How to submit samples
UK sample submission
Veterinary surgeons should follow the procedures advised by Defra when reporting the suspicion of a notifiable disease.
Private submissions (UK)
- All samples must be accompanied by a completed sample submission form.
- Samples submitted from within the UK must comply with our packaging instructions. This includes the use of packaging of the appropriate quality and properly addressing and labelling the package.
International sample submission
- Before dispatch, the shipment details must be agreed with The Pirbright Institute. Please email incoming.samples@pirbright.ac.uk.
- A sample submission form must be completed and included in the shipment.
- Samples dispatched from overseas should be classifed as dangerous goods and must be packaged appropriately.
- Please read our advice on packing dangerous goods.
Submission forms
Download a submission form and complete legibly and in-full.
Changes to final reports caused by illegible, incorrect or missing information will be subject to an administration charge of £30.
Download the sample submission form (word doc)
Sending address
To send samples to the Non-Vesicular Disease Reference Laboratories for diagnostic testing please address the consignment to:
Attention: Non-Vesicular Disease Reference Laboratories
The Pirbright Institute
Ash Road, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0NF
UK
Fast-track service
Due to a surge in testing, the fast-track service is currently unavailable until further notice
Price lists
The prices listed below are for international submissions not covered under the 50 free samples/year, as well as for pre-movement testing.
All prices below are quoted in Pounds Sterling (GBP), excluding VAT and are subject to VAT.
Prices are valid for samples received by the laboratory from 1 May 2023.
| Test | Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 | Test detects | Sample | Price per test | Test turnaround time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real-Time RT-PCR | Yes | Nucleic Acid | EDTA blood, Tissues | £97 (up to 5 tests) £65 (6 to 20 tests) £32 (21 or more tests) | 5 working days |
| Serotype Identification by Real-Time RT-PCR | - | - | EDTA blood, Tissues | Price on application | - |
| Nucleotide Sequencing | - | - | EDTA blood, Tissues | Price on application | - |
| Virus Isolation on Cell Culture | Yes | Live Virus | EDTA blood, Tissues | Price on application | - |
| ELISA | Yes | Antibodies | Serum | £97 (up to 5 tests) £65 (6 to 20 tests) £32 (21 or more tests) | 5 working days |
Fast-Track ELISA
| Yes | Antibodies | Serum | £145 (up to 5 tests) £97.50 (6 to 20 tests) £48 (21 or more tests) | 2 working days |
| Serum Neutralisation Test (SNT) | - | Serotype-Specific Antibodies | Serum | Price on application | - |
| Test | Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 | Test detects | Sample | Price per test | Test turnaround time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real-Time PCR | Yes | Nucleic Acid | EDTA blood, Tissues | £97 (up to 5 tests) £65 (6 to 20 tests) £32 (21 or more tests) | 5 working days |
| Antigen ELISA | Yes | Virus | EDTA blood, Tissues | £97 (up to 5 tests) £65 (6 to 20 tests) £32 (21 or more tests) | 5 working days |
| Haemadsorption Test | - | Live Virus | EDTA blood, Tissues | Price on application | - |
| Virus Isolation on Cell Culture | - | Live Virus | EDTA blood, Tissues | Price on application | - |
| ELISA | Yes | Antibodies | Serum | £97 (up to 5 tests) £65 (6 to 20 tests) £32 (21 or more tests) | 5 working days |
| Test | Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 | Test detects | Sample | Price per test | Test turnaround time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real-Time RT-PCR | Yes | Nucleic Acid | EDTA blood, Tissues | £48 (up to 5 tests) £40 (6 to 20 tests) £37 (21 or more tests) | 5 working days |
| Serotype Identification by Real-Time RT-PCR | - | - | EDTA blood, Tissues | Price on application | - |
| Nucleotide Sequencing | - | - | Price on application | - | |
| Virus Isolation on Cell Culture | Yes | Live Virus | EDTA blood, Tissues | Price on application | - |
| ELISA | Yes | Antibodies | Serum | £26.50 (up to 10 tests) £20 (11 to 50 tests) £13.50 (51 or more tests) | 5 working days |
Fast-Track ELISA
| Yes | Antibodies | Serum | £145 (up to 5 tests) £97.50 (6 to 20 tests) £48 (21 or more tests) | 2 working days |
| Serum Neutralisation Test (SNT) | - | - | Serum | Price on application | - |
| Test | Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 | Test detects | Sample | Price per test | Test turnaround time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real-Time PCR | Yes | Nucleic Acid | EDTA blood, Tissues, Skin biopsy | £97 (up to 5 tests) £65 (6 to 20 tests) £32 (21 or more tests) | 5 working days |
| Differential Detection by Real-Time PCR | - | - | Tissues, Skin biopsy | Price on application | - |
| Nucleotide Sequencing | - | - | Tissues, Skin biopsy | Price on application | - |
| Virus Isolation on Cell Culture | - | Live Virus | Tissues, Skin biopsy | Price on application | - |
| ELISA | Yes | Antibodies | Serum | £97 (up to 5 tests) £65 (6 to 20 tests) £32 (21 or more tests) | 5 working days |
| Test | Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 | Test detects | Sample | Price per test | Test turnaround time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real-Time RT-PCR | Yes | Nucleic Acid | EDTA blood, Tissues | £97 (up to 5 tests) £65 (6 to 20 tests) £32 (21 or more tests) | 5 working days |
| Serotype Identification by Real-Time RT-PCR | - | - | EDTA blood, Tissues | Price on application | - |
| Nucleotide Sequencing | - | - | EDTA blood, Tissues | Price on application | - |
| Virus Isolation on Cell Culture | Yes | Live Virus | EDTA blood, Tissues | Price on application | - |
| ELISA | Yes | Antibodies | Serum | £97 (up to 5 tests) £65 (6 to 20 tests) £32 (21 or more tests) | 5 working days |
| Serum Neutralisation Test (SNT) | - | Serotype-Specific Antibodies | Serum | Price on application | - |
| Test | Accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 | Test detects | Sample | Price per test | Test turnaround time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real-Time RT-PCR | Yes | Nucleic Acid | EDTA blood, Tissues, Swabs | £97 (up to 5 tests) £65 (6 to 20 tests) £32 (21 or more tests) | 5 working days |
| ELISA | Yes | Antibodies | Serum | £97 (up to 5 tests) £65 (6 to 20 tests) £32 (21 or more tests) | 5 working days |
| Nucleotide Sequencing | - | - | EDTA blood, Tissues, Swabs | Price on application | - |
| Virus Isolation on Cell Culture | - | Live Virus | EDTA blood, Tissues, Swabs | Price on application | - |
Terms and conditions
Reporting of results
Results will be reported in the stated time. In the event of a delay, the submitter will be informed by e-mail or phone.
For UK testing: In the event of a positive result for a notifiable disease from a sample, the national competent authority will be informed. Subsequent investigation of suspected disease cases will be undertaken by the competent authority and all further communication should be undertaken through them.
For international testing: Where samples are submitted on behalf of the national competent authority test results for notifiable diseases will be reported to the submitter and the WOAH / FAO.
Returns
Due to strict biosecurity regulations, samples received into The Pirbright lnstitute high containment facility cannot be returned to sender or forwarded on to other laboratories.
Quality assurance
The Pirbright Institute is a UKAS accredited testing laboratory No. 4025.
Where indicated, testing is carried out to the internationally recognised ISO/IEC 17025:2017.