Construction alert
Direct access to our sample drop-off area from Drake Rd. is closed; please use alternate route to drop off samples in person. View map for detour.
Our courier service is also available to pick up samples (excluding whole animal submissions for necropsy) to transport to the Fort Collins Lab. Learn more about our courier service.
Shipping information
Shipping addresses
Shipping via USPS
1644 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523-1644
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Shipping via FedEx, UPS, or other special courier
2450 Gillette Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80526
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Recommendations for timely delivery
Choose a carrier and service (we recommend FedEx or UPS) that will deliver your specimens to meet testing deadlines and provides package tracking. Try to avoid weekend and holiday delivery, because the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories have limited hours during these times.
Sample receiving is available Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with limited hours on Saturdays. Samples received via FedEx or UPS Saturday delivery will be accessioned and refrigerated as necessary until Monday.
Please use the Test Information and Price List to find submission deadlines for required testing and choose the service that best suits your needs.
Use FedEx Priority Overnight® service for morning delivery
We recommend using FedEx Priority Overnight® service to be delivered by 11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday.
We generally do not recommend using FedEx First Overnight® service, as this tends to be more expensive than and arrive at the same time as Priority Overnight shipments. All other FedEx services – Standard Overnight®, Express Saver®, FedEx 2Day® – will not be delivered to our facility until late afternoon, which will result in a one-day delay and longer turnaround times if daily testing deadlines are missed.
Shipping Supplies
Histopathology mailers
We provide fixative-filled containers with pre-labeled USPS mailers/FedEx shipping supplies for your convenience. Simply order your mailers and once received, place a properly packaged biopsy sample in the mailer. Include completed paperwork and pre-filled label, and if shipping with USPS, place the mailer in your mailbox. If shipping via FedEx, use the provided pre-filled FedEx air-bill. We will bill shipping charges on your testing invoice.
Transporting infectious substances
The U.S. Department of Transportation has strict guidelines for transporting infectious substances to protect public health. There are also carrier rule variations. Please familiarize your staff regarding the proper packing of specimens in order to abide by regulations and to protect the safety of those handling and transporting samples.
- U.S. Department of Transportation: Transporting infectious substances safely
- FedEx: How to ship clinical samples
- UPS: Shipping with hazardous materials
- USPS: Toxic substances and infectious substances
Specimens submitted to the CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories, including carcasses, tissues and agents isolated from samples, become the property of the CSU Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories unless other arrangements are made in writing prior to or at the time of submission.
In-person drop off
For animals or samples are delivered in person, the Fort Collins laboratory is open Monday-Friday and Saturday mornings. Please note our holiday schedule for intended closures.
Address
2450 Gillette Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80526
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
After-hours drop off
An after-hours refrigerator for small submissions is located in the sample submission drop-off area at the Diagnostic Medicine Center.
If you have a drop-off submission for clinical pathology during a time the sample receiving area is closed and before midnight (or 3 p.m. on CSU holidays), please call (970) 297-1290 upon drop-off. Failure to contact or leave a message will result in the specimens sitting unprocessed until the sample receiving area reopens the following business day.
Whole animals delivered after hours (5 p.m.-8 a.m. or on weekends and holidays) for necropsy must be submitted through Small Animal Emergency and Urgent Care at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Emergency personnel will provide our submission form. All fields must be completed, a detailed history provided, special instructions noted, and the form must be signed/dated. Charges apply to all services and payment will be collected the following business day. Be sure to let hospital staff know the submission is intended for the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. A pathologist will conduct a necropsy the following business day.
Courier service
The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratories offers a courier service to pick up samples (excluding whole animal submissions for necropsy) to transport to the Fort Collins Lab.
Our courier service is available Monday-Friday, and can be scheduled on demand, daily, or weekly. Sample pickup is available for business locations (no private residences) in Fort Collins and the surrounding area.
If you are interested in requesting courier pickup from your location, please complete our courier service interest form.