Frequently Asked Questions

There are a few ways to set up an account with us.

Contact us via our Contact us Page by clicking HERE.  Fill in your details and select PATHPORT account request. One of the team will get back in touch with your account details.

Give us a call and we can help set up the account over the phone. All our phone numbers are listed on the contact us page.

Contact us via our Contact us Page by clicking HERE. Fill in your details and select PATHPORT account request. One of the team will get back in touch with your account details. For further information on how to use PATHPORT please WATCH THIS VIDEO on our website:

Invoices will be sent to the email address on your account at the beginning of every month for the tests ordered the previous month. Invoices need to be paid via BACS Bank Transfer within 7 days from the date of the invoice or within 31 days where there is a direct debit payment arrangement set up. Customers can also email [email protected] to set up a direct debit or for any invoice/payment queries.

There are a few ways you can request a pricelist.

Contact us via our Contact us Page by clicking HERE. Fill in your details and select “Pricelist request” and a PDF version of the pricelist will be emailed to you.

All our prices are available on our online portal PATHPORT, and you can request a PATHPORT account by selecting “PATHPORT account request” on our contact us page. One of the team will get back in touch with your account details.

Due to our environmental commitments, we are trying to reduce the use of printed pricelists, however if you would like a printed version, please indicate this in your message and one of our team will send one to you if we have copies available.

Alastair Jack – South West
VPG Exeter, VPG Ringwood & VPG Histology

Jack Sayer – South East
VPG Hitchin

Lloyd Blair – Ireland
VPG Cork

Abdullah Elahi – North of UK
VPG Leeds

No, we do not offer payment plans. Invoices need to be paid via BACS Bank Transfer within 7 days from the date of the invoice or within 31 days where there is a direct debit payment arrangement set up. Customers can also email [email protected] to set up a direct debit or for any invoice/payment queries.

We have designed our pricelist to be as transparent as possible so that there are no hidden fees. We can process samples urgently and these fees are itemised in our pricelist and on PATHPORT. If you have any questions regarding prices for tests, please contact us via our contact us page or give us a call.

Submitting a sample to VPG is simple.

1. Firstly, you’ll need to set up an account by clicking HERE and selecting PATHPORT account request. One of our team will then be in touch with your account details.

2. Once you’ve logged into PATHPORT, enter the patient’s details and select the test you’d like to order. For further guidance on using PATHPORT, please watch the video on our website HERE.

3. After completing your order, please print out the submission form and include it with the sample. This is required to comply with transport regulations and allows us to scan the barcode for receipt.

4. Package your sample as described in the FAQ below: “How do I package my sample?”

5. Send your sample to us via your VPG courier box ready for collection by a VPG courier, DHL Collection or put them in the post it to us (if you’d like Royal Mail Tracked Labels – Post Office First-Class Priority Sort, Freepost Tracked 24 Service – please get in touch).

Our VPG courier service covers the majority of England, South Wales, Southern Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow) and Ireland. A VPG Courier lock box is fitted to the outside of the practice and the samples are placed in the box ready for collection, for the couriers to pick up.

The samples are then transported via our dedicated service to the laboratories. Clients that do not fall into our courier route catchment are able to utilise our DHL 24-hour account to send their samples to our laboratories at a subsidised charge. We also provide Royal Mail tracked returned labels if you wish to send us samples by post (not for histopathology samples). Please contact your local laboratory if you would like these labels. We continuously monitor our courier routes and coverage and where viable will extend our routes into new areas.

If you are on a VPG Courier route and have had a VPG courier box set up at your practice, there are a few ways to ensure your sample is collected.

1. The best way to request a collection is via our PATHPORT online ordering platform which can automatically notify your courier that a sample is ready to collect. If you would like to order your courier collections using this method, please ensure to contact your local laboratory to set this up for you before you submit your first sample.

2. You can also contact your courier directly. Each of our couriers have their own mobile phone and email address – you can contact them directly to request a collection. Most of our couriers work overnight and therefore likely won’t pick up the phone during the day or respond to emails – please don’t worry you can leave a message, and they will pick this up when they start their shift.

3. If you regularly send VPG samples we can set up default daily collections where the courier comes to your practice every day.

Our courier collection services run Monday to Friday (with samples arriving at our labs Tuesday to Saturday) routinely.

We do not currently run routine courier collections at the weekend. However, if your practice would like to request urgent, weekend or bank holiday collections on a regular basis please contact your local partnership executive to discuss your requirements. Please note there will be an additional charge for this service.

Diagnostic specimens must be packed to comply with UN3373 Category B. Clients are requested to put sample submissions into Biohazard sample bags with the paperwork in the outer pocket and this will comply with the initial sample container layer. Samples then require a secondary layer, with sufficient absorbent material to contain any sample spill. If your sample is collected via a VPG Courier, the courier driver will provide the secondary layer on collection and only a biohazard bag will be required.

Clear labelling of samples for refrigeration and those that are frozen helps drivers ensure these are handled correctly from collection to delivery.

If you are sending the sample via post or DHL, please comply with the UN3373 packaging instructions HERE.

If you are using Royal mail, you can find more information HERE.

For larger samples (such as limbs and post mortems etc.) we have extensive detailed information for practices on how to handle these samples and our couriers are experienced with handling such deliveries.

Please find this information HERE.

Please call us to speak directly to a pathologist if you need further advice regarding large or unusual samples on 0117 951 1283.

Yes – we accept a range of post mortem samples for diagnostic investigation.

This includes individual organ samples from post mortems, as well as whole small animals submitted in formalin with the body cavities opened to allow adequate fixation.

We also offer a full post mortem service at VPG Leeds. If you’d like to arrange this or need further guidance on sample submission, please contact your local laboratory.

We accept a full range of diagnostic sample types depending on the type of test requested. Which specific sample is required for each test is detailed on PATHPORT and in our pricelist. If you have any other questions about a particular sample type, please contact us HERE.

Yes, we provide all the necessary patient sampling and laboratory consumables to support your diagnostic needs, available at a small cost.

You can order these via our contact us page by selecting “Laboratory supplies order”, or by emailing or calling your local lab.

We also plan to make these supplies available to order directly through PATHPORT by mid-2025.

Haematology and fluid samples are stored for 7 days, serum samples are stored frozen for 1 month. Cytology slides are stored for a month. Histology wet tissue is stored for 4 weeks after finalisation of the histology report. Histology blocks and slides are stored for at least 15 years.

We have developed PATHPORT using our own experience as vets alongside our close relationships with veterinary practices, which is why PATHPORT prioritises a fast, personalised service with many features developed from our client’s recommendations.

Here you can see our full test catalogue, order tests and supplies online, track your submissions progress through the lab, get live updates and evaluate your patient’s results allowing you to compare them to all previous submissions.

PATHPORT is free to use for all our clients.

Urgent blood results are sent out by 12:30pm on the day of receipt. Urgent cytology results are sent out by 2:00pm on the day of receipt.

For urgent histology:

Same-day urgent results are available only if the sample is received at VPG Histology by 10:00am

Next-day urgent histology results are sent out the day after the sample is received at VPG Histology.

Having worked closely with veterinary practices for many years we understand that veterinary practices often prefer results in different ways and therefore we are able to provide reports in a range of different formats including:

1. Online via our free web portal PATHPORT, accessible through any web browser

2. Email including PDF or .txt results

3. Vet Envoy/Vet XML Integration into practice management systems – please call your local lab to set this up.

Yes, you can access all your past results and submissions online through our online portal PATHPORT which is free to use. Using PATHPORT you can see our full test catalogue, order tests online, track your submissions progress through the lab, get live updates and evaluate your patient’s results allowing you to compare them to all previous submissions. To set up your account contact us via our Contact us Page by clicking HERE. Fill in your details and select PATHPORT account request. One of the team will get back in touch with your account details. For further information on how to use PATHPORT please watch this video on our website HERE.

Yes – all test requests submitted through PATHPORT include comprehensive pathologist interpretation across various disciplines, including profiles, serology, PCR, cytology, and histology.

Our highly personalised interpreted diagnostic reports are central to what we do, with complimentary consultation from our expert veterinary pathologists and specialists.

Please note: Easilab submissions do not include interpretation as standard, but interpretation can be added for an additional fee. If you’d like to arrange this, please contact your local laboratory.

No, results will be returned to the requesting veterinary clinic. If you have specific request, please contact your local laboratory and will we try to help.

VPG standard operating procedures and quality approaches will sometimes indicate if repeat testing is required. In such cases this is not charged. If there is reason to believe there has been any issue with the testing, an investigation will be undertaken which may involve repeat testing or sending samples for testing at another location. Again, costs will be borne by VPG for such investigations. If the client requests repeat testing where all testing has met the standard expected, the client may be charged.

For histology and cytology results, in-house second opinions can be requested, ideally after discussing the case with the pathologist, free of charge. We can send away slides and/ or blocks for a second opinion to a histology laboratory of your preference, in which case we charge the shipment costs.

Our VPG courier service covers the majority of England, South Wales, Southern Scotland (including Edinburgh and Glasgow), and Ireland.

For clients outside our courier route catchment, we offer access to our discounted DHL 24-hour account to send samples to our laboratories. While this is not a free service, VPG covers part of the cost to help keep it affordable.

We continuously monitor our courier routes and, where viable, look to expand into new areas.

Our courier collection is at 99.9% success rate. There are occasional incidents that disrupt service; however, we ensure we communicate to our impacted clients and do all we can to get the samples to the lab as soon as possible. As part of our service quality, we investigate any incidents to establish the root cause and look to put in place preventative measures where possible.

If the courier has not arrived at their normal time this may because there has been disruptions on their route. You are welcome to contact them directly if you are concerned, however please be aware they may not be able to answer you as they will be driving. If your sample has not been collected by the following morning, please contact your local laboratory and we will do all we can to get the samples to the lab as soon as possible.

We do not currently run routine courier collections at the weekend. However, if your practice would like to request urgent, weekend or bank holiday collections on a regular basis please contact your local partnership executive to discuss your requirements. Please note there will be an additional charge for this service. See section “Sample submission & Testing”.

Yes, we can provide this for you. Please contact your local laboratory and they can arrange for one of our partnership executives to come and visit your practice and help you.

We have created a detailed information document on how to order immunotherapy vaccines and this information can be found HERE.

We welcome both constructive and positive feedback as this helps us get better and provide an excellent service for our clients by adapting to their needs. Please contact your local laboratory in the first instance with your feedback and one of our team members will get back in touch with you.

Our laboratory support teams work standard hours (08:30 – 17:30 Monday to Friday and 8:30-12:30pm Saturday). VPG Histology, VPG Ringwood and VPG Cork are not open on Saturdays.

Our veterinary pathology teams are available for consultation Monday to Friday, 09:00–17:30 and 9:00-12:30pm Saturday. VPG Histology, VPG Ringwood and VPG Cork are not open on Saturdays.

Outside of these hours, pathologists may occasionally be available via email, however responses cannot be guaranteed, and phone support is not available.

You can contact your local laboratory HERE.

Please send us your updated contact details via our contact page HERE and we will make sure these changes are actioned. If you require a change to the address your invoice is sent to please send an email to: [email protected]