Accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, ViTALS is the on-site interdisciplinary diagnostic laboratory of the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

Woman doing lab work in the ViTALS Laboratory at VMCVM.
ViTALS Techs

ViTALS Diagnostic Laboratory

ViTALS offers quality veterinary diagnostic services to external veterinarians through diagnostic service sections including anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, clinical microbiology, clinical immunology, clinical parasitology, and clinical molecular diagnostics. 

To learn more about ViTALS's services and laboratory submission process, please contact Lab Central Receiving at vitalslcr@vt.edu or 540-231-4320.

Submission Forms for Diagnostic Testing

General Laboratory Submission Form
Multiple Patient Laboratory Submission Form
Necropsy Submission Form
Cytology Submission Form
Histology Submission Form

Submission Guidelines

A veterinarian must make all submission requests to ensure that s/he is involved in the interpretation of test results and formulation of plans for patient care. The necropsy service is the lone exception to this requirement.

  • Label ALL specimens with the patient and owner name.
  • Label containers/slides/swabs with collection site and collection date.

General Instructions

  • Complete the appropriate ViTALS Laboratory submission form for the testing requested.
  • Forms should be legible and complete to avoid any confusion in the testing requested, the patient/owner information, or the clinic/clinician information.

History

  • Submit a complete, concise history where indicated on the submission form.
  • Provide as much information as possible to aid the laboratory in the diagnostic process.
  • Indicate all treatments and vaccinations.
  • List impressions or suspected causes of the problem.

Microbiology Submissions

  • Microbiology sample collection best practicies can be found here.

  • To ensure that your laboratory and necropsy samples are sent under optimal conditions and arrive to ViTALS in a timely manner, please follow our recommended shipping instructions.

General Necropsy Submissions

  • Necropsy Submission Guidelines document outlines all submission requirements for necropsy samples.
  • We prefer that necropsy submission requests come through a veterinarian; however, owners who live within a 35-mile radius of the veterinary college may submit carcasses or bodies for necropsy without a veterinarian's request.
  • Pre-payment of necropsy and other support services provided by necropsy may be required at time of submission.

When should I expect my necropsy report?

  • Final Necropsy Reports are distributed typically within 10 business days or less. For timeframes for other result reports, please contact ViTALS for more information.

How will I receive my report?

  • Reports will be distributed to the veterinarian listed on the submission form via fax, email, or mail, depending on the clinic’s report-delivery preferences.

What if I need to know necropsy results as quickly as possible because of herd health issues?

  • Upon submission, please indicate this requirement to the necropsy technician, veterinary student, pathology resident, or pathologist so that your request can be accommodated accordingly.

If I have performed a necropsy in the field, what is the best way to get the samples submitted for evaluation?

  • We offer limited courier service to veterinarians in the New River Valley. Please contact Diamond McClendon at diamondm@vt.edu to inquire about availability.
  • The Courier Serivce schedule can be found here. 

  • Tests not listed on the ViTALS Tests and Fees document may be available at another laboratory. We can recommend a referral laboratory; however, you are encouraged to deal directly with the referral laboratory since additional fees are applied to samples handled and shipped by ViTALS.

  • Samples submitted and/or derived from laboratory submissions become the property of ViTALS and may be used in research, teaching, test-method validation, quality control, etc.
  • No human samples will be accepted.
  • We reserve the right to assess Hazard Fees to leaking containers or containers contaminated with blood, urine, feces, etc.
  • Any work subcontracted by ViTALS will be indicated as such on the laboratory report.

Laboratory Sample Drop-Offs

For sample drop-offs to the ViTALS Laboratory during normal business hours:

  • Samples should be placed in a zip-closure bag or ViTALS specimen bag
  • A completed ViTALS submission form should be in the outer pocket of the specimen bag or attached in a separate bag if using zip-closure bags.
  • Drive up to the Small Animal Hospital and park at one of the numbered parking spaces. Call 540-231-4320 to let Lab Central Receiving know you are here, and someone will come out to your car to receive the sample as soon as possible.