Licensed in the states of:Coggins Testing
The Coggins test checks for Equine Infectious Anemia antibodies in the horse’s blood. Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) is a viral disease that infects the horses. The virus is transmitted from horse to horse by the bite of an insect. As the name indicates, the virus causes anemia in the horse (deficiency of red blood cells), but there are several other symptoms including fever, depression, anorexia, weight loss, and swollen legs and belly.
Most horses die shortly after getting the disease, but some horses seem to recover or become positive without showing symptoms. All horses that have the virus can be diagnosed with a positive coggins test. Prior to testing EIA killed thousands of horses annually. Testing has not allowed us to eradicate the disease but we have significantly limited the prevalence.
A coggins test is run with a blood sample from the horse. A negative coggins test is usually required to transport your horse across state lines, as well as to go to some events and sales. The blood sample collection must be accompanied by paperwork being filled out by an accredited veterinarian.
To run the coggins test, both the lab and the technician must be approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Technician goes for two days of training in Ames, Iowa. Then a USDA inspector must come approve the lab facility. The test takes about an hour to perform, because most clinics or labs have only one approved technician, they are not always available on short notice.
We offer two coggins tests, a “routine” coggins with results in over 48 hours, and a “stat’ coggins with results reported out in less than 48 hours. Call to check on our ability to run a “stat” coggins, or to schedule a routine test. You will need one to transport a horse across state lines.