MONTANA
VETERINARY
DIAGNOSTIC
LABORATORY
PHONE: (406) 994-4885
FAX: (406) 994-6344
WEBSITE: www.liv.mt.gov/lab
WEB RESULTS: https://mvdl.mt.gov
E-MAIL: mvdl@mt.gov
Rabies is a highly infectious and if untreated, fatal disease. All cases for testing should be considered infectious and protecting oneself from inadvertent exposure is imperative. Trained and preferably vaccinated individuals, such as veterinarians, should collect and handle specimens for testing from potentially infected animals. Call the laboratory, a veterinarian, a local public health official or reference Centers of Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) guidelines https://www.cdc.gov/rabies/index.html before risking exposure.
Small animals - e.g. dogs, cats and skunks: decapitated head with entire, intact brain in skull
Large animals - e.g. horses and cows: entire, intact brain including the cerebellum and brain stem
Other small mammals - e.g. bats and mice: entire carcass
All specimens can and will be tested; unsuitable condition will be noted in the result interpretation.
Personal protective items as recommended by veterinarian, MVDL personnel, public health official or CDC.
Plastic bags, e.g. Ziploc\circledR-type freezer bags, trash bags.
Indelible marker (e.g. Sharpie\circledR pen).
Absorbent material to place in shipping container.
Insulated shipping container.
1-3 frozen gel packs.
Place each specimen in a plastic bag; securely seal and place in second plastic bag and securely seal.
Individually identify all specimen or animal bags to match submission form.
If submitting multiple animals, individually bag and identify animals.
Place enough absorbent material in insulated shipping container to prevent exterior contamination.
Place specimen on 1-3 ice packs for shipping (depending on size of specimen and weather).
Complete submission form in its entirety and place in a separate sealed plastic bag.
Seal insulated shipping container.
Samples should be shipped the same day of collection; if this is not possible, REFRIGERATE until send out.
Submissions may be sent via U.S. Postal Service, Fed Ex, UPS, or hand delivered to the MVDL physical address above.
Shipping costs will not be assumed by the laboratory.
US mail is delivered and processed on Saturday; Fed-Ex & UPS do NOT deliver to MVDL on weekends.
If samples are expected to arrive on the weekend, please contact the laboratory.
Specimens received by 10 A.M. will be tested the day received:
Results are usually available after 3 P.M.
The submitter will be notified via phone regarding results unless otherwise requested.
Please see our website for current testing fees; carcass disposal fees will be assessed and are weight dependent except for bats and small rodents.
If additional information, assistance or disease investigation is needed, please call the laboratory.