701 North Miller Avenue
Springfield MO 65802
417-895-6861
417-831-4766 (f)
Website
Operating under the authority of the Department of Agriculture and under the direction of the state veterinarian, the Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratories work to diagnose, control, and eradicate animal diseases that threaten the vitality of Missouri’s agricultural industry and the public health. The AHDL performs a huge range of lab tests and diagnostic services across several disciplines, including bacteriology, pathology, molecular diagnostics, and serology. For specialized lab tests, the AHDL will refer the test to an appropriate laboratory for an additional $5 handling fee.
That said, the Serology Lab section alone runs more than a dozen different tests for animal diseases, including both AGID and ELISA testing for equine infectious anemia. With very affordable prices ($3-$5) for these Coggins tests, the AHDL helps veterinarians and animal health researchers run their operations, while managing costs for their clients. It was only in 1994 that they started charging fees at all—and these funds go toward upgrading the laboratory equipment as needed to maintain a state-of-the-art facility.
In addition to general information about equine infectious anemia, the Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratories also provide state-specific Coggins information. For example, horses must be tested “when they are involved in a change-of-ownership, when they are imported from another state, when they are publicly exhibited, boarded, trained, bred, and when they are sold through a livestock market.”
You can find more information about the Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratories including a full list of tests and fees. Note that there are two sister labs in the AHDL system, one in Jefferson City and one in Springfield, and that not every test is available at both labs.