (FADDL) at Plum Island, NY. Diagnostic test services range from a single laboratory test to comprehensive laboratory services covering many pathogens for a suspected disease outbreak.

Browse our services conducted at each location and other resources below.

Catalogs

Text in the following PDF-format catalogs is fully searchable. When the catalog displays, click the Search feature (binoculars icon) in the Adobe Acrobat toolbar or CTRL + F to type in keywords. 

Items requested from the NVSL catalog may not be available or may be limited in quantity at any time due to domestic testing or production priorities.

Unfamiliar with an abbreviation or acronym in the catalogs? See catalog definitions. (9.06 KB)

Unfamiliar with an abbreviation or acronym in a diagnostic test report? See report definitions. (37.55 KB)

More Resources

Submitting Diagnostic Samples to the NVSL

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.

Ownership of Specimens: All diagnostic specimens and all agents/isolates submitted to the NVSL will become the property of the NVSL unless arrangements are made in writing at, or prior to, the time of submission. Proprietary restrictions must be stated at, or prior to, the time of submission.

Quality Assurance at the NVSL

The NVSL Quality Management System is accredited to ISO 17025, ISO 17043, and ISO 17034. Visit Quality Assurance at the NVSL to learn more about the NVSL Quality Management System and the scope of accreditation.

APHIS-Approved Laboratories

Testing for certain types of diseases is required to be performed at either NVSL or APHIS-approved, non-USDA facilities. Visit APHIS-Approved Testing Laboratories approved to perform corresponding tests.