PETS: Dogs and cats
Arrange a blood test and the 6 month rule
Arranging a blood test
After your pet has been vaccinated, it must have a blood test to make sure that the vaccine has given sufficient protection against rabies. This can be done before you leave the UK or while you are in another qualifying country but for entering the UK the 6 month rule will apply. The vet will arrange to take a sample of your pet’s blood and send it to an EU-approved laboratory for testing. The vet who vaccinated your pet can arrange this for you. You will need to take your pet’s vaccination record with you when the blood sample is taken. Make sure that the vet records the microchip number accurately and clearly on the submission form, together with the date the blood sample was taken.
When to blood test
Each UK rabies vaccine manufacturer advises in its
datasheet for the vaccine the best time for a blood sample to be taken
after the vaccination. Make sure that your vet gives you a signed
record of the date the blood sample was taken with the microchip number
clearly stated.
Where the blood test is doneThe blood test must be done at a EU-approved laboratory. Your vet should have a list of these and can choose any one to carry out the test. Other laboratories may be added to the list in due course. |
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The date that each laboratory was officially approved is noted on the list. Blood tests performed by laboratories before the recognition date will not be accepted. This is because the EU can only be certain that a laboratory meets the necessary quality standards once it has been officially approved.
Blood testing capacity at laboratories may be limited and there may be a wait for a blood test. You might wish to ask your vet to check with the laboratory how long they will take to provide the result of the blood test. These problems should ease as more laboratories are recognised and capacity increases. Blood samples may be stored by laboratories for later testing.
Contacting laboratories
Please do not contact laboratories direct to arrange your pet's blood test or to get the result. Your vet will do this for you.
Blood test result
A satisfactory blood test result must show that the rabies neutralising antibody titre was equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml. Make sure your vet gives you a certified copy of the blood test result with the microchip number correctly shown.
If your pet’s blood test is satisfactory, you should ask a vet (in Great Britain a Local Veterinary Inspector) to issue you with an EU pet passport. You will not be able to bring your pet into the UK under the Scheme until 6 calendar months have passed from the date that the blood sample was taken that gave a satisfactory result.
Failed blood test
You should seek advice from your vet if your pet fails its blood test (in other words, the result shows that it has not been satisfactorily protected against rabies). Your pet will need to be blood tested again. Your vet will advise whether re-vaccination is necessary.
To help avoid this situation, you may wish to consider getting your pet vaccinated twice before it is blood tested. This may be particularly helpful in the case of young animals. You should discuss this with your vet.
Further blood tests
No further tests are required after the first test which gives a satisfactory result, provided the pet is subsequently revaccinated against rabies by the “Valid until” date on the PETS certificate, EU pet passport or third country official veterinary certificate. If there is a break in the specified vaccination programme, a further blood test will be required after re-vaccination and the six month wait (see below) will apply.
The 6 month rule for entering or re-entering the UK
Pets may not enter or re-enter the UK until 6 calendar months have passed from the date that a vet took the blood sample which gave a satisfactory test result. Your pet requires only one blood test and 6 months wait provided all subsequent rabies booster vaccinations are given by the required date.
Page last modified: July 12, 2007