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COVID-19: Testing Animals

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SARS-CoV-2 Animal Testing Guidance

Note on SARS-CoV-2

The scientific name of the new strain of coronavirus is SARS-CoV-2. In people, the disease caused by the virus is Coronavirus Disease 2019, or COVID-19. Because this guidance is on the virus itself in animals, we refer to it as SARS-CoV-2.

Animal Testing Authorization


The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA),  American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) and the National Association of Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) do not recommend that companion animals be routinely tested for SARS-CoV-2.

Testing for SARS-CoV-2 in animals can only be made in Washington by the Washington State Veterinarian, Dr. Brian Joseph or, in the event he is unavailable, the Washington State Assistant State Veterinarian, Dr. Amber Itle, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH) according to guidance contained in this document. 

The Washington State and Public Health veterinarians can only authorize testing of Washington origin animals. 

The CDC One Health Group has provided the following testing guidance for SARS-CoV-2, consistent with guidance from the State of Washington.
Criteria Epidemiological Risk   Clinical Features
A Animal with history of close contact with a person suspected or confirmed COVID-19. AND Animal has clinical signs of a new, concerning illness that is suspicious of an infectious disease.
B Animal with exposure to a known high-risk environment (i.e. where a human outbreak occurred), such as a residence, facility, or vessel (e.g. nursing home, prison, cruise ship).
C Threatened, endangered or otherwise imperiled/rare animal in a rehabilitation or zoological facility with possible exposure to SARS-CoV-2 through an infected person or animal.  AND Animal is asymptomatic; OR Animal has clinical signs of a new, concerning illness that is suspicious of an infectious disease.

Basis for testing

Authorization for testing in Washington will be conducted on a case by case basis:
  • When requested by a private veterinarian who is reporting
    • A new, concerning illness that cannot be otherwise explained AND
    • The companion animal has had close contact with a person with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection AND
    • Screening has been recommended to the client for infectious diseases known to commonly cause illness in companion animals OR
    • The animal is a threatened, endangered or otherwise imperiled/rare animal in a rehabilitation facility, in the custody of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife or zoological facility with possible exposure to SARS-CoV-2 through an infected person or animal.
  • When requested by academic institutions for the purpose of research:
    • The proposal, sampling criteria, animal species and scope of the project will be outlined prior to authorization.
    • Researchers will establish an endpoint for each study in conjunction with WSDA based upon time and date or number of animals/households tested.
    • If the scope of the project, the testing criteria, or the endpoint changes, the State Veterinarian must authorize those changes.

Veterinarian authorization

Once the decision is made to test, the State Veterinarian will authorize and designate a state-appointed veterinarian, USDA accredited veterinarian, or Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostician (FADD) to collect the sample using appropriate personal protective equipment [PDF].  
Sample collection methods will be verified with guidance from the Washington Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL). 
Official sampling will follow USDA guidance [PDF].

Laboratory and Reporting

Washington Animal Disease and Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) will conduct initial animal testing and provide test kits to authorized veterinarians. 
SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) detection in any animal is reportable per World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) guidance.
Positive results: 
  • Will require confirmation through additional testing by USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL).
  • Will only be reported publicly when confirmed by NVSL and information has been communicated with the Washington State Veterinarian and the Public Health Veterinarian.
  • WSDA will communicate the information to AAVLD, AVMA, CDC, NASPHVUSDA, National Assembly State Animal Health Officials (NASAHO) and work with those groups for unified messaging.

Management of animals in Covid-19 positive households

WSDA will default to AVMA guidance and CDC guidance concerning the management of animals in shelters and households in which a human has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.

There is no current guidance available regarding quarantine of test positive dogs, cats or other pets.  WSDA will follow any guidance provided by the USDA/CDC working group if new information becomes available.   

If an animal has a positive result, WSDA will not remove the animal from the home. 

AVMA guidance suggests dogs should be walked outside for elimination and exercise but direct contact with other companion animals should be avoided as a best practice to protect animal health.
  • Feces should be collected using gloved hands or a bag and disposed of immediately.
  • Ideally, these dogs should be walked in an area that can be readily sanitized in a dedicated area separate from the general animal population.

Key points

At this time, there is no evidence that companion animals, including pets, can spread SARS-CoV-2 to people.   
WSDA has authorized a limited number of research projects to test animals to:
  • Help identify risk factors for human to animal transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
  • Gain an understanding of prevalence of infected dogs and cats in SARS-CoV-2 infected homes and shelters in Washington.
  • Understand the role of companion animals in virus transmission, if any. 

Important SARS-CoV-2 Resources

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