Can you get/order (red top) blood collection equipment?

[pintopiaffe]

I can do IV shots, and could save a bundle if I could draw my own blood for a pg test.

Do I need to get the tube & needle from the vet, or can I order them?

(vet is 90+ miles away... I usually trailer in, but to pay for gas and a trailer in fee seems silly when I can do this myself and just have them test it... )

[ddashaq]

https://www.pulmolab.com/laboratory/lab_supp/phlebotomy/blood_collection_tubes/vacutainer/index.html

Another suggestion would be to get some from your vet. I did not see anything on the web site that indicated that you would need to be a vet/doctor to order from them.

[Rubs Not Pats]

O.K, I am confused. They charge you a haul in fee for a blood draw? That's insane! Then they charge you to draw the blood then (just so you know) the test is also marked up. I would gladly provide RTT to a client who ran all their work through our hospital. We do not charge a draw fee or an office call but our lab work is marked up to include the draw/processing as well as the doctors time to interpret and contact the client and document in the charts. We have a lady who routinely takes her own cultures on her birds (and we really don't want them to come in and get stressed out but need the susseseptabilities and MIC's.), so we give her everything she needs to take her own samples.

[hunterhorse22]

Valley Vet sells the blood serum separator tubes. VV is getting a little ridiculous with shipping and handling surcharges, but it is probably worth not having to haul your horses 90 miles to the vet :winkgrin: http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30153878-6713-4603-9edf-ed0215aa1e25

They sell needles and syringes too. You shouldn't need a Vet approval for any of these supplies, but if for some strange reason you do, your vet can just fax them a letter.

Another suggestion would be to go to a local small animal vet, and see if you could buy the supplies you need from them.

[092556]

Hey PintoPiaffe
What will your vet be charging you for the running the blood test if you provide your own tubes and needles?

[pintopiaffe]

Just updating this...

Charge for the pg test remains the same whether trailer in or farm call or bring my own blood. (well, 'er, the MARE's blood. ;) )

Charge for trailer in is a little less than 1/2 of farm call, so with gas, ends up being nearly equal--HOWEVER--farm calls are near impossible to get for non-emergencies, and even harder with my varying work schedule.

I actually respect that--I don't want my vet to be 90 mi in the opposite direction on something silly and routine like a coggins if I have a real emergency... so I work with it. Either plan farm calls when he's in the area (up to 6 wks in advance) or trailer in.

Besides, trailering in is good training for the ponies. :p

Vet himself doesn't charge a fee for trailer-in/ofc visit if I meet him at the track (which is only 15 miles) but it's off season for that, and in busy season, he's busy!

Anywho... my fabulous Paramagic at work gave me a tube gratis. He said since *I* bagged a patient all the way to the hospital when we were short crew, I more than earned it. :yes: :D

The question though--the top is more of a pinkish-fuscia than RED. He said that is what they use for HUMAN blood/serum. Would there be any difference?

I can call vet tomorrow. But I know someone here already knows. :yes: :winkgrin:

[Ghazzu]

Tube should be fine.