Requesting Emergency Testing
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Submitters must first obtain approval from the Rabies Laboratory to arrange emergency testing of a specimen that is expected to arrive on the weekend.
To Arrange Emergency Saturday Testing
- Before 4:00 p.m. Fridays, call the Rabies Laboratory at (512) 776-7595 to speak with a member of the Rabies Team.
- After 4:00 p.m. Fridays, call (512) 776-7111 and request to speak with a regional Zoonosis Control staff member.
The Laboratory and Zoonosis Control (ZC) staff members will evaluate the situation and determine if emergency processing is needed. If it is determined that immediate testing is necessary, the ZC staff member will contact the Rabies Laboratory to make arrangements for testing. The specimen must arrive at the Laboratory by 8:00 a.m. Saturday.
Note About Courier Services: Certain couriers offer an early morning delivery option (for an additional charge) that meets the Rabies Laboratory’s 8:00 a.m. deadline. If the courier misses this deadline, submitters are encouraged to contact the courier to report the failure to deliver and dispute the delivery charges. Should the specimen and testing be of particular concern, the only reliable way to get a Saturday submission to the Laboratory by 8:00 a.m. is to hand deliver it.
IMPORTANT!
- Submitter must provide an after-hours contact telephone number to receive preliminary results. A voice mail system is available at (512) 776-7595 to handle concerns after hours. If the matter is an emergency, it is possible to contact the on-call laboratorian by following the voice mail system instructions.
- Submitters should not request after-hours or emergency testing by including the special request on the G-9 submission form only. Laboratory personnel do not review the submission form until they process the specimen. The submitter must first request emergency testing by calling (512) 776-7595 or (512) 776-7111.