December 2025 C. E. Kord Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory Newsletter

This year’s stakeholder meeting gave us the opportunity to share comprehensive updates from our Animal Health and Laboratory teams, including the planned addition of our Toxicology and Animal Microbiology departments to the ISO 17025 scope of accreditation in 2026. We also introduced our upcoming species-specific sample submission forms, which will outline available tests and required specimens, with a planned launch in January. In addition, our receiving team will offer one-on-one training sessions and demonstrations to showcase the full capabilities of our client portal. Thank you for your continued support—our laboratory is proud to have conducted more than 256,500 tests this year.

The KAHDL Test Catalog is now accessible on our website in addition to the client portal. Tests offered by KAHDL can be located by species or by entering the test name into the search feature. The catalog provides test name, associated costs, specimen requirements, eligible species and test descriptions. For inquiries regarding the test catalog, specimen requirements or submission forms, contact the laboratory at 615-837-5125.

When an animal loss occurs on the farm and transporting it to the laboratory isn’t possible, performing a field necropsy is the next best option. A post-mortem examination conducted in the field can be highly valuable in identifying the cause of death or disease. Fresh tissue specimens should be collected promptly. Clients are encouraged to submit a variety of specimens, both fresh and fixed; more comprehensive submissions yield better results. To support accurate assessment, include a detailed clinical history and gross necropsy findings on the necropsy submission form, and provide an adequate number of specimens for diagnostic testing. Ship fresh tissues via FedEx or UPS using next day delivery and avoid weekend deliveries. For guidance on which tissues to collect for specific disease or toxin investigations, refer to our test catalog.

KAHDL employees attended this year's American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians conference in Aurora, Colo. Each staff member attended meetings in their area of expertise and brought back tools specifically for their section.