How to Have a Lab Test Your Fish

This database is for Villages to share information and photos of unusual fish.
That way Villages can learn from, and help each other.


Fish researchers are interested in Fish diseases and deformities. They are especially interested in unusual or new diseases or identifying new disease patterns among a fish type or in a new region. Even if your fish problem is not exactly what they are researching right now, they may still test your fish for free. There are non-agency labs that will test your fish (or anything) if you pay them. If you have no luck with free agency or university labs, ask these labs to refer you to a lab where you can pay a fee.



  • 1. Take several photos of the fish. Click here for instructions.

  • 2. Refrigerate the fish as soon as possible wrapped in clean plastic or paper. Do not place it in a Freezer. For testing, it is very important that the fish flesh is NOT frozen. Keep it at refrigerator temperature.

  • 3. Enter the fish in your subsistence observation log.

  • 4. Find out if your fish can be tested. Call one of the people from the labs listed below and describe the fish that you would like to send them. They can tell you if the fish you have is suitable to send for analysis. Have the fish sample information & packaging checklist with you when you call. You can then ask them about each item.

  • 5. Choose a Lab to work with. Compare how fish data is used, how fast they can test, and whether they can pay for the shipping.

  • 6. If the person says that your fish is OK to ship, follow the packing and preparation instructions of the lab. Make sure you understand what they want you to do. They can email or fax instructions to you. Depending on the fish and they think is wrong, they may send you a chemical that will help to preserve your fish sample. If they do not send you a chemical, then you should not add anything.

    The labs may send you a different form. Use that form. They will tell you exactly what to do with your fish. They are easy instructions. Read Native Village of Tununak's experience about sending fish here.

  • 7. Postage and Shipping Make sure you know if you are supposed to pay for shipping. Usually, the lab will require you to pay for shipping. However, if looking at your fish may help many communities in identifying a problem, the lab may pay shipping. So be sure to ask them if they can pay. You might be able to use your IGAP funds to purchase the shipping materials and postage. Talk to your project officer if this purchase does not fit into your workplan objectives.

  • 8. Fill out the form, put it in a ziplock bag, and include it in the cooler with your sample. Follow all Lab instructions when packing the fish sample.

  • 9. Mail it as soon as possible, and don’t forget to make copies. Make sure you retain copies of the forms and papers you fill out. Mail via the posting method the lab wants you to. You should get a tracking number from the shipper/post office if at all possible.


What are Some Labs that Might Test Our Fish for Free?

All of these agencies have labs that can test your fish. It is your choice as to which lab you choose.

We suggest using ADFG if you can. They are very experienced with Alaska fish. If ADFG tests, then more records can be documented about what is happening with Alaska fish. This can help villages and researchers. However, You need to consider that ADFG must provide a data report to anyone who requests it. Click here to see an example of what someone would get if they requested an ADFG database report. Because the database is set-up for researchers, ADFG receives very few requests, and the requests are almost always made by researchers. If you do not wish your test results to be public, then you must work with another lab.



Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG)

Tammy Burton
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G)
Division of Commercial Fisheries-- Pathology Section
(907) 267-2244 (Anchorage)
http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/geninfo/research/patho/pathohpg.php


When you send ADF&G your fish to have analyzed, they will test the fish, give you the results, and add the fish information to their database. ADF&G staff can search the database by watershed and generate a data reports. If anyone requests a report, ADF&G must provide them with it. See example.


US National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)


Dr. Frank Morado
Fisheries Pathobiologist
US National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Seattle, Washington
Phone: 206 526 6572
Fax: 206 526 6723
Email: frank.morado@noaa.gov

http://www.afsc.noaa.gov/RACE/shellfish/pathobiology/pathoStaff.htm

United States Geological Survey (USGS)


Chris Zimmerman
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
Alaska Science Center
(907)786-3954
Email: czimmerman@usgs.gov

If you send your fish to USGS, they will test the fish, give you the results, and report the fish information in a special computer program. This program is mostly used internally, but due to legal reasons, the data could be made available to people outside of USGS (this would be rare). USGS will make every effort to keep your information private, within the limits of the law.

Receiving the lab test results


After the lab has tested your fish, they will probably mail you a pathology report with their findings and/or call you with the results. Call the contact person and ask any questions you may have on this report. You will also want to make sure that you have a copy of the report for your records. Here are some questions that you may want to ask them: Does this mean that I can safely eat my fish? Should I follow any certain cooking instructions (time, temperature, etc.) Can my dogs safely eat this fish? Will this affect other fish or their reproduction?

When you have the pathology report, please post the findings to the Nunat fish Database by clicking on the Followup up on my report on the Nunat fish database home page. You could also post information on the message board, or send the results to nunat@zendergroup.org and we will enter it into the Nunat database for you.

Why do I want to post the Test results and Lab information on Nunat?


By posting the followup test and answers on Nunat, you will help other Villages to identify what they are finding and gain useful information. What you have found out will be recorded so that when other villages report the same type of abnormality, everyone will know if the problem is widespread. You will be able to tell if the problem is staying the same or increasing. By sharing information about fish abnormalities, you will be able to find out if you can still safely eat your fish, if your dogs can eat the fish, if the disease might harm other fish or subsistence animals, and other questions you may have.

What Else Can I do?


There are a number of additional actions you can do in developing a subsistence protection program for your village. Make sure you read this Nunat document: What to Do if You Find an Unusual Fish