Rabies testing is NOT performed at the Arkansas VDL. It is performed by the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) at no charge to the public.

You may directly submit specimens to ADH at 201 South Monroe St. Little Rock, AR 72205. They will accept whole bodies of small mammals, such as bats, mice, or squirrels, the heads or brains of companion animals such as cats and dogs, and brains for large animals such as horses and livestock. Additional information can be found at www.healthy.arkansas.gov/programs-services/topics/rabies-testing or by calling ADH at 501-661-2220.

For clients unable to remove heads or brains and submit directly to ADH, bodies (or heads of horses/livestock) may be submitted to Arkansas VDL for brain removal and transport to ADH. Rabies-only submissions must be accompanied by an Arkansas VDL submission form AND an ADH submission form. Testing will be delayed until all completed forms are received by the Arkansas VDL.

Rabies-only submissions submitted to the Arkansas VDL will incur both a remains disposal fee (based on the animal’s weight) and a courier fee to forward brain sample to ADH. If necropsy is also requested, the disposal fee will be waived, as it is included in the necropsy fee.

Forms

Rabies Electronic Submission Form - Use this form for testing submitted directly to the ADH Rabies Lab (not to the VDL).

Rabies Forwarding Form - Must be completed for any submission to the VDL requesting rabies testing to be forwarded to the ADH Rabies Lab.