Anatomic Pathology

Welcome to ZooQuatic Laboratory’s Pathology Services, specializing in the anatomic pathology of teleosts, elasmobranchs, marine invertebrates (jellies, cephalopods, crustaceans, bivalves), marine mammals, marine birds, amphibians, as well as terrestrial wildlife. Our board-certified pathologists are available for diagnostic analysis of histology specimens, as well as for consultation and participation on diagnostic investigations and research projects.

Anatomic Pathology Submission Form Download File

Let us work for you! ZQ is pleased to offer an in-depth customized pathology service that goes beyond the regular submission and interpretation of casework. ZQ's Remote Pathologist Program puts a pathologist on your team.

Cost of Service

Our FEE SCHEDULE for animals submitted is based on the size and number of submitted tissues. An additional grossing/trimming fee is assessed for large tissues or bodies (>4-5”) submitted whole and/or unfixed.

Fee Structure & Specimen Definitions

The fees for all specimens include decalcification, preparation and interpretation of H&E slides, and our Standard Report with a morphologic diagnosis and comments on the case.

Anatomic Pathology

Code	Test	Sample	Fee
P001	Whole animal (1 slide)	Submit fixed sample for processing along with the ZQ Pathology Submission form to: New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory 21 Botanical Lane Address Durham, NH 03824	$80.00
	A whole fish submission refers to the submission of an entire, intact, specimen that can be trimmed so that all of its parts can be embedded in a single cassette. Typically, the total length of these specimens is less than 3 cm, and specimens are trimmed along a particular tissue plane, allowing for the tissues to be examined in situ. Examples include whole zebrafish or medaka, cuttlefish or octopus hatchlings or eggs, crustacean or bivalve larvae, elasmobranch eggs or embryos.
P002	Small specimen (1 slide)	Submit fixed sample for processing along with the ZQ Pathology Submission form to: New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory 21 Botanical Lane Address Durham, NH 03824	$65.00
	A small specimen is a case submission that may generate approximately 4 pieces of tissue that can be embedded in total in a single cassette. In certain cases, these may constitute sub-samplings of postmortem tissue sets focused on particular organ systems or lesions.
P003	Small/medium specimen (2-3 slides)	Submit fixed sample for processing along with the ZQ Pathology Submission form to: New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory 21 Botanical Lane Address Durham, NH 03824	$99.00
	This is a case submission that may generate up to approximately 12 pieces of tissue or intact whole specimens fixed entire less than 8.5 cm (3.25 in) TL that can be serially cross-sectioned for sampling. Examples include small invertebrates (coral/cnidaria, bivalve mollusks, small crabs, shrimp, juvenile cephalopod mollusks, echinoderms), small or juvenile fish & elasmobranchs, small amphibians, small or juvenile reptiles, neonatal birds, neonatal or small mammals.
P004	Medium specimen (4-6 slides)	Submit fixed sample for processing along with the ZQ Pathology Submission form to: New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory 21 Botanical Lane Address Durham, NH 03824	$149.00
	This case submission may generate up to approximately 24 pieces of tissue. Examples may include medium size adult invertebrates (medium size crabs, lobsters, echinoderms, small cephalopod mollusks), medium size fish, small elasmobranchs, medium to large amphibians, small reptiles, small to medium birds, medium size mammals.
P005	Medium/large specimen (7-9 slides)	Submit fixed sample for processing along with the ZQ Pathology Submission form to: New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory 21 Botanical Lane Address Durham, NH 03824	$199.00
	This case submission may generate up to approximately 48 pieces of tissue. Examples may include large invertebrates (cephalopod mollusks), large fish, medium size elasmobranchs, large amphibians, medium size reptiles, large birds, large reptiles, large mammals.
P006	Large specimen (10-12 slides)	Submit fixed sample for processing along with the ZQ Pathology Submission form to: New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory 21 Botanical Lane Address Durham, NH 03824	$259.00
	This case submission may generate up to approximately 48 pieces of tissue. Examples may include large invertebrates (cephalopod mollusks), large fish, medium size elasmobranchs, large amphibians, medium size reptiles, large birds, large reptiles, large mammals.
P007	Biopsy (1 slide)	We recommend that small (endoscopic, needle) biopsies are submitted in a screened cassette to avoid loss. If multiple sites are biopsied and sites specific diagnoses are desired, we recommend submission of tissues in separate labelled cassettes or separate containers so that we can provide the most accurate diagnoses.	$92.00
	Tissues collected from live animals for diagnostic purposes are treated as expedited samples with a turnaround time of 4-5 business days unless special processing (decalcification) is required.
P008	Biopsy (2 slides)	We recommend that small (endoscopic, needle) biopsies are submitted in a screened cassette to avoid loss. If multiple sites are biopsied and sites specific diagnoses are desired, we recommend submission of tissues in separate labelled cassettes or separate containers so that we can provide the most accurate diagnoses.	$112.50
	Tissues collected from live animals for diagnostic purposes are treated as expedited samples with a turnaround time of 4-5 business days unless special processing (decalcification) is required.
P009	Biopsy (3-4 slides)	We recommend that small (endoscopic, needle) biopsies are submitted in a screened cassette to avoid loss. If multiple sites are biopsied and sites specific diagnoses are desired, we recommend submission of tissues in separate labelled cassettes or separate containers so that we can provide the most accurate diagnoses.	$135.00
	Tissues collected from live animals for diagnostic purposes are treated as expedited samples with a turnaround time of 4-5 business days unless special processing (decalcification) is required.
P010	Additional slide	Slides are created at the time of processing	$23.00
	Certain cases require the submission of large, fixed tissue samples (heart, brain, bone, tumors) that require further sectioning and multiple slides to provide an accurate histologic analysis. Some cases also generate tissue sets with more than 12 slides. Additional slide fees may apply in these complex cases.
P020	Grossing fee	.	$11.00
	Large tissues or bodies submitted that require dissection by the pathologist
P021	Long report	Please indicate a long report is desired	$78.00
	This is a per hour charge. This report provides extensive detail that includes a full histologic description of all tissues submitted
P022	RUSH my case	Please select the RUSH box on the ZQ Path Submission form	$45.00
	Do you have a case that needs immediate attention? RUSH cases are read by Dr. Sidor and reported within 2-3 business days.
P023	EXPEDITE my case	Please select the EXPEDITE box on the ZQ Path Submission form and indicate your pathologist of choice	$45.00
	Do you have a case that you want interpreted by a certain pathologist as soon as we can make the slides and get them to him or her? We will process the tissues, send them FEDEX 2nd day or scan them to your pathologist of choice. Your pathologist will then review and report on your case as quickly as possible. Please allow up to 8 business days.
P024	Photomicrographs	Please request photomicrographs on the ZQ Path Submission form	$78.00
	This is an hourly charge. Our pathologists can provide photomicrographs from submitted cases for publication or presentation on request.
P030	Pathologist Consultation Rate	Please email Dr. Whitaker at bwhitaker@zooquaticlab.com	$138.00
	This is an hourly charge. Our pathologists can evaluate slides/ materials that you provide

Prices effective February 1, 2023 reflect a cash discount of 3%, applicable with payment of invoice by ACH or Check. Prices are subject to change.

How to submit a specimen for pathology

Please be sure to use the ZQ PATH SUBMISSION FORM when submitting your animal, tissue set, or biopsy. Samples for the ZooQuatic Pathology Service are to be sent to the New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (NHVDL) for the preparation of histology slides, which will then be distributed to our pathologists for interpretation. If you would like a specific pathologist to evaluate your submission, please do so by requesting this on the line for “Special Instructions”.

Please submit formalin-fixed tissues. Small fish/amphibians should be submitted whole with an incision in the abdomen to facilitate fixation. Tissues from larger animals should be no more than 5 mm in thickness but can be larger in other dimension for orientation and gross identification. A ratio of 10- parts formalin to 1-part tissues is strongly recommended. Tissues can be pre-fixed in larger volumes of formalin and shipped in smaller volumes of formalin or wrapped in formalin-dampened towels to reduce shipping weights.

Requesting RUSH or EXPEDITED processing. If RUSH processing is desired, please indicate that on our submission form. RUSH cases will be interpreted by Dr. Inga Sidor at UNH with a 2 or 3-day turnaround. If EXPEDITED processing is desired, please indicate that on the submission form. Expedited cases are interpreted by the pathologist of your choice with a turnaround time of 8 business days. Please review our FEE SCHEDULE for the cost of these services.

Shipping your samples

Pathology samples are to be sent directly to the New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (NHVDL) for the preparation of histology slides, which will then be distributed to our pathologists for interpretation. If you would like a specific pathologist to evaluate your submission, please indicate that on the Pathology Submission form.

Instructions for shipping samples can be found here https://colsa.unh.edu/new-hampshire-veterinary-diagnostic-laboratory/shipping-supplies.

Samples, with the submission form, must be shipped to NHVDL at this address:

New Hampshire Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
21 Botanical Lane Address
Durham, NH 03824

We strongly recommend use of commercial carriers instead of the USPS. Pre-paid shipping labels and small formalin containers are also available at the link above. Questions about sample receipt should be directed to the NHVDL office at (603) 862-2726. Questions about specimen handling and reporting of results should be directed to the pathologists or ZooQuatic Laboratory.