VSFCP Obex Collection
As part of the VSFCP, producers are required to complete a brain test on any animal that dies on the farm that is over one year of age. If no animals die within the year, producers are required to cull an animal that is over 24 months of age and complete a brain test.
The cost of the brain test is covered by the program. In order for the cost of the brain test to be invoiced to Scrapie Canada, producers must submit a cover letter with the following information to the laboratory along with the brain sample.
- Contact information
- Animal identification number
- VSFCP enrollment number
If submitting the entire head to the laboratory, please note that most laboratories charge an extra fee to remove the obex from the head (approximately $15.00 depending on the laboratory). This removal fee is not covered by the program and producers are responsible for paying this cost. If submitting the entire head, producers should contact the laboratory in advance and inquire about the cost of the obex removal.
Although entire heads may be submitted to most laboratories, shipping and analysis costs will be lower if only the portion of the brain (the obex) that will actually be used in the analysis is sent to the lab.
Some producers may prefer to have their veterinarians remove the obex. However, for producers willing to learn the technique, click the following link for instructions (obex removal). You may also ask your veterinarian to demonstrate the procedure for you and/or request a DVD of the technique from the Scrapie Project Coordinator (Telephone: Toll Free 1-866-534-1302, Facsimile 613-652-1599; admin@scrapiecanada.ca). If you choose to have your vet remove the obex, the VSFCP program provides reimbursement of up to $110 per obex removal.
If you do chose to remove the obex yourself, you must include the animal identification with the sample (i.e. place the ear tag in the bag/container with the obex and clearly label the bag/container with the date and animal ID, including the lab submission form in the shipping package.
Note: If you are sending samples to the Alberta Agriculture lab, they request that producers within Alberta submit the entire head, while out-of-province producers must submit only the obex.
The VSFCP covers the cost of obex testing (producers will not be invoiced) if conducted at one of the following labs:
Alberta Agriculture
Agri-Food Systems Branch104 O. S. Longman Building
6909 - 116 Street
Edmonton AB T6H 4P2
Telephone: 780-422-1923
Facsimile: 780-422-3438
Animal Health Laboratory
Laboratory Services(University of Guelph)
College of Veterinarians of Ontario
Building 49, Box 3612,
Guelph, ON, Canada, N1H 6R8
Telephone: 519-824-4120
X: 54544
Facsimile: 519-821-8072
www.ahl.uoguelph.ca
Prairie Diagnostic Services
4840 Wascana ParkwayRegina SK S4S 7J6
Telephone: 306-787-6435
Sample Submission protocol
available online at:
www.pdsinc.ca
Samples may also be submitted to one of the following labs, however the cost of the testing is NOT covered under the VSFCP and producers will be invoiced directly
by the lab.
Laboratoire d'expertises en pathologie animale du Québec
2700 Einstein Street,local C.RC. 242
Ste-Foy QC G1P 3W8
Telephone: 418-643-6140
Facsimile: 418-644-4532
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives
Livestock Knowledge CenterFarm Production Extension
545 University Crescent
Winnipeg, MB R3T 5S6
Telephone: 204-945-4174
Facsimile: 204-945-8062
Producers may submit samples to the CFIA for testing, with costs covered by the national scrapie surveillance program.
The accredited veterinarian or producer may submit obex samples or entire heads to a CFIA district office to be sent to a CFIA laboratory (as part of the national scrapie surveillance program). In all cases, the head (or the sample) should be chilled or frozen immediately. The owner must contact the laboratory or the accredited veterinarian must contact the CFIA district office in advance before submitting a head through the CFIA district office. The head must bear animal identification matching that used in inventory reporting.
