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Common diagnostic tests described in this chapter have been divided into core, primary, secondary, and diagnostic laboratory tests based on their resource requirements, knowledge and skill needed to conduct the tests and interpret the results, and their feasibility for being conducted within the resource limitations of most animal shelters.

Core diagnostic tools include a case history, physical examination findings, and response to treatment. These tools require minimal to no equipment, can be performed and interpreted by trained non‐veterinary personnel and, with the exception of diagnosis by the response to treatment, should be performed on every animal that enters the shelter system.

Primary diagnostic testing in the animal shelter encompasses routine use of enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test kits, diagnostic cytology, fecal examination and urinalysis. In most cases, these tests can be performed and interpreted by trained non‐veterinary personnel within the shelter itself and are commonly used as both screening tests and first‐line diagnostic tests for animals exhibiting specific clinical signs.

Secondary diagnostic testing includes complete blood count and blood chemistry analysis, diagnostic imaging, culture, and necropsy. These are utilized in specific clinical scenarios and when core and primary diagnostic tests are unable to provide a definitive diagnosis or direct the management plan. Many of the secondary tests can be conducted by in‐house laboratories but results require interpretation and application by a veterinarian.

Diagnostic laboratory tests should be conducted by trained personnel in a diagnostic laboratory, and these results also require interpretation and application by a veterinarian. These tests are often reserved for select cases requiring a definitive diagnosis. Though all these tools (and many more not covered here) can provide a wide variety of clinical diagnostic information, this chapter will focus on those tools most likely to be applicable to the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases encountered in the shelter environment.