The Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory analyzes about 400 samples per day. Many milk pregnancy and Johne’s analyses are run on samples that are already tested in the milk lab for standard DHI component analyses. Using the same sample allows for greater efficiency both on the farm and in the lab. For those farms that are not on a regular testing schedule or who do not have dairy cows, Dairy One has a variety of ways to make it as easy as possible to get samples into the lab for processing.
Our milk pregnancy, blood pregnancy, and Johne’s Disease are A2LA Accredited. These tests have met the highest quality testing standards as outlined in the international testing standard ISO 17025.
Customer Support
P: 607-252-7575
[email protected]
For sampling supplies, contact our Supply department at [email protected] or visit our online store.
Please refer to IDEXX guidelines on how to take a blood or milk sample.
Summary of Services: Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory
Milk Pregnancy Testing
The use of milk as a medium for pregnancy testing allows you to receive more data from the samples you are already submitting for component testing. The milk pregnancy test was developed by IDEXX Laboratories, one of the world’s leading diagnostic testing manufacturers. It works by detecting Pregnancy Associated Glycoproteins (PAGs), which are only present in a pregnant animal. The test has over 98% sensitivity, and false negatives are exceptionally rare. Specificity data is available upon request.
The milk pregnancy test performed at Dairy One’s Animal Health Diagnostic Lab is A2LA accredited. A2LA is an independent accreditation agency that certifies that this test is being performed at the highest level of quality according to ISO 17025:2017.
Taking a Sample
If your herd is already testing with Dairy One, let your technician know that you would like samples submitted for pregnancy testing. If you are not on a DHI testing program with Dairy One, we offer milk diagnostic sampling supplies for purchase from our online store.
A milk sample for pregnancy testing can be taken from any quarter of an eligible animal’s udder. Eligible animals must meet the stated criteria for days post breeding and days in milk.
| Species | Bovine | Goat/Caprine | Sheep/Ovine | Water Buffalo |
| Min DPB | 28 | 28 | 60 | 29 |
| Min DPC | 60 | 60 | 80 | 40 |
Submitting a Sample
Samples do not need to be refrigerated when shipped if they contain preservative, but for best results refrigerate them during the time between sample collection and shipping. Please include a completed copy of the current Milk Sample Submission Form when submitting samples.
The milk pregnancy test cost is $4.50 per sample.
Samples may be sent using a return shipping label from our purchased milk sampling kits; shipping is free for packages containing at least 10 samples. If a return shipping label is used for sending fewer than 10 samples, a charge of $6 will be applied. Use of our transportation network for milk pregnancy samples is complimentary.
Receiving Results
Results will be sent only via email unless no email is provided for the account. If no email is provided, results will be sent using the US Postal Service. Results will be automatically uploaded to Dairy Comp. Your Dairy Records Service Specialist will also receive an email with results. The lab tests milk pregnancy samples Monday through Friday and once during most weekends with the exception of major holidays. Once your samples arrive at the lab, you can generally expect the testing to be completed within 24 hours. If your herd is also being tested for components in the Milk Lab, your pregnancy samples will usually arrive in the Animal Health Diagnostics Lab either on the same day or the next day.
How do I interpret the results?
Pregnant indicates that the animal is pregnant.
Open indicates that the animal is not pregnant.
Recheck: While most samples will give a result of Pregnant or Open, a small number of samples may not be able to provide a definitive answer as to whether or not the animal is pregnant, resulting in a Recheck result. This result may indicate that the animal is experiencing a loss of pregnancy. IDEXX recommends retesting the animal no sooner than two weeks after the Recheck sample was taken.
Dairy One does not charge for any sample that has a Recheck result, as long as the sample meets testing eligibility criteria.
** Did you receive a notation at the bottom of your report discussing PAGs between 45 and 70 days post breeding? Find more information about this from IDEXX here.
Blood Pregnancy Testing
Using of blood for pregnancy diagnostic testing can be especially helpful for many situations where milk pregnancy testing is not an option. This might be the case for testing heifers, testing beef cattle or bison, or testing animals that may have been found to be not pregnant after being dried off. Like the milk pregnancy test, the ruminant pregnancy test for use on blood samples was developed by IDEXX Laboratories, a leading diagnostic testing manufacturer. The test works by detecting the presence of Pregnancy Associated Glycoproteins, which are only present in a pregnant animal. This test has over 99% sensitivity for cows and 100% sensitivity for goats. Additional specificity data can be provided upon request.
The blood pregnancy test performed at Dairy One’s Animal Health Diagnostic Lab is A2LA Accredited. A2LA is an independent accreditation agency that certifies that this test is being performed at the highest level of quality according to ISO 17025:2017.
Taking a Sample
Dairy One offers blood diagnostic sampling supplies for purchase in our online store. We do not require that you source your sampling supplies from Dairy One, but it is important that samples are submitted in correct tube type according to animal species. Animals must also meet the stated criteria for days post breeding and days post calving/kidding/lambing.
| Species | Bovine | Goat/Caprine | Sheep/Ovine | Water Buffalo | Bison |
| Min DPB | 28 | 28 | 35 | 30 | Undetermined |
| Min DPC | 60 | Undetermined | Undetermined | 60 | Undetermined |
| Tube Type | Any | Serum only: clotted, red-top tube | Serum only: clotted, red-top tube | Plasma only: unclotted, purple-top tube | Plasma only: unclotted, purple-top tube |
It is best practice to use a new needle for each animal when drawing a blood sample. Indicate the animal ID on the blood vial along with its order number (this will be the vial # where the animal is listed on the official submission form). An example of this can be found on the submission form.
Submitting a Sample
Samples do not need to be refrigerated when shipped, but please refrigerate them during the time between sample collection and shipping for best results. Please include a completed copy of the Blood Sample Submission Form when submitting samples.
We offer four tiers of pricing that incorporate bulk testing discounts. The number of samples tested per month will determine the price that is applied to all of the samples tested during that month.
| Total samples tested in the month | Cost per sample |
| 1-9 | $4.25 |
| 10-49 | $3.75 |
| 50-149 | $3.25 |
| 150+ | $2.75 |
Samples may be sent using a return shipping label from our purchased blood sampling kits; shipping is free for packages containing at least 10 samples. If a return shipping label is used for sending fewer than 10 samples, a charge of $6 will be applied.
Samples may be sent using Dairy One’s Transportation network. The cost for this is $7 per use, regardless of the number of samples sent. Using this transportation network may transport your samples quicker than other postal options.
Receiving Results
Results will be sent only via email unless no email is provided for the account. If no email is provided, results will be sent using the US Postal Service. Results will be automatically uploaded to Dairy Comp. Blood pregnancy testing is performed Monday through Friday, with the exception of major holidays. Once your samples arrive at the lab, you can generally expect the testing to be completed within 24 hours.
How do I interpret results?
Pregnant indicates that the animal is pregnant.
Open indicates that the animal is not pregnant.
Recheck: While most samples will give a result of Pregnant or Open, a small number of samples may not be able to provide a definitive answer as to whether or not the animal is pregnant, resulting in a Recheck result. This result may indicate that the animal is experiencing a loss of pregnancy. IDEXX recommends retesting the animal no sooner than two weeks after the Recheck sample was taken.
Dairy One does not charge for any sample that has a Recheck result, as long as the sample meets testing eligibility criteria.
Johne’s Disease Testing
Dairy One offers Johne’s disease testing for cows using either a milk or blood sample. Using a milk sample for Johne’s testing allows you to receive more data from the samples you are already submitting for component testing. The Johne’s test used in the Animal Health Diagnostic Lab was developed by IDEXX Laboratories, one of the world’s leading diagnostic testing manufacturers. The test works by detecting the presence of antibodies associated with the disease; it does not test directly for the disease itself. Antibodies are produced by the cow as an immune response to the presence of the disease. The test is currently only approved for bovine testing in the US.
The Johne’s test performed at Dairy One’s Animal Health Diagnostic Lab is A2LA Accredited. A2LA is an independent accreditation agency that certifies that this test is being performed at the highest level of quality according to ISO 17025:2017.
Taking a Sample
If your herd is already being tested with Dairy One, let your Dairy Records Service Specialist know that you would like to begin Johne’s testing. It is best to test for Johne’s when the cow is experiencing stress, usually associated with the pre-calving dry-off period. Customers are welcome to submit samples at any time. Customers are welcome to use a container of their choice, or our milk or blood diagnostic sampling kits can be used for a convenient sampling and submission option.
Submitting a Sample
Samples do not need to be refrigerated when shipped, but please refrigerate them during the time between sample collection and shipping for best results. Please include a completed copy of the Milk Sample Submission Form or Blood Sample Submission Form when submitting samples.
The price of the test is $6.00 per sample.
Receiving Results
Results will be sent only via email unless no email is provided for the account. If no email is provided, results will be sent using the US Postal Service. Results will be automatically uploaded to Dairy Comp. Johne’s testing is usually performed twice per week, with the exception of weeks that contain major holidays. If you need your results sooner, please let us know as we may be able to accommodate your request
How do I interpret the results?
Positive indicates that the animal has produced antibodies associated with Johne’s disease.
Negative indicates that the animal has not produced these antibodies.
Suspect indicates that the animal may have the disease or may have been exposed to the disease but not contracted it. It is recommended that an animal whose test result is Suspect be retested; consult your veterinarian for a recommended time to retest the animal.
BVD Testing
Dairy One offers BVD testing for cows using bulk tank samples or individual DHIA samples. Analysis is performed through Cornell University’s Animal Health Diagnostic Center or through CentralStar Cooperative. Developed by IDEXX Laboratories, one of the world’s leading diagnostic testing manufacturers, the test works by the presence of antibodies associated with the disease; it does not test directly for the disease itself. Antibodies are produced by the cow as an immune response to the presence of the disease.
Taking a Sample
Calves that are pre-colostral or over 3 months old can be tested using blood. Any cow can be tested with milk or ear notches. The best time to test is immediately after a calf is born.
Submitting a Sample
BVD Tank Samples Through Cornell University’s Animal Health Diagnostic Center Samples must be submitted by a licensed veterinarian within 24 hrs of being taken. The sample(s) should be between 200-700 ml with a maximum of 400 cows contributing to bulk tank per sample. The sample should be kept cold, but not frozen. The cost is $60 per sample.
BVD Tank or Individual DHIA Cow Samples through Antel Bio A maximum of 400 cows may contribute to a bulk tank per sample. The cost is $45.00 plus shipping per bulk tank sample or $6.00 plus shipping per individual cow sample.
Receiving Results
Our records support group can help you with any questions you may have about the sample submission process as well as questions concerning receiving your results. Email them at [email protected]. How do I interpret the results?
“Positive” result indicates that the animal has produced antibodies associated with BVD.
“Negative” result indicates that the animal has not produced these antibodies.
Due to the nature of the antibody test, it is recommended that an animal that has tested positive once be retested to ensure that the antibodies are present from the contraction of the disease, as opposed to exposure which did not result in contraction of the disease. It is recommended to take a retest sample at least 3 weeks after the initial positive sample.
My samples got lost/delayed in transit to the lab- will they be ok to test when they arrive?
The tests used in the AHDL recommend against testing samples that have spoiled or hemolyzed. This is indicated by milk samples separating into curds and whey or blood samples taking on an excessively dark red color. If your samples arrive in the Lab and our trained staff determines that they aren't acceptable for testing, you will be notified. Notification may be in the form of a notation at the bottom of a sample results Report, a separate email, or a phone call.
If you would like to provide specific instruction for your samples, please contact the lab directly at [email protected]
What is this A2LA/ISO Accreditation and how does it affect me and my samples?
ISO is an organization that publishes Standards for many industries. These Standards are a collection of guidelines that are recognized internationally as the best way to do business. A2LA is an independent, third-party agency that has scrutinized our business practices and determined that we are following the ISO guidelines in the specific areas listed on our Certificate.
The purpose of seeking this Accreditation is to be sure that we are conducting business in the highest quality manner possible for the benefit of our customers.
How do I start testing?
Contact the Dairy One Supply Department to set up an account and order sampling supplies at 607-252-2697 or [email protected].