FAVN test help

Hi everybody,

I'm wanting to move permanently to the UK in December, so I've been in the process of getting my kitty fixed up so I can take her on the PETS scheme. I've found the USDA vet and everything, only there has been a glitch and I'm not sure what course of action to take now.

I've had my cat microchipped and vaccinated against rabies by my USDA vet. Last week I was due to have an appointment to get the blood sample drawn and sent off to Kansas for the FAVN test, only my grandpa died and I had to fly out to NC that day for his funeral and I didn't get back until late Saturday night. Now, my USDA vet is on vacation and will be until the end of the month!

I want to get the blood test done asap because the last possible day I can enter the UK on my visa is on the 31st of December, so doing it at the end of the month is pushing it a bit too close for my comfort.

So my question is: is it okay if the blood is drawn by somebody other than the USDA vet (like a tech at the same veterinary hospital), or is that a major no-no? Will it be any better if another USDA vet at the same hospital is able to do it? Does anybody have any experience with this?

Thanks a lot for your help! You're all so great!

You don't need to have each procedure done by the same vet.  So another USDA vet at the practice should suffice.

The blood can be drawn by anyone at the accredited veterinary surgery - the vet tech did our blood draw, not the vet that signed off on the final paperwork. 

I've had my cat microchipped and vaccinated against rabies by my USDA vet.

I'm assuming you mean a USDA-accredited vet (in other words, a local vet), rather than the state USDA vet?  If not, keep in mind that none of this has to be done by the Official State USDA Vet (of whom there is usually only one per state) - any accredited vet can perform any step in the PETS process save for the final endorsement of the paperwork.

The blood can be drawn by anyone at the accredited veterinary surgery - the vet tech did our blood draw, not the vet that signed off on the final paperwork. 

I'm assuming you mean a USDA-accredited vet (in other words, a local vet), rather than the state USDA vet?  If not, keep in mind that none of this has to be done by the Official State USDA Vet (of whom there is usually only one per state) - any accredited vet can perform any step in the PETS process save for the final endorsement of the paperwork.

Meg is correct, so you can find another USDA accredited vet (your local USDA office should be able to advise you of one) who can draw the blood.

Good luck!

Yeah she's USDA-accredited, not the USDA vet Thanks for the clarification though! I'll call tomorrow and make sure I can get another USDA-accredited one to do it.

Thanks for the really fast and straight forward responses, I really appreciate it!

Yeah she's USDA-accredited, not the USDA vet Thanks for the clarification though! I'll call tomorrow and make sure I can get another USDA-accredited one to do it.

Thanks for the really fast and straight forward responses, I really appreciate it!

Excellent.  I didn't want to be stating the obvious or anything, but there's been a lot of confusion recently about USDA vets vs USDA-accredited vets, so I figured I'd clarify just to make sure.

Excellent.  I didn't want to be stating the obvious or anything, but there's been a lot of confusion recently about USDA vets vs USDA-accredited vets, so I figured I'd clarify just to make sure.

Very true.  A lot of people don't actually know you need a USDA accredited vet!