Program Resources & Components

Member businesses have access to online training videos that discuss how to recognize signs of disease, healthy trade practices that reduce the likelihood that animals become infected with pathogens, techniques used to collect non-lethal samples from animals for pathogen testing, and response strategies for containment if positive detection of a target pathogen occurs.

Member businesses are required to incorporate healthy trade practices that research has shown reduces the likelihood that disease spreads among animals in a business. These practices include establishing a quarantine area for newly acquired animals, use of disposable gloves that are changed between animal habitats, use of disinfectants at approved concentrations, disinfection of habitats potentially contaminated with pathogens, and proper disposal of dead or euthanized animals.

Member businesses are required to test a subset of newly acquired animals before release from the quarantine area and test a subset of resident and for-sale animals twice per year to validate health.

Member Savings: Member businesses that purchase animals from another HTI member business do not have to quarantine or test animals. Member businesses often receive discounts on diagnostic fees from HTI member laboratories.

Member businesses are required to isolate positive animals, consult the HTI or a veterinarian for treatment, and verify the animal is negative before it is released into the resident or for-sale population, thereby ensuring the trade of healthy animals. HTI-approved diagnostic laboratories strive to return sample results within 5 days of sample receipt.