How to obtain a rabies titer test for Pet Transport
TLDR: If your destination requires a rabies titer test, the process runs through the same core stages, whether you're moving a pet out of the US or bringing a foreign-vaccinated dog into the US from a high-risk country: microchip first, then vaccination, then a timed blood draw, then a lab approved for your specific direction of travel. The standard, the timing window, and the approved-lab list are different for outbound moves than for US entry, so this guide is split into two tracks. Confirm which one applies to you before following any of the steps.
If your destination requires a rabies titer test, here is how to get it done. The test itself is straightforward. The part that catches most pet owners off guard is the timeline: between the vaccination requirement, the mandatory wait before the blood draw, lab processing time, and (for outbound moves) a post-result waiting period some countries impose, this step alone can add months to your move. Start here before you book anything.
Which Track Applies to You?
Moving a pet out of the US to a destination that requires a titer (Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Guam, many Caribbean islands, and others): follow the Outbound Track below. This is the FAVN/RNATT process most pet owners are thinking of.
Bringing a foreign-vaccinated dog into the US from a CDC-listed high-risk country for dog rabies: follow the US Entry Track below instead. The standard, the timing window, and the approved-lab list are all different from the outbound process, and following the outbound steps for a US-entry titer will not work. If this is your situation, see our dedicated guide to rabies titer requirements for United States pet travel alongside this one.
Not sure which applies? Verify your destination's current requirements at USDA APHIS for outbound moves, or check the CDC high-risk countries list for US entry, and confirm directly with the relevant authority. Requirements change.
Outbound Track: Moving a Pet From the US to a Titer-Required Destination
Step 1: Confirm Your Destination Requires It
Not every country requires a titer test. Before starting this process, verify the current import requirements for your specific destination at USDA APHIS and confirm directly with the destination's official veterinary or quarantine authority.
Destinations that commonly require a titer test for US-origin pets include Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Guam, and many Caribbean islands. The EU does not require a titer test for non-commercial moves from the US, though individual country rules may vary.
Step 2: Microchip Your Pet First
Your pet must have an ISO-compliant microchip (ISO 11784/11785 standard) implanted before the rabies vaccination is given and before the blood draw. The microchip number must appear on the vaccination record and on the FAVN submission form. If these do not match, results may be rejected by the destination authority.
If your pet has two microchips, only the first number listed on the submission form will appear on the official result, so the choice matters. Check your destination's requirements about which number to list first.
Step 3: Administer the Rabies Vaccination
Your pet needs a current rabies vaccination from a licensed veterinarian before the blood draw. The original vaccination certificate must document the vaccine manufacturer, lot number, date administered, and validity period. Keep this certificate. It travels with your pet and is cross-referenced against the titer result.
If your pet has never been vaccinated or has a lapsed vaccination, some destinations require two vaccinations before the titer test. Check your destination's specific requirements before assuming one is sufficient.
Step 4: Wait for the Blood Draw Window
This is the step most commonly misunderstood, and the exact window depends on your destination.
Most outbound destinations require the blood draw to occur no earlier than 30 days after the rabies vaccination, to allow adequate time for antibody levels to develop; some labs recommend a slightly wider 21-to-30-day window after a booster vaccination for the best chance of a passing result. Drawing blood too early can result in a failed test even if your pet's immune system would eventually reach the required threshold. Always verify your specific destination's required window, since some countries set stricter timing than the general lab recommendation.
Step 5: Have a USDA-Accredited Vet Draw the Blood
The blood draw must be performed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian, not just any licensed vet. Your vet will draw a serum sample and complete a FAVN Report Form, which must accompany the sample to the lab. The microchip number, vaccination date, and veterinarian's signature are all required on this form.
If you are not sure whether your vet is USDA-accredited, ask them directly, or use APHIS's Find Accredited Veterinarians search tool.
Step 6: Submit the Sample to a Lab Approved for Your Destination
The serum sample must go to a lab approved for your specific destination, and approval lists are not interchangeable across destinations. The two primary options for US-origin outbound moves are:
- Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (KSVDL): The most widely used lab for FAVN testing from the US. USDA and EU approved. Current turnaround is an estimated 10 to 14 calendar days, though this varies with lab volume. Check directly with KSVDL for current estimates before building your timeline around it.
- University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory: Also USDA and EU approved for FAVN testing. A viable alternative if KSVDL turnaround times are running long.
Your vet submits the sample and form directly to the lab. You do not need to contact the lab in advance. For most destinations, the official stickered result report goes to the submitting clinic by courier. Exception: for Hawaii, Guam, and most Caribbean islands (excluding Trinidad), the lab sends the official result directly to that destination's quarantine or agriculture authority, and the submitting clinic receives only an emailed or faxed copy for its own records.
Step 7: Confirm the Result Passes
A passing result is 0.5 IU/mL or above. This confirms your pet's immune system responded adequately to the rabies vaccine and meets the threshold most rabies-free and rabies-controlled destinations require.
If the result comes back below 0.5 IU/mL, labs commonly recommend an additional rabies vaccination followed by a wait of 10 to 21 days before drawing blood again, to give the pet time to build a stronger antibody response. This is a lab recommendation for improving the odds of a passing retest, not a fixed regulatory rule, so confirm your specific destination's requirements as well. Most destinations with a titer requirement also have provisions for extended quarantine for pets that arrive without a passing result, but that is not a situation you want to be in.
Step 8: Account for the Post-Result Waiting Period
A passing result does not mean your pet can travel immediately. Many rabies-free and rabies-controlled destinations impose a mandatory waiting period after the passing result before your pet is eligible for entry, and this varies meaningfully by destination:
- Hawaii: the waiting period is 120 days, counted from the date the lab received the blood sample, not the date of the result.
- Australia and New Zealand: both require a longer wait, commonly cited around 180 days, and both have detailed, country-specific quarantine programs beyond the titer itself.
- Other destinations vary; check the specific country or territory guide for the wait that applies to your move, since a generic range isn't precise enough to plan around.
Titer results also carry expiration periods that vary by destination, so confirm both the wait and the expiration window together.
This waiting period, combined with the pre-draw wait after vaccination and lab processing time, is why the titer test typically determines your earliest possible travel date for outbound moves. Start this process as early as possible. For most titer-required destinations, six months of lead time is a reasonable minimum.
US Entry Track: Bringing a Foreign-Vaccinated Dog Into the US
This track applies only if your dog was vaccinated abroad and has been in a CDC-listed high-risk country for dog rabies within the past 6 months. If your dog is not on this track, the outbound steps above don't apply to your situation, and there's no titer requirement at all for a not-high-risk dog entering the US.
Step 1: Microchip Your Dog First
Your dog needs a microchip that a universal scanner can detect, implanted before the rabies vaccination is given. If the vaccine was given first, CDC considers that vaccination invalid, and your dog needs a new, valid rabies vaccination administered after the microchip is in place, which restarts the 30-day wait below. This is the CDC standard for US entry; it does not require the ISO 11784/11785 designation specifically, just that the chip is detectable with a universal scanner.
Step 2: Administer the Rabies Vaccination
Your dog needs a current rabies vaccination from a veterinarian, documented on the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form. This form must be completed by an authorized veterinarian and reviewed and signed by an official government veterinarian in the exporting country.
Step 3: Wait for the Blood Draw Window
Unlike the outbound track, the window for US entry has two sides: the blood draw must happen at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and at least 28 days before entry into the US. Missing either end of that window means the titer doesn't qualify, regardless of the result.
Step 4: Submit the Sample to a CDC-Approved Lab
The lab must be on the CDC's own approved list, which is separate from USDA or EU approval used for outbound moves. A lab being USDA or EU approved for outbound FAVN testing does not automatically mean it's CDC-approved for a US-entry titer; some labs, including KSVDL and the University of Missouri lab named above, do appear on both lists, but confirm your specific lab against the CDC list before submitting rather than assuming.
Step 5: Confirm the Result Passes
A passing result is 0.5 IU/mL or above, confirmed by a CDC-approved lab.
Step 6: Book Your ACF Reservation
Your dog must arrive by air or sea at one of the eight airports with a CDC-registered Animal Care Facility (ACF). This applies whether or not your dog has a passing titer; the titer decides what happens at the facility, not which airports are open to you. Without a valid passing titer, the reservation must include a mandatory 28-day quarantine at the facility, at owner cost, plus an exam and revaccination.
For the full ACF airport list, current facility names, and booking timing, see our US entry titer guide.
Ready to Start Planning?
If you are moving to a destination that requires a titer test, or bringing a foreign-vaccinated dog into the US from a high-risk country, talk to our team before you schedule anything. We can confirm the current requirements for your specific direction of travel, work backward from your target travel date, and tell you whether your timeline is realistic before you commit to it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the titer process the same for leaving the US and entering the US?
No. The standard name (FAVN for most outbound destinations vs. rabies serology testing for US entry), the microchip standard, the timing window, and the approved-lab list all differ. Follow the track that matches your direction of travel.
Which labs are approved for a US-entry titer?
Only labs on the CDC's own approved list qualify. Some outbound-approved labs, including KSVDL and the University of Missouri lab, also appear on the CDC list, but USDA or EU approval alone doesn't guarantee CDC approval. Check the CDC's list directly before submitting.
What happens if my outbound titer doesn't pass in time?
Most destinations with a titer requirement have provisions for extended quarantine if your pet arrives without a passing result. The specific length varies by destination, so check your destination's guide rather than assume a standard length.
What happens if my US-entry titer doesn't qualify in time?
Your dog will need to complete a mandatory 28-day quarantine at a CDC-registered Animal Care Facility on arrival, at owner cost.
Is FAVN the same as RNATT?
Yes. RNATT (Rabies Neutralizing Antibody Titre Test) is the term used by Australia and New Zealand for the same underlying method as FAVN.