Guidance

Submit tuberculosis (TB) test results using Sam

Use Sam to submit TB test results online if you are an Official Veterinarian (OV) or Approved TB Tester (ATT).

From:
Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs and Animal and Plant Health Agency
Published
5 August 2024
Last updated
27 February 2025 — See all updates

This service allows you to:

  • view up to date TB testing instructions and work lists online
  • produce working forms pre-populated with ear-tag numbers to record results on farms
  • view test dates and results to help identify animals not eligible for testing
  • create private tests for your clients
  • use third-party software when Sam is unavailable

Sign in to Sam

Planned downtime

Sam will be unavailable in 2025 on:

  • 11 March at 7pm to 12 March at 7am
  • 8 April at 7pm to 9 April at 7am
  • 13 May at 7pm to 14 May at 7am
  • 10 June at 7pm to 11 June at 7am
  • 8 July at 7pm to 9 July at 7am
  • 12 August at 7pm to 13 August at 7am
  • 9 September at 7pm to 10 September at 7am
  • 14 October at 7pm to 15 October at 7am
  • 11 November at 7pm to 12 November at 7am
  • 9 December at 7pm to 10 December at 7am

How to record data during Sam downtime

To record data while Sam is unavailable you can use:

  • the electronic (excel) TB52 form
  • a paper copy of the TB52 form
  • an excel or XML file for use in third-party software

Sections 10 and 12 of Sam OV practice guide (PDF, 986 KB, 47 pages) contain guidance on how to find and use the TB52 form.

You must upload or manually enter your data into Sam when it’s available again.

Get help using Sam

Check our instructions for setting up a Government Gateway account and using Sam.

You can also contact the Sam helpdesk if you need more help:

If you have entered data into Sam incorrectly

To fix incorrect data in Sam, download and complete form GENO2 then email it to:

How to register and enrol in Sam

Complete your theory training and exam

To register for Sam you must have completed the theory training for a relevant Official Controls Qualification (OCQ). This should be either:

  • the OCQ(OV) - TT (tuberculin tester)
  • the OCQ(AHP) - ATT

Learn more about the OCQs at Improve International.

Check you’re registered for Government Gateway

To access Sam you must register for Government Gateway, if you have not done so already.

Complete the OV59 form

To register for Sam access, a principal or partner from your veterinary practice must complete the OV59 Application for Sam access form and send it to APHA’s OV team.

Once the OV team have received your form and you’ve completed all other requirements for conditional authorisation, APHA will send a known facts letter (form AH06) containing your Sam sign in information to your practice address.

Check your practice is enrolled in Sam

Before you can use Sam your practice must enrol on Sam as an organisation using the AHVLA-ORC service.

Practices can then link with enrolled individuals through the ‘Manage my agents’ screen.

Enrol in the AHVLA-AGT (agent) Sam service

All OVs, ATTs and practice admin staff must enrol on Sam as an agent using the AHVLA-AGT service.

When you have accessed the agent service, follow these steps to enrol.

  1. Enter the enrolment information from your known facts letter. The role and application ID must be entered in capital letters.
  2. Enter the first part of your Government Gateway agent ID. The second part of your agent ID will be generated for you.

To view your agent ID and link to a practice you must sign in to Sam and then choose to ‘log on and manage my account’. Contact the APHA service desk if you cannot find your agent ID or have forgotten your sign in details.

ATTs must remove the second ‘E’ from the word ‘Tester’ when entering the enrolment information. It should read, ‘APPROVED TUBERCULIN TESTR’.

Updates to this page

Published 5 August 2024
Last updated 27 February 2025 + show all updates

  1. The link to the Sam user guide for Official Veterinarians and practice staff has been updated to the latest version.

  2. Added planned downtime – Sam will be unavailable between 8am on Sunday 12 January to 7am on Monday 13 January.

  3. Updated the list of planned downtime. Updated the enrol for GG link.

  4. Added planned downtime – Sam will be unavailable between 7pm and 9pm on Tuesday 19 November.

  5. Added planned downtime – Sam will be unavailable between 1:30pm and 11:20pm on Sunday 6 October.

  6. Added planned downtime – Sam will be unavailable between 1:30pm and 11:20pm on Sunday 1 September.

  7. Added planned downtime - Sam will be unavailable between 7pm on Tuesday 20 August and 8am on Wednesday 21 August.

  8. Added planned downtime - Sam will be unavailable from 10 August (9am to 6pm)

  9. First published.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Contents

Related content