Donors must be in good systemic health. They must be generally healthy and canines must have been vaccinated at least for: rabies, distemper, hepatitis, and parvo virus. Exclusions include malignancies, diabetes, septicemia, bacteremia, autoimmune disorders, ingestion of toxic substances, recent exposure to or history of rabies, distemper, or parvo virus, general unexplained lethargy or malaise.

At the time of euthanasia, blood samples are drawn and tested for transmissible diseases. Canines are tested for brucella, heartworm antigen, and a tick-borne disease panel that includes E. Canis, B. Canis, R. Rickettsii and B. Burgdorferi. Felines are tested for FELV and FIV. We also archive a serum sample from every donor.

Veterinary Transplant Services puts serious emphasis on donor screening and tissue transplantation safety. We recognize that there are limitations in sensitivities of screening tests and limitations in available medical and social history for animals. Therefore, although we screen and test each donor and all tissues, as with transplantation in humans, there is always some small risk of disease transmission. Therefore, VTS cannot assume responsibility or liability for the clinical use of the tissue it provides.