Agreement to Terms and Conditions

These terms and conditions of use apply to the website, online portal and diagnostic services provided by the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at Cornell University. 

The Animal Health Diagnostic Center reserves the right to change, modify, add or remove portions of these terms and conditions at any time. 

Your use of our diagnostic services, online portal and website, will mean that you accept and agree to the terms as outlined below. 

No Warranties

Submitter acknowledges that diagnostic testing or results are inherently variable and cannot be guaranteed. Cornell University makes no representations or warranties, whether express or implied, regarding its testing services or results, including (without limitation) to any warranties related to the marketability, use or fitness for any particular purpose of the results, or non-infringement of any third party intellectual property rights.    

Risk of Loss; Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent allowed by applicable law, Cornell University’s aggregate liability arising out of or related to testing services provided through the Animal Health Diagnostic Center (whether under contract, tort, or otherwise) shall not exceed the amount paid for the testing service giving rise to the claim. In no event shall Cornell University be liable for any incidental, consequential or punitive damages of any nature, including but not limited to loss of anticipated profits or other economic loss in connection with the testing services, whether or foreseeable or not, and even if notified of the possibility of such damages.  

Jurisdiction

The laws of the State of New York, without reference to choice of law principles, shall apply to all disputes arising from or related to testing services provided through the Animal Health Diagnostic Center, and any and all claims or actions of any nature arising from any such disputes shall be brought in the courts of Tompkins County, New York.

Sample Submissions

Samples must be submitted through a licensed veterinarian. It is our policy not to allow animal owners to submit samples directly to the Animal Health Diagnostic Center. All samples submitted become the property of the Animal Health Diagnostic Center upon receipt.

Billing

The submitter is financially responsible for all testing requested or added to the original submission that is necessary to reach a diagnosis. 

Payments of all charges are the responsibility of the submitting veterinarian. Charges are billed on a monthly invoice. We bill only when all of the testing on a submitted case has been finalized.

International submissions must be accompanied by payment in U.S. funds via credit card or International Money Order.

Please remit payments to the following address:

Animal Health Diagnostic Center
PO Box 6491
Ithaca NY 14851-6491

Note: Sending your payment to the AHDC Courier or USPS address rather than to this PO Box address will significantly delay the processing of your payment. This address is to be used ONLY for remitting payments. DO NOT submit samples to this address or there will be a delay in testing!

We accept payment via cash, check and credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover). Credit card payments can be managed through our online portal. To ensure proper management of your account records, your account number must be used in all correspondence with the AHDC.

Monthly Auto-Payment Plan

The Monthly Auto-Payment Plan is a service we offer through a third-party service provider to securely process credit card payments for balances due on a monthly basis. Enrolling in autopay helps to ensure that your payment is never received late. Those clients who wish to enroll may do so by logging into the online portal and providing your credit card information in your account. "This account is enrolled in autopay" will be reflected on your monthly invoice, and the credit card payment will be processed on the first business day following the end of each month. Should your payment be refused by your bank for any reason, an automatic email notification will be sent.

The AHDC does not telephone program participants when the payment is refused. In the event your credit card account becomes compromised or a new expiration date is issued or you need to change the card for any reason, it is your responsibility to notify us of change(s) and update your information in the portal. Should you wish to cancel your Monthly Auto-Payment Plan, you may do so in writing to our Billing Services at ahdcbilling@cornell.edu or by removing your credit card from your account settings on the online portal.

NYS Contract Case Pricing

The New York State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory and Animal Health Diagnostic Center (AHDC) under contract with the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets provides reduced cost diagnostic testing to New York State livestock and poultry industries to aid in early detection and surveillance of diseases that may threaten the State’s livestock, poultry and public health. For more detail please call the Animal Health Diagnostic Center at 607-253-3900. 

Regular Charges

All tests that do not qualify for subsidization through the Animal Health Diagnostic Center's contract with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets will be charged at rates listed in the Test & Fee Schedule.

A Charge Status will be assigned for:

• Tests requested by New York State veterinarians which do not satisfy the conditions of the contract stated below.
• All samples received from out-of-state owners, whether or not the submitting veterinarian's clinic is based in New York State.
• Tests performed for private purposes such as for sale, interstate or international export, or exhibition.
• Tests performed for companion animals. Testing on pets will always be charged, except in rare instances where problems of significant public health may be involved.
• Toxicology, Endocrinology, Clinical Pathology, Comparative Coagulation, and Referral tests, as well as certain other tests where non-outbreak circumstances are involved.
• Accession Fee

Credit and Collections

Payment Terms

All AHDC invoices are due 30 days from the date of the invoice. However, penalties and interest charges are not assessed until balances are 90 days or more overdue. This arrangement accommodates the reality of the timing of bills being received by our clients and the possibility of payments not being received or posted in time to be reflected on the following month's invoice. The billing system will issue a new invoice number each month regardless of the nature of the balance.

Finance Charges

Balances that are 90 days or more overdue will be subject to a 3.5% finance charge, calculated on the 26th of each month on the balance due at that time. This charge will be added to the outstanding account balance. Notification of balances past due will be provided monthly. A recommended way to avoid finance charges is to maintain a balance below 90 days or to have a credit card on file with the AHDC.

Cancellation Fees

[This is for QMPS] - Field Service Cancellation Fee: This may be charged if on-farm services are not canceled by the end of the business day 48 hours prior to the scheduled service date. This excludes holidays and weekends.

Penalties

Active accounts with an outstanding balance greater than $500 and over 150 days past due for three consecutive months will be charged an additional $25 delinquent account fee and placed on Credit Hold. Any pending test results will not be released until the full balance due is paid or a satisfactory payment arrangement has been made. Active accounts with balances less than $500 and inactive accounts reaching this point regardless of outstanding amount will be closed and forwarded to collections.

Collections

A Final Demand letter will be sent to you prior to being placed on Credit Hold or closed and forwarded to collections. At this point you will have 10 business days to pay your balance in full. Please note that collection fees assessed by an externally contracted agency will add between 25% and 50% to your outstanding account balance. In the event that your account is placed in this status, your privilege of utilizing the AHDC for your testing needs will be revoked and future specimens will be discarded without testing.

If you have a billing concern, please contact Billing Services at 607-253-3951 or 866-930-2432 to address it prior to the invoice due date. We can also be reached by e-mail at ahdcbilling@cornell.edu.