Animal Testing Guidance:

• Routine testing of animals for SARS-CoV-2 is not informative or recommended (see references below)
• Consider testing under the following circumstances.

• When the animal has current signs of clinical illness, including a documented fever, for which other causes have been ruled out and one of the following occur.
  

• The animal had direct contact with a symptomatic suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case-patient in the two (2) weeks preceding the animal's onset of illness; 
• The animal had exposure to a known high-risk environment where a human COVID-19 outbreak occurred, such as a skilled nursing facility, prison, cruise ship, or other congregate setting; or
• The animal is from a mass care or group setting, such as an animal shelter or boarding facility, where its exposure history to people with COVID-19 is unknown and there is a cluster of animals showing clinical signs; or
• With or without clinical signs, a 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.

• When in the opinion of local, state, or federal public and animal health authorities, the animal presents a unique opportunity to gain further insight into SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology.

• To confirm presumptive positive results at a State of Federal laboratory for presumptive positive tests conducted at private, academic, or other unofficial laboratories.
  

• Laboratories and submitting veterinarians should report results to the CA Animal Testing Coordination Team (ATCT) within one (1) working day to coordinate confirmatory testing.
  
• Duplicate samples must be taken to confirm results at the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratory (NVSL). COVID-19 is an OIE notifiable disease, and presumptive positive results require confirmation by the USDA NVSL.
• Any animal for which official testing yields a positive result will be subject to isolation and management under the direction of the local, state, or federal public and animal health officials.
• Members of the public or licensed wildlife rehabilitators should contact the ATCT via the above email about potential cases in native and exotic wildlife species that may warrant testing.
• Veterinarians who wish to discuss possible testing for a patient under their care should contact the CDPH/CDFA COVID-19 veterinary/animal health team.
  

• United States Department of Agriculture (PDF)
  
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  
• American Veterinary Medical Association
  

• American Veterinary Medical Association SARS-CoV-2Testing Flowchart (PDF)