Diagnostics & Laboratory Services
Part of Animal Health and Veterinary
What Are Diagnostics & Laboratory Services?
Diagnostic and laboratory services provide testing capabilities for disease identification, pathogen detection, and health monitoring in dairy cattle. This includes microbiology (cultures), molecular diagnostics (PCR), serology (antibody testing), and specialty testing for specific pathogens and conditions.
Why Diagnostics Matter
Accurate diagnosis drives effective treatment and prevention. Guessing at disease causes wastes money on ineffective treatments and allows problems to spread. Laboratory confirmation identifies the specific pathogen, guides treatment choices, and informs prevention strategies.
Key Benefits
- Accurate identification: Know exactly what you're dealing with
- Targeted treatment: Choose effective therapies based on test results
- Resistance patterns: Sensitivity testing guides antibiotic selection
- Prevention planning: Identify risks before they become outbreaks
- Monitoring progress: Track disease control program effectiveness
Common Diagnostic Tests
Culture & Sensitivity
Growing bacteria from samples (milk, feces, respiratory) to identify pathogens and test antibiotic sensitivity. Essential for mastitis treatment decisions and identifying infection sources.
PCR Testing
Molecular detection of specific pathogens including Johne's, BVD, Mycoplasma, and respiratory viruses. Highly sensitive and specific, with faster turnaround than culture for many pathogens.
Serology
Blood tests measuring antibodies to specific diseases. Used for herd screening, monitoring vaccine response, and detecting exposure to pathogens like BVD, Neospora, and Leptospirosis.
Necropsy
Post-mortem examination to determine cause of death and identify disease processes. Valuable for understanding mortality patterns and undiagnosed problems.
When to Use Laboratory Services
- Clinical cases: Samples from sick animals for diagnosis
- Herd screening: Bulk tank or individual testing for specific diseases
- Pre-purchase testing: Screen animals before introduction
- Outbreak investigation: Identify causes when multiple animals are affected
- Treatment failure: When standard therapies don't work
- Monitoring programs: Ongoing surveillance for Johne's, BVD, etc.
Choosing a Laboratory
- Turnaround time: Fast results enable timely decisions
- Test menu: Does the lab offer the tests you need?
- Accreditation: AAVLD-accredited labs meet quality standards
- Interpretation support: Can they help you understand results?
- Sample submission: Easy process for getting samples to the lab
Cost Considerations
Individual culture tests cost $15-50. PCR panels run $20-100. Serology screening varies by test. Necropsy with histopathology may cost $100-300. The value is in making informed decisions—proper diagnosis often saves many times the test cost in treatment effectiveness and disease prevention.