Specimen Reception update
Jim Fairles
Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON
A Reminder to our Veterinary Clients that we must abide by the VCPR
The Animal Health Laboratory does not have a veterinary client patient relationship (VCPR) with owners, and thus cannot provide advice, results or invoices directly to your clients (owners) without your consent.
https://www.uoguelph.ca/ahl/ahl-client-communications-and-veterinarian-client-patient-relationship
We would be glad to discuss any testing related questions with you - the veterinarian. If an owner does contact us, we must refer them back to you as their veterinarian to provide testing advice. We are glad to discuss any testing related questions with you at any time.
Jim Fairles, Client Services Veterinarian.
Milk submissions to the AHL Milk Bacteriology Laboratory that also require testing at the Agriculture and Food Laboratory (AFL) Dairy Analysis Section
For milk submissions, please note that the AHL Mastitis lab requires a minimum of 5mL of milk for bacterial and bulk tank culture and/or bacterial counts. Should you also require testing for somatic cell counts or BactoScan (tests performed at AFL - Dairy Analysis), you will need to submit an additional 20mL of milk to complete testing for either SCC or BactoScan (40 mL if both required).
Example 1 = milk submitted to AHL for mastitis culture + SCC = minimum 25 mL milk required (equivalent to 2 yellow-capped vials)
Example 2 = milk submitted to AHL for mastitis culture + SCC + BactoScan = minimum 45 mL milk required (equivalent to 3 yellow-capped vials)
Please note:
- Milk requiring SCC testing should be fresh, never frozen.
- Milk for mastitis culture and BactoScan cannot have any additives or preservatives
- Milk should always be kept cool and sent to the lab testing within 72 h of collection.
- Freezing is recommended only if samples will not be delivered to the lab within 72 h of collection.
If there are any questions, feel contact the AHL Bacteriology lab at mastitis@uoguelph.ca or 519-824-4120 ext. 54528. For questions related to tests performed at the Dairy Analysis laboratory, contact 519-824-4120 ext. 57273 or email Looknauth Ramshaoi at lramsaho@uoguelph.ca .