Transporting a blood sample from Canada to Cornell
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Sue
Hi Everyone,I would like to get Busy's blood work done at Cornell again but the last time I shipped a sample Fed Ex it cost me $198.00 to ship it. I can't afford to do that again and thought that I would take the short 2 hour drive to Ithaca and take it myself. I have called every USDA, FSIS, APHIS, Canadian and US border agency numbers that I can find and have been unsuccessful in getting the information about what I need to cross the border with a blood sample. Does anyone have experience with this or any tricks for getting a lower Fed Ex rate.
Thanks Sue and Busy Kingston, ON October 2010 |
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Lavinia Fiscaletti
Hi Sue, Have you called Cornell directly and asked them about shipping discounts? That would probably be the fastest/easiest way. They have discount labels available but I don't know how/if that applies to samples from Canada. Lavinia, Dante, George Too and Peanut Jan 05, RI EC Support Team |
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Hey Sue Try this for discounted shipping labels
https://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/docs/Shipping_Discount_Program_Information.pdf Jean and Amber in South Carolina August 2004 |
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Sue
Hi Lavinia and Jean,Thank you, I got all excited to see your newer version of the discount information than the one that is currently in the ECIR files, unfortunately they still don't cover Canada although they said that they are working on it.
I just got off of the phone with Cornell and they don't know what I would need to bring a blood sample over the border. As our hay samples need Prior Notice to go to Equi-analytical I am assuming that something will be needed for me to transport blood over the border. So I still need help! Sue and Busy Kingston ON October 2010 |
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gentpony
Hi Sue, The courier rates for cross border shipping are astronomical due to charges for brokerage fees. Don’t think there is any way around this.
This post /thread will be of interest for international shipping to Cornell. Maybe Connie or Betty Ann have more information to add:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/EquineCushings/conversations/topics/187082 In Post 197099 - Shipping Specimens to the AHDC - Contact info for Lisa on page 4 (phone 607-253-3938) for International sample permit and information.
------ I just found this International Shipping Document Template for canine samples. Have your vet adapt this for equine (horse) use…. preferably written on his/her letterhead stationery. It will be some proof that the sample is indeed horse blood intended for analysis. Since web URLS are always changing, I’ve copied the content of the link.
https://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/docs/PHPTShippingTemplate.pdf [This is a TEMPLATE only. This is an example of how to prepare an appropriate document to accompany an international sample from a canine.]
Foreign Shipper Name (such as Veterinary Office; Use official letterhead, if possible) Physical Address of this foreign shipper City, State, postal Code Country Phone number of foreign shipper E-mail contact for foreign shipper Month/Day/Year (MM/DD/YYYY)
1. This package contains a sample(s) of blood for diagnostic testing from a canine (dog). 2. This package does not contain any other animal derived material. There is no material of livestock or poultry origin. 3. The material in this package was not derived from any animals of the canine species which were inoculated with or exposed to any infectious agents of USDA concern. This package is being submitted to the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine for diagnostic testing only.
Signature of shipper Printed name of shipper [Make at least 3 copies of this document. Sign each copy separately. Place them in an unsealed pouch on the outside of the package.] -----
If you could drive the samples directly to the lab yourself, that would be IDEAL. You would know that it arrived safely in its frozen state because you can have it in your own cooler with lots of ice / ice packs.
I’ve listed other options below, but whatever method you choose, maybe please consider doing testing at both Guelph and Cornell on the same sample. I know how expensive testing is here in Canada, but this would be providing important information on how comparable the results from the 2 labs are. Few of us have the opportunity you have to get blood quickly and “easily” to Cornell and avoid the perils of thawing and shipping delays. If the 2 labs are highly comparable, there should be less need to send to Cornell in the future, and will give some context to past results for everyone. To ensure the ACTH / insulin is homogenous for both samples, the vet can draw into a 60 cc plastic syringe using a large bore needle, and use that to fill all the usual tubes, being careful to do so slowly to avoid hemolysis. This procedure should not affect the test results, according to Dr Kellon (email question to Understanding Blood Work Course).
Other options: -Take the samples across the border yourself, then ship to Cornell via U.S. courier using one of Cornell’s discount shipping labels. Note: risk of thawing in transit.
-Ship the sample to Guelph as usual, but have them forward the sample to Cornell for you. We found that we paid much less for the shipping than if we sent it ourselves. We have done this in the past, to both Cornell and KSU, but drove the sample to Guelph to ensure optimal condition of samples for forwarding. With shipping to Guelph, there is a chance that the sample might thaw in transit before it reaches the lab, so its condition might be questionable for sending on to Cornell, even with Guelph putting it in their freezer before it was shipped. Proper packaging is vital. Even with this method, there can be delays in transit. Call or email Guelph beforehand to find out all the costs. http://www.guelphlabservices.com/AHL/Contact.aspx With my vet’s permission, I spoke to someone in General Enquiries 519-825-4120 Ext 54530 - was directed to Kris -Ext 54548 for the actual prices. I explained that I was calling on behalf of Dr X who was very busy. There are 3 charges: 1. the external lab sample handling fee, 2. the charge for the lab analysis (Cornell’s lab fee), and 3. shipping fee (transportation to USA) For example, in July 2012 our vet was billed by Guelph $9.25 + 41.00 + 44.00 = $94.25 Canadian dollars to send ACTH / Insulin to Cornell. (Your vet might mark up any fees, so ask about that too so there will be no surprises.) Guelph lab does all the paperwork. I then was advised to speak to Dr. Jim Fairles so he would know what was going on http://www.guelphlabservices.com/AHL/Bio_J_Fairles.aspx I explained what we wanted to do and was instructed to write in the History section of Guelph’s Equine Submission Form: “ATTN Dr. Jim Fairles: Please forward sample for xacth ACTH to external lab Cornell “. We ALSO marked the bottom portion of the form under Endocrinology beside the spot for ACTH, ”PLUS xacthe” since we were doing both Guelph and Cornell ACTH tests. If you are only doing the external lab, would mark the ACTH dot, but cross out the “acth” code and write in “external xacthe”. Dr. Fairles said that they would put the sample in their freezer upon receipt and it would be sent out to Cornell the following Monday. Make SURE you specify Cornell, since the usual external lab that Guelph uses for ACTH is MSU!!!! We originally only wanted ACTH, but Cornell later contacted Guelph and said they would not just test for ACTH….they would only do ACTH / insulin, so there was a delay while Guelph contacted our vet to get permission. You need to get that sorted out ahead of time. The code for external lab insulin would be “xins”, but do check on this.
Eva SW Ontario, March 2005 |
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Sue
Wow, thanks Eva,You have done so much work here, I understand that because I have been working on this for over a week and haven't gotten anywhere near this much information. These are all great options. I did speak to Leslie at Cornell this afternoon and she was very helpful. She said that she would send a copy of their permit to my vet, she felt that combined with a letter from the vet (3 copies signed) saying that Busy didn't have any diseases would be enough to get me over the border with the sample.
I think that if I could get Guelph to send it to Cornell instead of MSU that would be good too. I will talk to my vet and we can decide what to do. I would love to test from the same sample at both places unfortunately I couldn't afford to do that, one of the biggest questions I have is how reliable are the test results as they are always all over the place. Sometimes they get lost, they take so long to get back sometimes and I question if they are even my horses as they are sometimes so out of whack. The last test was done at Cornell and it was back to me in 2 days! Thanks again, I will post what happens. Sue and Busy Kingston ON October 2010 |
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Betty Ann
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My vet took care of sending the samples so I'm not
sure what steps he had to follow. I do know that he mentioned the fee for the
courier was $125.00.
Betty Ann
mar 08
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Connie Proceviat
Hi All,
I am also trying to coordinate a fall blood sample to Cornell but only one vet that I know of in our area has sent samples to Cornell in the past. I am trying to get details and total cost from him now which has been a challenge. The samples we did last spring went to Guelph. I'll post as I learn more.
Best, Connie & Falki Manitoba Canada August 2013
---In EquineCushings@..., <lucke@...> wrote : My vet took care of sending the samples so I'm not
sure what steps he had to follow. I do know that he mentioned the fee for the
courier was $125.00. Betty Ann mar |
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This is their general information page on shipping:https://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/shipping/
for specific information on shipping from Canada, call them: https://ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/contact/
Eleanor in PA
EC Co-owner Feb 2001 |
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Sue
Hi Dr. Kellon and Everyone,
Unfortunately UPS and FedEX don't have a discounted rate for blood from Canada but they are working on it. I could send it from Watertown N.Y. and get the discount even without the discount it is only $54. compared to $200. but I would have to take it over the border. When I spoke to the helpful staff at Cornell they had Dr. Pasnik contact me and he was also very helpful and sent me the following information, I hope it is okay to include this! Below is information about becoming eAuthenticated. Once you complete that process, you can apply for the permit online and import the horse blood from Canada: To apply for a veterinary import permit, the person located in the US or who operates a business in the United States will need to apply for a United States Veterinary Permit to Import or Transport Controlled Materials and Organisms or Vectors. The application is VS Form 16-3. It may be submitted by mail or fax, or, if e-authenticated, submission may be done on-line. The permit application and instructions, including information on the user fee and e-authentication, is available on our website: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/permits/ David J. Pasnik, DVM, MS Veterinary Medical Officer USDA, APHIS, VS This is wonderful of him to send but I can't do this. It is just too much, I really strugle with Prior Notice for hay testing, this is just too much. So I either pay the $200. for FedEx to send it or go with Idexx, my vet said that she will ask if Idexx can send it to Cornell but I am beaten otherwise! Sue and Busy Kingston, ON October 2010 |
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