Guidance
APHA: where to send samples for testing and common test codes
Find out the tests that are most commonly requested from APHA, their test codes, and the correct laboratory to send samples.
Applies to England and Wales
Vets can use this guidance to find out the tests that are most commonly requested from APHA, their test codes, and an appropriate laboratory to send samples.
View the contact details and addresses for all APHA Veterinary Investigation Centres.
Where to send samples
If you need one type of test
Send all the samples to any APHA laboratory which carries out the test you need.
Read all sections of this guide to find out which laboratory carries out those tests.
If you need different types of test
Send all the samples in a mixed submission to any laboratory which carries out at least one of the tests you need.
Do this unless you have samples for:
- bacteriology - send all samples to a bacteriology laboratory
- parasitology - send all samples to a parasitology laboratory
Read all sections of this guide to find out which laboratory carries out at least one of the tests you need.
Blood and milk serology
Send the following samples to Weybridge:
- all bloods
- individual and bulk milk for antibody or antigen ELISA testing
Bacteriological culture
Bacteriology samples take priority, and any submissions with samples for bacteriology should be sent to the bacteriology laboratory.
For example, if you have bloods for serology and tissue for culture work, send the submission to a bacteriology laboratory.
| Description | Send to | Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Primary bacterial culture and presumptive identification | Starcross or Penrith | TC0101 |
| Campylobacter culture and basic ID (excluding vaginal mucus or sheath washings) | Starcross or Penrith | TC0026 |
| Salmonella culture - ID to group level | Starcross or Penrith | TC0025 |
| Anaerobic bacterial culture - ID and sensitivity as appropriate | Starcross or Penrith | TC0528 |
| Antibiotic sensitivity - aerobe (per plate used) | Starcross or Penrith | TC0401 |
| Fluorescent antibody test - B. hyodysenteriae, Strep suis, C. novyi, C. chauvoei or C. septicum | Starcross or Penrith | TC0032 |
| BS7 and abortion bacteriology | Starcross or Penrith | |
| Primary isolation of Haemophilus parasuis (Hps) from suspect cases in pigs | Starcross | TC0103 |
| Brachyspira culture | Starcross | TC0331 |
| Brachyspira identification (as required) | Starcross | TC0332 |
| E.coli Adhesin test - Fimbrex kit (per test K88, K99, 987P) | Starcross | TC0829 |
Enteric disease
| Description | Send to | Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Enteric package 1 to 5 day old pigs | Starcross | PC0067 |
| Pre- and Peri-weaned enteric package for 6 day to 6 week old pigs | Starcross | PC0068 |
| Grower-Adult enteric package pigs over 6 weeks | Starcross | PC0072 |
| Enteric package 1 to 5 day old calves | Starcross | PC0069 |
| Enteric package 1 to 5 day old small ruminants (including goats) | Penrith or Starcross | PC0059 |
| Enteric package 6 to 21 day old lambs (including goats) | Penrith | PC0066 |
| Enteric package 6 to 21 day old calves | Penrith | PC0070 |
| Enteric package young ruminants from 22 days | Carmarthen | PC0071 |
| Enteric package adult cattle | Carmarthen | PC0073 |
| Enteric package adult sheep and goats | Carmarthen | PC0075 |
| Johnes disease - MAP liquid culture | Starcross | TC0713 |
| Johnes disease - MAP PCR (up to 5 samples) | Starcross | TC0693 |
Parasitic disease
| Description | Send to | Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Worm egg count, fluke egg and coccidial oocysts | Carmarthen | PC0064 |
| Worm egg count, fluke egg and coccidial oocysts (camelids) | Carmarthen | PC0864 |
| Worm egg count | Carmarthen | TC0060 |
| Fluke egg examination | Carmarthen | TC0061 |
| Lungworm larvae (Baermann) | Carmarthen | TC0062 |
| Hookworm | Carmarthen | TC0411 |
| Worm egg count (camelids) | Carmarthen | TC0860 |
| Ectoparasite examination | Carmarthen | TC0081 |
| Other specialist parasite isolation and identification | Carmarthen | Various |
| Babesia gibsonii - Parasitological examination of blood smear | Weybridge | TC0826 |
| Cryptosporidia smear and ID | Carmarthen, Penrith, Starcross | TC0492 |
Molecular PCR tests
| Description | Send to | Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Leptospira in kidney tissue | Penrith | TC0856 |
| Neospora caninum in bovine foetal brain tissue | Penrith | TC0852 |
| Bovine viral diarrhoea virus in tissue or serum | Penrith | TC0655 |
| Infectious Bronchitis Virus PCR | Penrith | TC0787 |
| Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) and IBV-like gammacoronaviruses - pool of up to 10 swabs | Penrith | TC0887 |
| Avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) subtypes A and B | Penrith | TC0786 |
| Brachyspira hyodysenteriae | Penrith | TC0495 |
| Respiratory virus multiplex PCR (IBR, PI3, RSV) | Penrith | TC0019 |
| Malignant catarrhal fever | Penrith | TC0747 |
| Border disease in tissue or serum | Penrith | TC0755 |
| Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) | Penrith | TC0718 |
| Coxiella burnetii (Q Fever) | Penrith | TC0791 |
| Chlamydia | Penrith | TC0417 |
| Toxoplasma gondi | Penrith | TC0858 |
| Influenza A virus (swine and pandemic H1N1 2009) - single sample | Weybridge | TC0771 |
| Influenza A virus (swine and pandemic H1N1 2009) - pool of 3 samples | Weybridge | TC0781 |
| Porcine Epidemic Diarrhoea (PED) virus nucleic acid in faecal samples | Weybridge | TC0398 |
Other commonly used tests
| Description | Send to | Codes |
|---|---|---|
| Avian virus isolation in tissue culture for viruses other than paramyxoviruses (PMV) | Weybridge | TC0819 |
| Avian virus isolation in duck and goose eggs via allantoic cavity | Weybridge | TC0820 |
| Mycoplasma - Identification of culture | Weybridge | TC0672 |
| Wet prep - Microscopy | Starcross, Penrith or Carmarthen | TC0580 |
| Smear - Staining and microscopic examination (EAE, Coxiella) | Starcross, Penrith or Carmarthen | TC0033 |
| Smear - Staining and microscopic examination (Lawsonia) | Starcross, Penrith | TC0033 |
| Histology: mammals and birds | Starcross, Penrith or Carmarthen | TC0008 (Preparation), TC0010 (Interpretation), PC0006 (Package of both) |
| Histology: poultry and gamebirds only | Lasswade | TC0008 (Preparation), TC0010 (Interpretation) |
| Rotavirus antigen | Penrith | TC0582 |
| Clostridium perfringens toxin test | Newcastle | TC0035 |
| Toxoplasma gondii antibody IFAT (on fetal fluid) | Carmarthen | TC0628 |