Pet Diagnostics & Lab Testing in Jacksonville, FL
Bloodwork, urinalysis, fecal, cytology, and rapid diagnostics processed on-site in our in-house laboratory. Same-day results so your pet's treatment doesn't wait a week.
Trusted by Jacksonville pet families since 1988. In-house lab with same-day results on most tests. No shipping samples to an outside facility.
In-House Diagnostics That Actually Return Same-Day Results
A lot of veterinary practices call themselves "full-service" but ship most of their lab work to outside processing centers. That's fine for routine annual panels, but it turns a sick visit into a waiting game. Your pet is uncomfortable. You're anxious. And the lab results that would tell everyone what's actually going on won't be back until sometime next week.
Diagnostics at SJB Animal Care Center work differently. Our in-house laboratory processes the bloodwork, urinalysis, fecal, cytology, and rapid diagnostics that most sick visits and wellness screenings need. Results typically come back the same day, often within the visit itself. That means the doctor can adjust the treatment plan while your pet is still in the room, not three days later after a phone call and a return trip.
For specialized panels that require outside lab work, we partner with Antech and other regional labs for send-out diagnostics with stat, priority, and next-day options depending on how time-sensitive the case is.
When In-House Diagnostics Matter Most
Some diagnostics can wait a few days. Others can't. Situations where same-day in-house results make a real difference:
Sick pets who need same-day answers. A dog with vomiting and lethargy needs bloodwork today, not next Tuesday. In-house testing means the vet can rule in or out kidney disease, pancreatitis, or infection while you're still in the room.
Senior pets on chronic medications. Twice-yearly monitoring panels for pets managing diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid conditions, or heart disease. Same-day results mean medication doses get adjusted immediately based on current values.
Pre-surgical bloodwork. Before any anesthetic procedure, pre-surgical bloodwork confirms your pet is a safe surgical candidate. In-house means we can run it the day before or the morning of surgery without delaying the procedure.
Puppies and kittens for parvo, FeLV, or FIV testing. New patients whose status is unknown. Rapid snap tests confirm whether protection or treatment protocols are needed before boarding, socialization, or bringing them into a multi-pet household.
Annual wellness screenings. Complete Care Wellness Plan members get annual diagnostic panels bundled into their plan. Same-day results mean you leave with a full picture of your pet's baseline health.
Lump and mass evaluation. A new bump can be nothing or it can be everything. Fine needle aspiration and cytology run on-site can often distinguish between benign lipomas and something that needs further workup before you leave the visit.
What Our In-House Lab and Send-Out Diagnostics Cover
In-house testing (same-day results on most panels):
- Complete blood count (CBC): checks red and white cell counts, platelets, and hemoglobin
- Chemistry panels: organ function including liver, kidneys, glucose, electrolytes
- T4 thyroid testing for cats and dogs
- Urinalysis for kidney and bladder health, hydration, and infection
- Fecal testing for intestinal parasites, including Giardia
- Heartworm testing for dogs
- Cancer screening diagnostics
- FeLV and FIV testing for cats (feline leukemia and immunodeficiency virus)
- Parvo testing for puppies with suspected exposure
- Snap tests for in-clinic rapid diagnostics
- Ear cytology, skin cytology, and mass cytology for infection and cell-type identification
- Fine needle aspiration (FNA) for lump and mass evaluation
- Pre-anesthetic bloodwork required before surgical procedures
- Senior wellness panels tailored to age-related health trends
In-house testing (same-day results on most panels):
- Specialty panels not run in-house
- Tick-borne disease testing
- Thyroid panels beyond standard T4
- Cultures and sensitivity testing
- Pathology and biopsy interpretation
- Any test our in-house lab is not equipped to process
How a Diagnostic Workup Runs at SJB
The workflow is designed to minimize waiting and maximize the information your vet has to work with by the end of the visit.
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1. Sample collection
Depending on the panel, this could be a blood draw, urine collection (free-catch or cystocentesis), fecal sample, ear or skin swab, or fine needle aspirate from a lump.. Depending on the panel, this could be a blood draw, urine collection (free-catch or cystocentesis), fecal sample, ear or skin swab, or fine needle aspirate from a lump.
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2. In-house processing
Samples go directly to our on-site laboratory. Most panels start processing within minutes of collection.
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3. Same-day results
Bloodwork, urinalysis, fecal, cytology, or rapid diagnostics run on-site. Most results come back before you leave.
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4. Doctor review
The vet reviews results in context with your pet's history, current symptoms, and physical exam findings.
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5. Treatment plan or next step
Based on the results, treatment starts today, follow-up is scheduled, or send-out testing is initiated for cases needing deeper workup.
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6. Follow-up call the next day
As with every SJB visit, a team member calls the following day to check in.
When In-House Diagnostics Matter Most
Some diagnostics can wait a few days. Others can't. Situations where same-day in-house results make a real difference:
Sick pets who need same-day answers. A dog with vomiting and lethargy needs bloodwork today, not next Tuesday. In-house testing means the vet can rule in or out kidney disease, pancreatitis, or infection while you're still in the room.
Senior pets on chronic medications. Twice-yearly monitoring panels for pets managing diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid conditions, or heart disease. Same-day results mean medication doses get adjusted immediately based on current values.
Pre-surgical bloodwork. Before any anesthetic procedure, pre-surgical bloodwork confirms your pet is a safe surgical candidate. In-house means we can run it the day before or the morning of surgery without delaying the procedure.
Puppies and kittens for parvo, FeLV, or FIV testing. New patients whose status is unknown. Rapid snap tests confirm whether protection or treatment protocols are needed before boarding, socialization, or bringing them into a multi-pet household.
Annual wellness screenings. Complete Care Wellness Plan members get annual diagnostic panels bundled into their plan. Same-day results mean you leave with a full picture of your pet's baseline health.
Lump and mass evaluation. A new bump can be nothing or it can be everything. Fine needle aspiration and cytology run on-site can often distinguish between benign lipomas and something that needs further workup before you leave the visit.
Annual Diagnostic Panels Bundled Into Your Wellness Plan
Complete Care Wellness Plan members get annual diagnostic panels bundled into their flat monthly payment. That includes:
- Annual CBC and chemistry panel appropriate for your pet's life stage
- Annual heartworm testing for dogs
- Annual fecal parasite screening
- Age-adjusted senior wellness panels for pets who have aged into that category during the plan year
Non-covered diagnostics (sick-visit workups, pre-surgical bloodwork, cytology, FNA, and other case-specific testing) are billed separately at the standard rate, but the team walks you through cost before running anything.
If you find yourself running diagnostics multiple times a year outside of your annual wellness visit (chronic conditions, senior pets, multi-pet households), the wellness plan can meaningfully reduce the total.
Related Services
Wellness exams, same-day sick visits, chronic disease management, and the doctor time your pet actually needs to get diagnosed properly.
Year-round parasite prevention, early disease detection screenings, and senior wellness panels built for Jacksonville's climate.
Digital full-body and dental X-rays interpreted by board-certified radiologists, plus ultrasound diagnostics and FAST scans.
Predictable monthly pricing that bundles annual exams, vaccines, and diagnostics into one flat rate starting at $59 a month. Four life-stage plans.
Common Questions About Preventative Pet Care
Answers to the questions Jacksonville pet owners ask most about preventative care.
Same-Day Diagnostic Answers for Your Pet
Book a diagnostic workup, schedule a wellness panel, or drop off your pet for a same-day sick visit. Our in-house lab returns most results before you leave the parking lot.
