The U.S. Department of Agriculture is revising the user fees charged for certain veterinary diagnostic services.

“One important way we protect animal health is by providing timely, accurate, and reliable laboratory support,” said Thomas E. Walton, acting deputy administrator for veterinary services with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a part of USDA’s marketing and regulatory programs mission area.

Various APHIS laboratories analyze blood, tissue, and environmental samples to promote disease tracking and identification. APHIS also assists in quality control of animal vaccines and related products. Current regulations allow APHIS to collect user fees sufficient to cover the costs of providing these veterinary diagnostic services.

The user fee changes fall into two categories, new and revised. Nearly 70 percent of the new user fees will be less than $50 each and 40 percent will be less than $25. Most of the revised user fees have increased by less than 20 percent