Valencian Institute of Microbiology
(I V A M I)

Although almost everything listed below appears in the information collected in the "Rabies - Antibody Test Information" file, we have occasionally requested clarifications on the points indicated:

1. Emails. If you send us an email, please do so on the same email so we can link to what was previously discussed. Please note that we receive many emails on a variety of topics every day. Please include the acronym RA at the beginning of the subject line.
2. Animal identification. Some clients have indicated that microchip identification is not possible in their country. In this case, the alternative is a tattoo.
3. Waiting time after vaccination before drawing blood from the animal: If your dog/cat has been recently vaccinated, you must wait at least 30 days before drawing blood (EU Regulation 576/2013, Annex IV).
4. Sample to be sent: serum from the animal. The serum must be separated from the blood sample taken from the animal before sending it, and only the serum must be sent to us. The blood sample should not be taken with any anticoagulant.
5. Sample vials: Once the serum has been separated, you can place it in small plastic vials, dividing 1 to 2 mL of serum between several vials in case any break. We recommend placing these small vials inside a plastic tube (made of polypropylene, which is less fragile), and sending this tube with the vials inside an isothermal container (a white cork box or a thermos).
6. Sample storage before shipping. If you need to wait a few days to send the serum sample, keep it in your refrigerator. If it will take longer for shipment, you can freeze the vial (small tube) containing the serum separately from the collected blood.
7. The sample must be accompanied by the order form we sent you, which must be completed by the veterinarian performing the blood draw. It can be filled out on the computer or by hand in clear capital letters to avoid errors when issuing the report.
8. Should I ship it refrigerated or at room temperature?. The instructions recommend shipping it refrigerated for better preservation of the serum sample. We understand that this is more expensive. Therefore, if the sample will be received in the laboratory shortly (2 or 3 days), it can be sent unrefrigerated.
9. The cost of the test is €121 (tax included). Payment for the test can be made by bank transfer once we notify you that the test is complete, approximately a maximum of 9 business days after we receive the sample at the laboratory. Payments by check, credit card, or bitzum are not accepted.
10. Courier, customs, and veterinary inspection fees for ports and airports: Our laboratory is not responsible for courier fees for shipments from countries other than Spain main land (excluding Canary or Baleares islands, Melilla, Ceuta). The cost of customs and/or veterinary inspection at ports and airports must be paid separately to the courier services. The sender must inform the courier contracted for the transport that they are responsible for these fees and how they will be paid. This fee is not the same in all cases as it depends on each customs office. Sometimes there is no fee, but in other cases it has cost more than €150.
11. Courier: Based on our experience with other courier services, we recommend using TNT Express. We have received information from other customers that DHL does not transport biological samples. We recommend NOT USING Federal Express (FedEx) due to its high customs clearance costs upon entering Spain. We are not responsible for the courier costs from your country; you must pay them to the courier. If the shipment incurs customs fees, you must pay them to the courier service you have chosen, as we are not responsible for paying them to the courier service even if the client suggests paying them to us. When you contract the courier service in your country, you must state that any shipping, customs, tax, etc. charges must be billed to the sender. If we receive a shipment without all shipping and customs fees being paid at origin by the sender, we will not accept the shipment and will return it. This is because the invoice for these costs often takes 30 to 60 days to receive, long after the test results have been sent, and we have not been able to collect payment them from the sender.
12. Health permit for the import of the serum sample: If you are sending the sample by courier, you must provide us by email with the waybill number, the name of the veterinary clinic, the country of origin, and the airport (customs) of entry. We will request the import permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Environment (MAFE) free of charge. For any clarification, please contact this email address: importacionanimal@magrama.es.
13. Private transport of the sample (by someone): Some clients ask if it is possible to transport the sample by someone traveling from their country. This transport is not authorized, and if you do so, it is at your own risk.
14. Sending results: We will send the results by email with a digital signature to the email address you have provided. If you need them urgently, you must send a courier service at your own expense to collect them.