Veterinarian Instructions for OFA Testing

The veterinarian or owner must obtain the "Application for Thyroid Database.

The veterinarian and owner must complete their respective portions of the form.

A check for $15.00 payable to the OFA and the completed OFA form must accompany the specimen.

The veterinarian should request the "OFA Thyroid Panel."

Two milliliters (2mL) of serum are needed for testing. The serum sample must be from freshly collected blood. Use a plain "red-top" tube for blood collection. Do not use a serum separator tube with clot additives or any other type of plasma collection tube. After collection, place the blood sample in the refrigerator for 60 to 90 minutes to allow clotting. Centrifuge, collect the serum, and transfer to a plain plastic or glass tube suitable for shipping. Clearly label the sample with the owner's name, animal's identification, date of blood collections, and "OFA Thyroid Panel." If the specimen is to be stored for more than 12 hours prior to shipping, frozen storage is recommended.

Ship to the chosen lab address via an overnight courier service. It is recommended that all specimens be packaged properly and shipped so they are received either chilled or frozen. Serum samples arriving unchilled or at room temperature within 48 hours of the collection date will be accepted. However, samples arriving after this time must be received either chilled or frozen in order to be accepted for registry testing. Contact the laboratory if you have any questions or further instructions are needed.

Please do not submit whole blood, clotted blood, or plasma.

Severely lipemic or hemolyzed specimens are also unacceptable.

Female dogs should not be tested during an estrus cycle.

The date of last routine vaccination should be noted on the OFA application.

Test results will be mailed or faxed only to the submitting veterinarian and the OFA. Results will not be available from the laboratory by telephone. The OFA will send a report to the owner.

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