Testing laboratory "NoVetLab Ukraine"

Rules for collecting and sending samples for testing for the presence of specific antibodies against rabies by the FAVN method:

o Blood for testing pets for the presence of specific antibodies against rabies should be collected by a veterinarian at least 30 days after vaccination (the time required for the formation of specific antibodies in the body) and no later than 3 months before the animal is transported to the European Union (in accordance with European Commission Decision No. 576/2013).

o Blood tests for the presence of specific antibodies are performed only on identified (chipped) animals.

o The animal’s starvation diet does not affect the amount and presence of antibodies in the body, therefore, blood samples are taken from the animal regardless of its feeding and diet.

In dogs, cats and fur-bearing animals, blood is taken from the lateral saphenous vein of the forearm or lower leg, 2.5-5.0 ml per animal, in order to obtain, after settling or centrifugation, 0.5-1.0 ml of serum for further research.

The laboratory accepts whole blood samples, provided that it is transported in a thermocontainer with a cooler. The period of blood delivery to the laboratory from the moment of its collection should not exceed 3 hours.

If it is not possible to deliver the blood to the laboratory within 3 hours from the time of collection, serum or plasma should be obtained.

To obtain blood serum by the settling method, after blood collection, it is left in a syringe in an upright position or transferred to a test tube and left for 1-2 hours at room temperature, and then refrigerated at 4-8°C for 5-10 hours. The colour of the separated serum should be from light yellow to pink (slight haemolysis is allowed, but transparency should be maintained). The serum is collected in an epidural tube in an amount of at least 0.5 ml, preferably with a screw cap.

Plasma is obtained by centrifugation as follows. The blood is placed in a centrifuge tube and centrifuged at a speed of 2-4 thousand revolutions per minute in a microcentrifuge for 8-10 minutes. After that, the plasma is taken into an epidural tube in an amount of at least 0.5 ml. Place the tube in a plastic bag with a zip-top closure. The package is placed in a thermocontainer (thermos) with ice (In accordance with the “Rules for the transportation of pathological/biological material”, the container used for delivery is NOT returned!)

Serum samples can be frozen for storage and transportation (repeated freezing and thawing does not affect the results of these tests!).

Incorrectly collected samples (insufficient amount of serum, haemolysis, unsuitable for analysis), as well as samples with violation of the integrity of the tube, are not subject to testing!

In addition to the blood serum, the laboratory should be provided with (sent) a package of documents:

1. An accompanying document with the signature of the doctor who performed the blood sampling and the seal of the clinic. It is filled in in Ukrainian and English (in block letters – based on passport data).
2. A photocopy of all completed pages of the animal’s passport (including pages with a mark of identification (chip number) and vaccinations). All entries in the animal’s passport must be filled in in two languages simultaneously – Ukrainian and English!
3. A photocopy of the first page of the passport of the owner or the person accompanying the transport.
4. A copy of the receipt of payment for the service. The purpose of payment must include the owner’s name and the animal’s name.
5. In case you want to receive the results of the study by Nova Poshta, please attach a note with the following information: city, branch or post office of Nova Poshta, full name and phone number of the recipient.