Cornell's Animal Health Diagnostic Lab - A Resource for NYS Livestock Farmers

by Amy Barkley, Livestock Specialist, SWNYDLFC

As part of its mission, Cornell's Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC) offers valuable diagnostic services to New York State livestock producers. This state-of-the-art facility is staffed by a team of veterinarians, pathologists, and scientists dedicated to determining the causes of animal illness and death. These services can be especially important in cases of high mortality in herds or flocks, or when the cause of illness is unclear.

When animals are submitted, they undergo a gross necropsy, where the body is opened up and the tissues are evaluated by eye. Samples of tissues that may be associated with the mortality or illness based on client-reported history will be taken and evaluated microscopically, by culturing bacteria, and/or testing for viruses. This comprehensive evaluation will many times, but not always, identify an exact cause of illness/death. In some forensic cases, a definitive diagnosis may not be possible, and a best estimate is provided based on pathological findings and the animal's history.

Services are available for a wide range of species, from poultry to cattle, and include abortion case evaluations. Fees are based on animal weight, and costs are subsidized for NYS residents. A detailed fee schedule is available at: https://app.vet.cornell.edu/ahdc-portal/test-fee.

Whole animals can be delivered to the diagnostic lab or shipped via overnight mail. If shipping, recognize that the weight of the shipment is limited by the postal carrier, so check with them before shipping larger animals. Freshly dead or euthanized animals are the best candidates for evaluation, since their tissues have not yet had a chance to break down. Animals being shipped need to be shipped on ice, and should be sent out earlier in the week to ensure that they make it to the lab during operating days. Calling the lab prior at 607-253-3319 will allow you to get information on how to ship or deliver your samples. They will also send you the sample submission form.

While it's required to work with a veterinarian to interpret the diagnosis and treatment recommendations for most species, poultry can be sent independently of a vet, with the results interpreted by a veterinarian on the Center's staff. For all species, it generally takes 1-2 weeks to get preliminary results, with some cases taking up to 4 weeks to finalize.

We encourage producers to take advantage of this local service if they have any concerns about mysterious illnesses or death in their livestock. Early diagnosis can help protect the health of the rest of your animals and your peace of mind.