Holiday Closures
In observance of holidays throughout the year, the UFVH Diagnostic Labs and the UFVH Mailroom Services are CLOSED. Please keep this in mind when shipping your specimens. Samples should arrive no later than one (1) day prior to the holiday or weekend closure. Weekend deliveries are not available at our facility.
2/25 Christmas Day
01/01 New Year’s Day
01/15 Martin L. King Jr. Day
05/27 Memorial Day
06/19 Juneteenth
07/04 Independence Day
09/02 Labor Day
10/18 UF Homecoming (Hospital Open)
11/11 Veteran’s Day
11/28 – 11/29 Thanksgiving
12/25 Christmas Day
FedEx Billable Stamp Shipping Labels
FedEx Shipping Label
Authorized use only for shipments for UFVH Diagnostic Labs. Not authorized for shipments to the CDPM Zoological Medicine/ZMDX
To order FedEx Billable Stamps, contact our
Central Labs Receiving Department
NOTE: Per FedEx, we cannot email printable copies of FedEx Billable Stamp Labels. All must be mailed by USPS and this may take up to 15 days depending on your mail delivery services, and is not the responsibility of UFVHDL Central Receiving
**Cost $29.00 FedEx Priority Overnight Only
**For samples weighing 5 pounds or less (Cost subject to change without notice)
**Charges for packages received over the weight limit will be billed for overage
**Use of shipping options other than the FedEx Priority Overnight will incur
additional fees, and you will be billed accordingly
(352) 294-4726
SHIPPING ADDRESS: UF VETERINARYHOSPITAL DIAGNOSTIC LABS
UFVH Diagnostic Lab Submissions Only
To find out more about our services, contact our Central Labs Administration/Receiving Department Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at (352) 294-4726, or you can email us at diagnosticlabs@vetmed.ufl.edu
UFVHDL Central Labs Receiving
2015 SW 16th Ave., Room VS-50A
Gainesville, FL 32608
SHIPPING ADDRESS: COMPARATIVE, DIAGNOSTIC & POPULATION MEDICINE LABS
Zoological Medicine Diagnostic Laboratory (ZMDX)
Open link below for assistance
UF ZMDx Laboratory
Attention: April Childress
2015 SW 16th Ave., ROOM V2-186
Gainesville, FL 32608-1166
HOW TO PACKAGE SAMPLES
Shipping Guidelines
USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.: Shipping guidelines and their requirements for the shipment of biological materials. Contact the shipping service directly.
Weekend Delivery/Sample Integrity:
Weekend & holiday deliveries are not available. Plan your shipments accordingly so they are viable for testing upon arrival.
Generally, packages (including use of a courier delivery) are to arrive no later than 2:30p.m. Monday through Friday.
Sample Identification:
Label ALL samples, including the animal’s name or identifying number, owner’s full name and sample source & sample type.
Submission Forms/Documents:
Use the most current diagnostic lab submission form
**See Link Below
Protect documents from damage, place in a Ziploc-type bag
Incomplete submission forms will cause a delay in accessioning of the samples.
Ambient Samples:
No ice packs necessary for shipping.
Refrigerated Samples:
Do not ship samples with ice cubes.
Use commercial grade frozen ice packs. We recommend the use of a Styrofoam cooler box inside a cardboard box
Frozen Samples:
Ship on dry ice or if allowable, ship on sufficient amount of ice packs to keep sample viable. No ice cubes.
When shipping frozen samples on dry ice and non-frozen samples such as formalin-fixed samples together, package samples separately so non-frozen/fixed samples are kept safe from freezing.
Suggestion:
Use of a second insulated container within primary shipping box or wrap non-frozen samples with insulating-like material.
Outer container suitable to withstand shipping
Protection: To prevent breakage, pad the samples with bubble wrap, newspaper or some similar type of packing material.
Necropsy Submissions
You are required to contact our service for detailed instructions on submitting deceased animals to our services.
>> Start with our NECROPSY Webpage: Open Link Below
>> Necropsy Primary Number: (352) 294-4531
or email diagnosticlabs@vetmed.ufl.edu
>> Necropsy Secondary Number: (352) 294-4526
or email diagnosticlabs@vetmed.ufl.edu
International Shipments
International shipments may only be sent for histopathology, and only after formalin fixation.
>> Biopsy/Histopathology samples must be sectioned to less than 1cm thick and immersed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin for a minimum of 24 hours, with one change in formalin prior to shipping.
>> Samples may also be shipped wrapped in formalin soaked gauze, wet enough to keep sample moist during shipment
>> A copy of the import permit must be included with the shipment
>> Samples from bats, non-human primates, or endangered/CITES-listed animals may NOT be sent via this permit
