Metabolic Testing Instructions



Sample Collection & Shipping Instructions for Urine Tests

Please follow these instructions to test for Metabolic Screening, Fanconi Syndrome Screening, Urine Cystinuria Screening, Methylmalonic Aciduria and Mucopolysaccharidosis (any type). Urine tests work for all breeds, while DNA tests are mutation and breed specific. You MUST send a urine sample. Additionally, you may also send us a blood smear, an EDTA blood and a serum sample, which can be informative for further evaluation but not required. If you have further questions, please e-mail PennGen@lists.upenn.edu.

A Note About Handwritten Forms: We no longer accept handwritten submission forms, so please make sure that you create an account for yourself on the PennGen Sample Submission Application, log in to your account, fill in the animal information, select the appropriate test to obtain a Submission ID for each animal, and then print the submission sheet and mail it along with the sample.


Urine Sample Collection

  1. Label a sterile plastic container with animal’s name and owner’s last name.

  2. Collect urine into clean container (free catch or cystocentesis) and immediately transfer 3–5 ml of patient's urine into the labelled container.

  3. Urine sample must be kept frozen until shipping.

  4. Please place the container in a Ziploc bag and bubble wrap for protection.

  5. Complete the online submission for each animal, print the submission sheet, and mail it along with the sample to the address printed on the submission sheet.

  6. The urine sample for these tests MUST be shipped overnight, ON ICE PACKS. Sending samples through the regular mail or without ice packs will cause the sample to degrade or grow bacteria, and may cause incorrect conclusions to be drawn from the screening test. If you are using USPS or other government run shipping service expect a delay in delivery (their expected delivery dates are not predictable because the USPS delivers directly to the University first, for subsequent distribution to our PennGen labs). If you prefer a prompt delivery, we recommend using a private shipping service (such as FedEx, UPS, DHL) which deliver directly to our laboratories or building.

  7. Urine samples MUST be shipped between Monday and Wednesday only. If you are collecting the sample between Thursday and Sunday, freeze it immediately after sample collection (at -20°C or lower), and ship it on the next Monday. Also, please do NOT ship samples that will arrive on weekends, holidays, or between Christmas Eve Day and New Years Day as the university is closed.

  8. For international shipments, a customs declaration and proforma invoice must be completed and included with the shipment (outside and inside package; see international shipping instructions below).


Blood Smear and Serum Samples (Optional)

  1. For Metabolic Screening, Fanconi Syndrome, Methylmalonic Aciduria and Mucopolysaccharidosis tests, blood smear, EDTA blood, and serum samples can be informative, but are not required.

  2. If you are submitting samples for enzyme assays (storage diseases, osmotic fragility, PFK, PK, or methemoglobinemia), please send along a control sample from a same species animal. This will help account for any degradation of enzymes during shipping.

  3. To prepare a blood smear or to collect a serum sample please visit your primary care veterinarian.

  4. Please place them separately in a Ziploc® bag and in a bubble wrap for protection.

  5. Ship them along with the urine sample.

About International Shipping

When shipping internationally, first verify the shipping requirements as described by your choice of delivery service provider (FedEx, UPS, ParcelForce, DHL, etc.).

US Customs requires that all international shipments have two copies of a written declaration (see example below) specifying the content of the package. One copy of the declaration should be secured to the outside of the package, and the other should be inserted inside the package. To create the declaration, copy the following statements onto a piece of paper, preferably your clinic or your own letterhead, and make sure to sign and date the declaration.

Regarding USDA Guidelines for Importation #1102 - Feline and Canine Material

I understand that a USDA import permit is not required for this material since I can provide the following true statements.

  • 1. The material in this shipment is [canine/feline] [blood/serum/fluids].
  • 2. This material does not contain any other animal derived material (i.e., does not contain any livestock or poultry origin material).
  • 3. This material was NOT derived from cats and/or dogs which were inoculated with or exposed to any infectious agents of agricultural concern.

I declare that the above information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.


Signature:


Veterinarian - Print Name:


Clinic Info / Letter Head:


For more information on these guidelines, please visit the USDA webpage.